SINGAPORE – I often joke that Singapore has four seasons: the hot, hotter, wet and wetter periods. With the end of the year coming, people can expect the arrival of the rainy north-east monsoon season.

For many gardeners who grow edible plants outdoors, this can be a challenging time. Many such plants fare poorly in the rain. Heavy rainfall can injure plants, waterlogging can oversaturate soil and remove the oxygen roots need for respiration, and the lack of sunlight inhibits growth.

All this can lead to poor plant health. Worse, certain pests, such as snails and slugs, appear more frequently in wet weather and will devour the plants.

One approach to reduce rain damage and prevent pests from reaching your plants is to set up a netted tent. This enclosure is typically made of white plastic netting. White is preferred as it allows more sunlight to pass through than other colours. Use galvanised steel poles as supporting structures for durability.

A rectangular enclosure will be the easiest to build and is suitable for allotment garden plots, as the longer side can serve as an opening for gardeners to access the plants. Some gardeners also use a bamboo pole to weigh down the netting and close off the tent as needed.

For the other three sides, bury the lower part of the netting in the soil to deny entry to pests that may eat your crops.

To protect the enclosure from rain, the top can be covered with a clear plastic sheet so the plants can still get sunlight. Pull it taut so that water does not pool on the surface.