Shade Cloth ? - Page 2

Ricky Shaw · July 29, 2016

Charley, your conditions are much worse than mine, but the future of home gardening along the front range is going to look a lot like what you have there.

Dewayne mater · July 31, 2016

I've used 50% block for years. The perception of heat to me when it is sunny is vastly cooler with it than without it. I assume plants experience that too. Additionally, it means the ground and surrounding areas (one of my beds is next to a brick wall that will get very hot without SSC and stay hot for hours) don't get as hot, so it cools better at night. Vastly improved plant health and even occasional fruit set in near 100 degree temps with SSC, plants I can't keep alive without SSC. An essential tool for me in the DFW area.

Gardadore · July 31, 2016

I use both shade cloth or a good quality mosquito netting, and finally tulle bought at Walmart for shade. I use them when I set out the tomato and eggplants in the spring to help them acclimate to the sun and often heat. (This year we dealt with colder nights, however. I buy the shade cloth in bulk and cut it. The mosquito netting and tulle are used also to create small tents to keep insects and other pests off the plants. Since I have fencing everywhere I attach them using wooden clothes pins and they hold fine. They are easy to remove when the time comes or to reinstall when a heat wave strikes and I want to keep the tomatoes from sunburn. Can't live without the clothes pins for everything!

Shapshftr · July 31, 2016

I have been wanting to get a shadecloth setup for a few years now. Just haven't had the time to invest in it. But I did a lot of research on what is the right percentage of sun/shade for tomatoes and couldn't get an exact number. Some said 70/30, some said 60/40. 50% was said to be too much shade, but I would think that is more relative to your location. In the more southern latitudes I think 50/50 may be warranted.

Also, all of the literature I read said that red shade cloth is best for tomatoes. Green is second best. Plants need light in the red color spectrum to do photsynthesis. Some LED grow lights use red, orange and blue light. Varying colors are used in grow lights, but red is the main color. So when I do invest in some shadecloth, I plan to get red cloth and probably get 60/40 (40% shade).

My Foot Smells · July 31, 2016

Wouldn't it stand to reason that shade cloth degrades over time? 40 percent for how long. I like the red idea too, maybe paint a white razorback, sooooiee.

Shapshftr · July 31, 2016

It's made out of plastic threads that are UV resistant so it should last many years, they say.

July 29, 2016	#16
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	Charley, your conditions are much worse than mine, but the future of home gardening along the front range is going to look a lot like what you have there.

July 31, 2016	#17
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	I've used 50% block for years. The perception of heat to me when it is sunny is vastly cooler with it than without it. I assume plants experience that too. Additionally, it means the ground and surrounding areas (one of my beds is next to a brick wall that will get very hot without SSC and stay hot for hours) don't get as hot, so it cools better at night. Vastly improved plant health and even occasional fruit set in near 100 degree temps with SSC, plants I can't keep alive without SSC. An essential tool for me in the DFW area.

July 31, 2016	#18
Gardadore Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Saylorsburg, PA Posts: 261	I use both shade cloth or a good quality mosquito netting, and finally tulle bought at Walmart for shade. I use them when I set out the tomato and eggplants in the spring to help them acclimate to the sun and often heat. (This year we dealt with colder nights, however. I buy the shade cloth in bulk and cut it. The mosquito netting and tulle are used also to create small tents to keep insects and other pests off the plants. Since I have fencing everywhere I attach them using wooden clothes pins and they hold fine. They are easy to remove when the time comes or to reinstall when a heat wave strikes and I want to keep the tomatoes from sunburn. Can't live without the clothes pins for everything!

July 31, 2016	#19
Shapshftr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Illinois Posts: 162	I have been wanting to get a shadecloth setup for a few years now. Just haven't had the time to invest in it. But I did a lot of research on what is the right percentage of sun/shade for tomatoes and couldn't get an exact number. Some said 70/30, some said 60/40. 50% was said to be too much shade, but I would think that is more relative to your location. In the more southern latitudes I think 50/50 may be warranted. Also, all of the literature I read said that red shade cloth is best for tomatoes. Green is second best. Plants need light in the red color spectrum to do photsynthesis. Some LED grow lights use red, orange and blue light. Varying colors are used in grow lights, but red is the main color. So when I do invest in some shadecloth, I plan to get red cloth and probably get 60/40 (40% shade).

July 31, 2016	#20
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	Wouldn't it stand to reason that shade cloth degrades over time? 40 percent for how long. I like the red idea too, maybe paint a white razorback, sooooiee.