Putting a roof over their heads.

amideutch · January 10, 2010

Last year a lot of folks were hit hard by foliar disease in the US and Europe as well do to unseasonable rain for the most part. The plants I grew in my open greenhouse and under my balcony were disease free and has been the case for the past 2 growing seasons. I do a lot of spraying with organic disease control products to keep disease at bay otherwise and have been getting good results.
Today I got a catalog from a company that specializes in Green Houses and accessories and I came across this cover they make which might give you some ideas for this growing season. Would I pay the prises they are asking, NO but I just wanted to show you what I have been talking about in previous posts. Ami

Blueaussi · January 10, 2010

You know, I understand the theory, but how can something that size offer much protection for the foliage? Wind would blow any spores up under the cover, and around here, during a lively thunderstorm, it sometimes rains sideways.

amideutch · January 10, 2010

Blue, it would have to extend out past the plant by a couple feet on both sides. It's more for the regular rain and you still have to spray them with fungicides whether organic or not but it keeps the plants from having wet feet most of the time as was the case with last years weather. Ami

Tania · January 10, 2010

We deployed very similar concept in our tomato patch (since 2005 when we were hit by late blight very badly - no ripe fruit was harvested).

My father-in-law built the 'roofs' over each 12'x6' and 18'x6' tomato rows, covered by high quality greenhouse plastic, and we have plastic covering the sides also, which I can roll up in hot weather and roll down in a cool weather or when it rains. This provides a very good protection from the late blight here in PNW, plus it creates a nice 'greenhouse' effect in early spring, so I can set out tomato plants almost 1.5 months earlier.

The plastic we got is very good, it survived 4 seasons already, and still looking good.

Tania

Karamazovv · January 10, 2010

I make a protection with plastic too, in the end of season..to protect from desease. It's a home production..very easy to do..like your pics ami.
That's protect the plant .
I have no pics.. :/
I think it's like tania protection..
Last year, the wheater is good, we don't protect the tomatoes with plastic..

amideutch · January 10, 2010

Tania, could you take pictures of your setup and post them here? Ami

hasshoes · January 10, 2010

Deleted. Trying to delete but it says I need 15 characters

Suze · January 10, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by amideutch

Tania, could you take pictures of your setup and post them here? Ami

Yes, please! I was aware you grew under plastic and have always wanted to see what you've been able to come up with for so many plants.

Blueaussi · January 10, 2010

I have put a hoop house over the garden in fall to extend the season, and that worked well. However I think it's too hot and humid to use one for disease protection in the summer around here.

Tania · January 10, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by amideutch

Tania, could you take pictures of your setup and post them here? Ami

Certainly - I will take pictures and post them here. The problem is we leave for work early and come home late, which means I do not see my garden in daylight during the working days... so it may not happen until Fri/Sat.

Tania

amideutch · January 11, 2010

Here is a link concerning Late Blight and methods for prevention including covering the plants and why. Ami

http://www.extension.org/article/18361

Wi-sunflower · January 11, 2010

I know some of the Mittleider articles i've read shows them with a covering over the top in areas like central america where they get a lot of rain. Yes it would let rain in the sides, but it keeps the drenching downpours off for somewhat better moisture control.

I would think that using PVC pipe in a "hoop" over the top and then plastic just on the top curved part would work and be pretty simple to do.

I have made the "clips" that some places sell too. Just find the black PVS water pipe that is about the same size or slighty larger than the white PVC you are using. Cut into a 2-3 inch section and then cut a lengthwise slit down the section to open it up. if you want to do a bit mor work cut a second lenghwise cut so that a small piece falls out. Makes it easier to put on and off the section you are clamping.

Carol

amideutch · January 11, 2010

Carol, I have most of Mittleiders books and they have a wealth of information. Ami

Wi-sunflower · January 12, 2010

Yup, me too.

No matter what book you find on gardening, even if you don't follow it's methods or philosophy, there are always tips you can adapt to your own system.

Carol

recruiterg · January 12, 2010

I don't want to send this thread in a different direction, but does Late Blight have a range or is any location susceptible?

January 10, 2010	#3
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Blue, it would have to extend out past the plant by a couple feet on both sides. It's more for the regular rain and you still have to spray them with fungicides whether organic or not but it keeps the plants from having wet feet most of the time as was the case with last years weather. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

January 10, 2010	#4
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	We deployed very similar concept in our tomato patch (since 2005 when we were hit by late blight very badly - no ripe fruit was harvested). My father-in-law built the 'roofs' over each 12'x6' and 18'x6' tomato rows, covered by high quality greenhouse plastic, and we have plastic covering the sides also, which I can roll up in hot weather and roll down in a cool weather or when it rains. This provides a very good protection from the late blight here in PNW, plus it creates a nice 'greenhouse' effect in early spring, so I can set out tomato plants almost 1.5 months earlier. The plastic we got is very good, it survived 4 seasons already, and still looking good. Tania __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

January 10, 2010	#6
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Tania, could you take pictures of your setup and post them here? Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

January 10, 2010	#7
hasshoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MT Posts: 438	Deleted. Trying to delete but it says I need 15 characters __________________ Sara Last edited by hasshoes; July 15, 2010 at 01:49 PM. Reason: del

January 11, 2010	#11
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Here is a link concerning Late Blight and methods for prevention including covering the plants and why. Ami http://www.extension.org/article/18361 __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

January 10, 2010	#2
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	You know, I understand the theory, but how can something that size offer much protection for the foliage? Wind would blow any spores up under the cover, and around here, during a lively thunderstorm, it sometimes rains sideways.

January 10, 2010	#5
Karamazovv Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: France Posts: 86	I make a protection with plastic too, in the end of season..to protect from desease. It's a home production..very easy to do..like your pics ami. That's protect the plant . I have no pics.. :/ I think it's like tania protection.. Last year, the wheater is good, we don't protect the tomatoes with plastic..

January 11, 2010	#12
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	I know some of the Mittleider articles i've read shows them with a covering over the top in areas like central america where they get a lot of rain. Yes it would let rain in the sides, but it keeps the drenching downpours off for somewhat better moisture control. I would think that using PVC pipe in a "hoop" over the top and then plastic just on the top curved part would work and be pretty simple to do. I have made the "clips" that some places sell too. Just find the black PVS water pipe that is about the same size or slighty larger than the white PVC you are using. Cut into a 2-3 inch section and then cut a lengthwise slit down the section to open it up. if you want to do a bit mor work cut a second lenghwise cut so that a small piece falls out. Makes it easier to put on and off the section you are clamping. Carol

January 12, 2010	#14
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Yup, me too. No matter what book you find on gardening, even if you don't follow it's methods or philosophy, there are always tips you can adapt to your own system. Carol

January 12, 2010	#15
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	I don't want to send this thread in a different direction, but does Late Blight have a range or is any location susceptible?