shade cloth

16 years ago

I live in Boyne City Michigan, which is in the upper part

of the lower peninsula.

I'm looking for shade cloth for gardening. I've heard that it's good for seedlings because it helps protect them from full sun, until they become older. One problem I had last year was my seedlings kept getting knocked over by windy

weather and I'm wondering will shade cloth protect my seedlings from windy weather too?

Is shade cloth just a gimmick from seed companies to get you to spend more or does it really work?

I have four 10 gallon containers and one 15 gallon container; this is total of 50 gallons. I also have 3 earthboxes, which is a self-watering form of container gardening. How much shadecloth would I need to cover all my containers?

I can't give dimensions with length, height, and width like you would for a traditional row format. This is because I can't do a row format in the ground I don't have the space to do so, which is why I'm doing container gardening.

The closest thing I can provide are the length, width, and height for my containers and earthboxes (and depth).

I basically need shade cloth that is light enough that sun can still shine through but will protect my seedlings from sun and windy weather. Does anybody know where I can find it at a reasonable price via the internet where shipping and handling isn't ridiculous in price?

Also I do need advice on what I can use to cover my seedlings without suffocating them so they are protected

from windy weather.

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Comments (5)

bigdoug
16 years ago
I know of a cheap, easy solution for your windy weather problem that will also allow you to put those seedlings out earlier than you normally could. It's called a Pop Bottle Cloche. What you do is take any two liter plastic pop bottle, remove the label, cut off the bottom of the bottle with some scissors right about where the bottom of the label was and voila! you have a individual cover for your plant. You don't have to worry about the bottle getting blown away because you press the bottom into the soil 2 or 3 inches and because they are so aerodynamic, they stand up to the heaviest winds.(definite personal experience on this one. I live five miles from the largest windmill farm in Indiana) As for suffocating them, during the warm days you simply unscrew the tops and let your plant breath free.

As for the shade cloth, definitely they work... but for me they aren't worth the cost. You could make your own for a lot cheaper
digdirt2
16 years ago
Shade cloth isn't really effective as a wind block - that isn't its purpose. It is an open weave so the wind blows right through. The tightness of the weave determines how much sun it blocks but even the 70% which we use on the greenhouse is still a very loose knit. It comes in 50%, 60% and 70% sun blocked ratings and is attached to a fixed structure/frame of some kind, not draped over containers or plants as it is quite heavy.

And it isn't cheap. There are many less expensive ways to block wind.

It sounds like what you are looking for is more likely Agribond or Reemay which is a light weight spun polyester plant cover material.

Dave
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cyrus_gardner
16 years ago
Why shade ? don't you harden up your plants before transplanting?

I don't know what a shade cloth is , but if you go to any fabric store you can find what you want, for much less. Maybe fold some French tulle 2 or 3 layers, then you will bloch part of sun but wind will pass through it.
kawaiineko_gardener
Original Author
16 years ago
This is to big doug. Your idea is ingenius and cheap which is really what I need, since I'm on a tight budget. Thank you!

My e-mail address is (you'll find out later in this post why I'm putting this info) zealousone888@yahoo.com

When you say that by using your bottle clouche idea that things can be put earlier, what constitutes as "planting cool weather veggies early without them dying"?
For me I live in northern Michigan and there is still snow on the ground.

I'm debating planting my cool weather crops from seed in early to mid-March if feasible. However my question is, will it be too cold?

Also can you please send a picture of this to my e-mail?
I have a vague idea of what you're talking about, but I'm not really sure. In all honesty it would help me to understand it better if I could see it, that's just how I am.

Also do these bottles protect plants against frost and act as a mini greenhouse? Does it raise the temperature of the soil for the plants being grown?
digdirt2
16 years ago
Lots of pics of them on the web.

Pop Bottle Cloche

Pop bottle cloches

How to make pop bottle cloche

You can do the same thing with any plastic container that you can cut the bottom out of. Many use plastic buckets.

Dave

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