Providing shade against scorching sun on garden.

Anyone have any ideals. I'm just now getting around to trying to plant a garden again. One problem I will have with it is trying to keep the annual summer scorcher off of it. Usually I plant in the middle of April and harvest before the August/September sun burns everything up. But I've had so many problems and delays this year that I haven't been able to do any planting.

So with that in mind I am going to just plant a few things and hope for the best. I remember seeing a fellar placing a strip type board shade up over his tomato plants to keep them from burning up. Each strip was placed just far enough apart to keep the sun from burning his plants up but still let sunlight filter in. All the planks were running in the north-south direction.

I am thinking of doing this also but would like a cheaper material to use then the board strips. Do they still make nylon strips for lawn chairs? Don't ever see this kind of lawn chair anymore so don't know if the replaceable nylon is still available on the market.

Any othe ideals?

[Marcia in MT]

Lawn chair webbing is still available -- check at the hardware store or big box store. You might also try using the plastic webbing that construction companies put around their sites. There's some just down our road I'm thinking of asking for.

I've made shade by growing cucumbers up a propped up, inclined fencing panel (cattle, etc.) and putting lettuce in the shade underneath.

[VALENT]

The heat is still gonna be there. You might have to aim for a fall garden. Still plenty of time for okra, peppers, sweet potatoes with the heat, though. Of course, I dont know about your specific location or actual weather.

[Fire-Man]

Originally Posted by r.h. in okla.

Anyone have any ideals. I'm just now getting around to trying to plant a garden again. One problem I will have with it is trying to keep the annual summer scorcher off of it. Usually I plant in the middle of April and harvest before the August/September sun burns everything up. But I've had so many problems and delays this year that I haven't been able to do any planting.

So with that in mind I am going to just plant a few things and hope for the best. I remember seeing a fellar placing a strip type board shade up over his tomato plants to keep them from burning up. Each strip was placed just far enough apart to keep the sun from burning his plants up but still let sunlight filter in. All the planks were running in the north-south direction.

I am thinking of doing this also but would like a cheaper material to use then the board strips. Do they still make nylon strips for lawn chairs? Don't ever see this kind of lawn chair anymore so don't know if the replaceable nylon is still available on the market.

Any othe ideals?

What I have done is pick up bed sheets at yard sales etc---tear them into sizes I need-----tie all 4 corners into a knots(small and close to the edge)---drive 4 TALL stakes a little farter apart than the sheet is wide and long---using wire I tie the 4 corners to the stakes---keeping the wire tight enough to hold in place, but loose enough that I can slip it off the stake when needed---This allows me to get early morning and evening sun, but shades plants for a few hours during mid day. Helps young plants/transplants alot. Randy

Thanks everyone. I have one day tomorrow to re-break my garden again and plant my corn, tomatoes, cukes, green beans, Okra, and melons. Then the rain is suppose to come back and they are calling for rain for the next 8 days or so. So it looks like if I don't get it done tomorrow I might as well forget about it this year.

These last two years I have been having the worst luck in getting a garden out. Last year a tornado hit around here just as planting season was coming on and that caused me to get super busy trying to get everyones electric power back together. This year if I'm not busy working somewhere then it is rainning cats and dogs around here. Sometimes wonder if I should even worry about a garden. But I love fresh veggies so much.

[suburbanite]

I have scarlet runner beans on trellis netting stretched on a frame, and expect to add another frame above that one this week because the beans are already sticking off the top of the existing 6 footer. But the second frame will be at an angle so that the bean leaves will form a living roof, I hope with the beans hanging down for easy picking, but also I hope to grow lettuce and spinach beneath that might otherwise bolt in the hot days ahead.

Like this:
../
./
|

[EDDIE BUCK]

I think a lightweight floating row cover would help.

[End of the Road]

Most garden supply centers and hardware stores sell shadecloth. You can get different percentages of light transmission. They also let some of the wind pass thru.

[nehimama]

You've got a lot of planting to do in one day! I hope you'll get it all done.

I've found that hooped stock panels make a great trellis system to grow vining crops on. Makes a great shady area over the other planted areas.

NeHi

[Mutti]

Often picking the right garden site helps....we have a corner that is gradually being shaded by a maple tree...we routinely plant lettuce,spinach,etc. down there as the bit of shade keeps them going. Deep deep mulch will do alot to keep a garden alive...we have the same scorching hot summers in July/August here and with mulch and drip irrigation we still have a great garden that makes it thru summer and takes off again in fall. DEE

[turtlehead]

You could try planting your tomatoes in the shade of your corn. Corn and tomatoes are considered "bad companions" because the same worm attacks both of them. But I'd rather battle a caterpillar/worm than see my 'maters burn up in the heat.

If you're growing pole beans then you could plant something in their shade, too.

Put your tall plants to the south of those that need a bit of respite.