From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Kutztown, PA

I see that shade cloth comes in several different % shade weaves. I was thinking of use 50% shade but need some guidance. Anyone have an idea about % shade and a good bang for your buck source?

1/12/2022 10:41:23 AM

Colorado

I use 20%,many use 30%.40% or more is too much imho.

1/12/2022 10:46:27 AM

San Diego

In Southern California in high heat, most growers use 40% after years of trial and error. Lighter and plant gets toasted.

1/12/2022 9:47:00 PM

Lodi, California

I was just thinking about this actually. I use 30 percent, but it gets pretty hot here and the light is intense all growing season. A little less light is always preferable to scorched leaves. However I think 30 percent is alright, and I don't think PA is much worse if at all. I don't think you'll need anything more than 30.

Aluminet and similar reflective materials are also nice, instead of converting sunlight into heat they reflect it. It's a decent bit more expensive though and black shade cloth works fine, especially if it's raised 6 or more feet above the plant canopy.

1/13/2022 12:40:53 PM

Kutztown, PA

Thanks for the info.

1/13/2022 3:11:51 PM

Partlow,Va

I use 30%. After use and stretching it is probably 25%. Something to take note of is the soil moisture retention. It can be a good thing and a bad thing if you know what I mean. Raising my centerpoles to 11 feet helped. So if your patch is in a low or not full sun area I would keep this in mind. There is less evaporation and less wind for drying.

1/14/2022 8:35:39 AM

If your from Kutztown like me we should get together and discuss shade cloth and pumpkins if you like?!

1/14/2022 12:36:53 PM

San Diego, Ca.

Duster and I live very close to each other and as he said we both use 40%. I would also suggest going with white instead of black. The white allows for more light and reflects more heat also. Hope this helps. Like Duster said, this comes from many years of trial and error.

1/15/2022 8:47:47 PM