Topic: Another greenhouse shading question

[reddyreddy]

The netting sold to provide shading comes in different percentages of shade provided, what's best? 40% shade, 55% shade or a whopping 70% shade (won;t that just be dark inside?!) Thanks!!

[tonybloke]

the 70 % is used for Orchids  (awkwards)!
if your greenhouse is in full sun all day, go with the 55%, if your greenhousehas some natural shade, the 40% will do!
it's all very confusing, this gardening lark, Eh !  ;)

[reddyreddy]

Confusing is right! Last year I lost so many seedlings, they were doing really well and all of a sudden they would wilt and die, I can only assume it was scorching as I tried less watering, watering regularly but only a little, lots of watering, etc, etc!

[sunloving]

We do two things , for the very scorching greenhouse we just use the white paint approach it lasts all summer does the job and is cheap, the second is grow some sweet peas and or passion flower over the top of your greenhouse, their growth (biomass) keeps pace with the summer so that in spring you keep the sun but by july you have a good but airy barrier over the top and in winter they die completely back so dont become heavy and woody.

Our passion flower is rooted in the green house and in the summer we let it grow out through the windows to provide us with some shade.

x sunloving

[saddad]

That's a great idea... wonder if we could do it with the grape...  :-\

[tonybloke]

A lot of folk grow a grape along the inside of the glasshouse roof for this very purpose! ;)

[saddad]

I've seen it tried in an 8x6' but feel it takes too much light out of the greenhouse...  :-\

[tonybloke]

It works in a man-sized glasshouse, like your one saddad!
Audley End     http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/news/audley_anniversary.php
have a fine example of this in action!
 ;)

[saddad]

Might have to suggest it to the committee then!!  ;D
There's a great "Black Hamburgh" at a NT Garden in Notts...  :)



This isn't it but is the same idea...

Think that might be at Audley End...