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Middle TN

How old does a plant need to be before it can handle direct sun? (Mine is 22 days old) Im struggling to keep down the temp in the hoop house and would like to remove the plastic but I worry about sun damaging the new leaves.

4/22/2011 2:47:44 PM

Ashby, MA

I'm not an expert, but maybe you can mist the leaves with some water if it gets too hot. I know I've been told that for when it gets really warm in the summer here in the North East.

4/22/2011 3:15:39 PM

Central Minnesota

I had the same issue last year. I ended up ventilating the hoop house more and using shade cloth to protect the plant. The plants under the shade cloth actually did better, had less heat stress and eventually did not need the cloth as they aged some.

4/22/2011 3:42:08 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

That southern sun is intense even this time of the year, maybe break it in a few hours a day increasing the intervals? We are in the 70's everyday, so you have to be in the 80's by now.

4/22/2011 5:10:56 PM

Middle TN

thanks guys, crazy weather here, it was 84 today 55 last night and expecting 82 tomorrow. Im literally using heat lamps at night and fans during the day. Misting has helped but the temp still gets too high. I hate to switch out the plastic and the shade cloth every day but that may be what I have to do for a while.

4/23/2011 1:25:29 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Tammy, Im sure you are opening your hoop house up on these hot days. Give it a little exposure each day, when the sun is not so hot. If the soil is warm, you shouldnt have to use heat at night, the heat will come from the ground. But then again, Im no expert.

4/23/2011 9:35:39 AM

Joliet, IL

hey tammy, if you have an extra smaller piece of shade cloth, i would use this if clear bright sunshine. you can stake it with rebar nice and taught so it can never hang on the plants, but cover them from the sun hitting them directly. i use this inside my greenhouses when plants are smaller and it gets too hot yet i still do not want to take down the greenhouses yet. and i will also place a mister head on a stake above the plants in the greenhouses and mist them on a timer on bright sunny hot days too. just watch the electrical stuff you may use at night or your fans so they do not get wet from the misting system or if you mist by hand on occassion throughout the day. here is a pic last year of my sprouts at a younger day than your 22 day olds, but the same system has been used when they are larger with longer pieces of rebar. they key is to have it taught so no sagging or weight on leaves.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=128906

4/23/2011 10:04:16 AM

Middle TN

good advice! thank you :) I attached the shade cloth to the hoop house in place of the plastic. Im gonna keep an eye on it and hope it reduces the temp and provides some wind protection too.

4/23/2011 11:49:26 AM

Pocahontas, Arkansas

Tammy I'm in the south too with my plants in the ground and I don't have a hoop house on mine. With temps this warm I think the hoop house would cause more harm than good because of overheating during the day. Overnight temps in the 50s should be fine, it's 40 and below that you need to worry about, and more than likely those days are over in central TN. I would be phasing out that hoop house if I were you. You might try letting the plant see more full sun each day for about 4-5 days and then let them out in full sun, mine are full sun and they are 12-14 days old :) I'm only a 2nd year AG grower myself but I hope that helps.

4/23/2011 12:02:58 PM

Middle TN

Im a 2nd year grower too :) I took out the heat lamps and added some shade cloth. That seems to have taken care of the heat problem. The plant gets about 2 hours of morning sun. Im still using the plastic at night, I just cant help myself and it lets me sleep easier haha. Apparently its just my nature to be protective, Im an over protective mom too lol

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=153740

4/24/2011 10:14:26 AM