Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey, does anybody put something over their garden to shade it a little from the sun?
If so, what is an east way to support it and what should I use to shade it with?
It may be to late.
We had 104f (40c) for the high the other day.
We had a very brief shower the other day and it steamed my zucchini plants and killed them dead!

Most of us shade during summer... with "shadecloth" ...

Yep, shade cloth
can be supported by many things. Posts and lumber. Trees and ropes. Fencing panels. Greenhouse structures. Or any combination of those things.

If I google "Shade Cloth" I guess I will find it thanks.

It's pretty easy to find large unwanted trampolines. The fabric that you jump up and down on makes a great durable shade cloth. Old aluminum or fiberglass tent poles are useful for making a frame.

It's free, and you can say you are being "green"

Those cheap tarp type carports from Kmart work also but the tarp is only good for one season. I kept my boat under one. You get the frame tarp and all for under $100. Some people set the legs in 5 gallon buckets of cement to keep from blowing away. Frame is good for about 5 years and it's easy to setup. In the winter you could prolly stretch some greenhouse poly over it.
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_1010 ... rd=carport

Just make sure any shade cloth... or other cover... you get hasn't been treated with an anti-mould solution...

Rain will wash this into your fishtank/growbeds... killing your fish...

Yes preservatives do provide such an unhappy solution to organic farming like ours... be very careful of anything not organic that you build into your system. Silicon sealant, treated timbers, treated cloths, even raw pines can be nasty.

Those cheap white tarps are plastic, and not UV resistant and breakdown in a season or two.