I have noticed my plants under my bug netting do better and my pepper plant in the ground under it doesn't have sunrot. I think it would also let me keep my pots longer in fall since in in zone 7 and cold snaps happen.

So.... Any thoughts? Tips? Etc?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

The store-bought(/online-purchased) ones actually tend to have metal frames. Plastic(PVC, usually) strong enough to support even a flimsy structure tends to be more expensive(although more flexible and weather-proof) than metal tubing, particularly when you consider increased weight and volume requirements, increasing both packaging and shipping costs.

My wife recently ordered a 6.5ft x 6.5ft x 10ft one for about $80, shipped. Biggest concern we have so far is the need to strap it down so it doesn't blow away. It came with double-layered sheeting with a built-in airgap(think doubled-up bubble-wrap, only it feels like vinyl).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Oh neat. I saw a lot of PVC pipe options and it kinda makes me wish I had a 3D printer and a much craftier mind.
But I think metal would really win out in the end after dealing with my plastic clips and stakes ground cover. It wobbles and pulls free so much.

But that seems like a great deal. I'd be interested if it feels roomie in there.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

The extra material/weight needed for the same/better strength in PVC becomes an advantage vs wind. The fittings do seem expensive until you compare the cost to 3D print equivalents. Any joints you don't want to wobble, you cement.

She was joking about putting a cot in it, after shelving and plants, and yeah, it seemed roomy enough to me.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I live in a colder climate (frost-free growing season is June 1 - September 1), so I use store bought and homemade small greenhouses on my outdoor gardens to extend my growing season. Here are my thoughts:

Moisture: They are decent at keeping things more humid. However if the garden is outside and in direct sun then on warm days you’d need to open up the sides some to let heat out, which would also let the moisture out. Otherwise the plants get cooked as the greenhouses get very hot. I have a pitcher plant indoors that I keep in a tiny greenhouse to keep the humidity up and that works well but it’s not in direct sun
Shade: I’ve seen commercial ginseng farms that use shade cloth over the plants because ginseng usually grows in the woods and so doesn’t like much direct sunlight. Shade cloth may be a better option for the sunrot. Or a shade cloth over a greenhouse - I haven’t tried that so I don’t know how much the shade cloth would change how hot the greenhouse gets

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Dang that is cold I'm not respecting my lack of true cold enough.

But these are incredible breakdowns and super helpful.

I think lately I've definitely been more caring about the ways to subtract heat but also shockingly little rain in my area too even on the colder days. Rivers have been dry. So hot days needing water I think wouldn't change my days much anyways. A little bit of deflection of diffusion goes a long way cause literally basic bird and bug netting was enough to stop it on another plant that I tried in the ground instead of a pot.

An awning would honestly fix my issues or a tree if they weren't all dead behind my apartment. I think something that can be deconstructed and brought with is a cool idea.

[–] The_v 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Nethouses are used in commercial production in many areas. They use netting with a very fine holes (aphid/thrip proof). Generally this gives around a 25% shade with significant humidity increases.

The classic way to prevent sunscald on peppers is to strip off the first fruit that set. Next fertilize the plants heavily to encourage vegetative growth. Once the plants are larger let them set fruit. The shade from the leaves protects the fruit. This method also greatly increases the total production of the plant over the growing season by sacrificing early fruit set.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Yeah you know what, I started looking at just buying PVC connectors and the same kind of white bug netting and doing it for like $60 but then I'm getting close to playing the same for basically that premade.

It feels like I don't need the whole thing but I'm not sure I have much of a granular choice.
I did find a cool one that includes a winter heat cover and like full roll up sides though.

And I did try that with my peppers and the plant is huge but all the flowers are at the top of the plant for some reason.