Citrus Growers Forum

Mark_T · Posted: Mon 21 Mar, 2011 3:04 am

I'm toying with idea of having a screenhouse built for growing purposes. The main reason obviously, is to protect trees from our scorching sun, but I'm also hoping they provide some frost protection in the winter for my lime trees. Anyone have input on these for citrus growers?

turtleman · Posted: Mon 21 Mar, 2011 12:18 pm

I've built my own to meet my need, I use the "Vers-a-tube" frame then use some of the fasteners from Conleys to hold the shade cloth ,, I've found that Aluminet works best here.. If you choose another cloth, remember,, its the weave that counts.

Mark_T · Posted: Mon 21 Mar, 2011 4:04 pm

turtleman wrote:

I've built my own to meet my need, I use the "Vers-a-tube" frame then use some of the fasteners from Conleys to hold the shade cloth ,, I've found that Aluminet works best here.. If you choose another cloth, remember,, its the weave that counts.

Does it provide any frost protection in the winter?

turtleman · Posted: Tue 22 Mar, 2011 11:51 am

Of course, any frost sets on the house not the plants inside..
You might want to take a trip to the nursery here someday and see how its set up... that might save you allot of time in the long run.

Mark_T · Posted: Tue 22 Mar, 2011 5:01 pm

turtleman wrote:

Of course, any frost sets on the house not the plants inside..
You might want to take a trip to the nursery here someday and see how its set up... that might save you allot of time in the long run.

Thanks, I know that may seem like a stupid question, but I'm mainly concerned about my limes and some variegated varieties.

I would love to come out and see the operation turtleman!

jcaldeira · Posted: Sun 22 Jan, 2012 2:09 am

Mark_T wrote:

I'm toying with idea of having a screenhouse built for growing purposes. The main reason obviously, is to protect trees from our scorching sun, but I'm also hoping they provide some frost protection in the winter for my lime trees. Anyone have input on these for citrus growers?

I can't address the frost issue, but for mature trees a shade cloth that only blocks 20% or 30% would be best. Shade cloth is sold betwen 20% and 80% shading values. The higher values are mostly used to start plants that naturally grow under the canopy of mature trees.

Citrus likes sun, so consider making the overhead cloth removable.

The shading factor is for UV light, and each color of shade cloth affects how much of each color of visible light is blocked. Most nurseries use GREEN cloth. Darker shade cloth makes it warmer inside the shade house on sunny days.

A shade house can be covered with plastic in times of too much rain or for thermal protection.

Here's my little shade house for starting fruit trees:

John

ivica · Posted: Sun 22 Jan, 2012 8:15 am

John, welcome and thank you for sharing your experience with us.

Yes, yes, yes. Shade cloth is my best friend, so simply and multifunctional:
offering protection from weather elements like sun, wind, hail, and even frost to some degree... Also offers reasonably good protection, if/when needed, from bigger insects, birds, rodents...

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Laaz · Posted: Sun 22 Jan, 2012 1:16 pm

Very nice setup.

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Wal-Mart a great place to buy cheap plastic crap ! http://walmartwatch.com/ ...

Millet · Posted: Sun 22 Jan, 2012 5:38 pm

I've had a 30 percent black shade cloth for years, and it worked OK, but before this spring/summer season I'm going to install the 30% silver sided Aluminet shade cloth. The net's silver outside coating helps to reflect the sun's light away, cooling the greenhouse. Further, I'll be adding the cooling pads, shown in the link below, to the opposite end of the greenhouse from the exhaust fans . They are hooked up electrically with the exhaust fans, and operate automatically whenever the fans are running . This will also help greatly to keep the greenhouse cooler this summer. An over heated greenhouse throughout the summer, is a big cause of of fruit drop, especially with Washington navel oranges and Cara Cara. - Millet (364-ABO-)

http://www.nature-cool.com/

turtleman · Posted: Mon 23 Jan, 2012 2:55 am

Aluminet will help keep the warmth in during the winters also, were also finding that pest populations inside Aluminet houses are being reduced, were finding the reflection from the netting confuses pest receptors.