Science Behind the Shade
When and What to Shade, How Much Shade
Fabrics placed between the sun and crops can limit the kind of light or energy from the sun that reaches plants. In the coming weeks we will post short articles on the stages of crop growth and the role light plays in each, photomorphogenesis.
Photomorphogenesis:
Different wavelengths of light (colors) alter plant growth.
Each of the below stages need a certain temperature and specific amounts of light and UV. (The information that follows is a high level summary not intended to be exhaustive. )
Germination: applies to any crops that start from seeds such as grains, vegetables and the plants that bears fruit
Seedling
Vegetative Growth
Reproduction:
Flowering/Fruit creation or fruit set
Appearance of buds then flowers
Pollination
Fruit set: Fruit develop from fertilized flowers
Ripening and Harvest
We will include crop specific information like:
Tomatoes:
Too much shade causes stems to elongate, can’t tolerate more than about 25% shade cloth
To little UV causes reduction in nutrients and flavor:
Possible cause: Textiles like poly film, greenhouse curtain, or insect netting that block too much UV or PAR
Part 2 - We will review the different components of the sun’s energy and how it supports Plant Growth.