6. Good Organic Gardening - November-December 2016 AvxHome.in

Summer shade | WEEKEND GARDENING
Shade options
Shade cloth: This can be used in the creation
of a semi-circular shade tunnel, propped up
and hung over on garden stakes or simply
carefully placed on top of the crops if sudden
extreme weather temperatures are forecast.
You may wish to experiment a bit with which
shade percentage in the various shade cloths
suits your location, but I recommend keeping
it to light shade. I personally think 30–50 per
cent shading is better than 70 per cent.
Other plants as nurse plants: There are many
plants that can act as a windbreak or sun filter
in the garden. Knowing exactly where north is
on your property and the tracking of the sun
during the day means you can strategically
plant certain taller-growing, tougher edibles or
ornamentals to cast shadow and shade onto
softer, more delicate edibles. Some options
include rows of sunflowers, fast-growing
pigeon pea shrubs (Cajanus cajan), beans
such as snake beans growing up a tepee, and
trellises with plants such as passionfruit or
chokos growing on them.
Even underplanting larger vegetables, such
as eggplants or corn, with lettuce, rocket or
squash can be effective. You may need to
experiment — gardening is very much about
trial and error and finding out what works for
you in your climate and location.
Most softer-leafed edibles will be grateful for
some protection from the midday sun’s rays.
Protection from hot sun is
essential for some plants
Jana Holmer
Water stress: A sudden need for water
during heatwave conditions with heavy
loss of moisture through evaporation can
lead to blossom end rot, especially on
tomatoes and capsicums. This blackening
at the bottom of the fruit is due to calcium
deficiency when the plant lacks water.
Higher susceptibility to pest and
disease: Heat- and water-stressed plants
are weakened and more prone to disease
issues and attack by pests.
As you can see, inadequate protection
from intense rays, especially coupled with
poor nutrition and thirst, will diminish and
even hinder crop productivity, making all your
efforts before this point virtually wasted.
A semi-permanent
shade structure
Good Organic Gardening | 55