Vegetable Garden Sunshade

October 5, 2008 Ben DIY, Garden

Following on from the post ‘Summer Australian Garden’, my vegetable garden has been taking a beating from the sun. The tomato leaves are a bit frazzled and the beans are getting crispy. I’ve just finished the construction of my new shade tunnel; garden cover.

Using three lengths of poly (polyethylene) pipe around 4m long, six star pickets and 7m of 70% UV reduction shade cloth I have created a shade tunnel over my vegetable garden.

Start by banging the star pickets into the ground then sliding the poly pipe over the top of one side then bending it over to form a hoop. Make as many of these as you require, I used three and placed them ~3m apart.

Connect your shade cloth at one end, securing it with wire or zippy ties (use UV stabilised ones), then drape the shade cloth over all of the hoops and securing at the other end.

Since construction I have noticed that the humidity is higher in my vegetable patch, I hope this helps the growth of the vegetables, I know it will help the pests and diseases thrive!

Here is a photo of the clouds that look like rain, but are just teasing.

summer gardening, vegetablegardening, water wise