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market-farming - Re: Glazing - coldframes & cloches:saran wrap

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  • From: flowers AT rt66.com (Wilderness Flowers)
  • To: "market farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Glazing - coldframes & cloches:saran wrap
  • Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 07:44:18 -0700 (MST)


see your point ,,i thought so too but so far the samples we have in sun in
winter (at 7000 feet elevation at very high uv in put )are still stable and
flexible after 6 weeeks and counting will keep the list up dated

actually we were considering them for very short term use ,perhaps only 3-4
weeks season extension as initial cloches much as sweet corn farmers use
clear plastic to enhance early germintion

no quite ready to do large scale trial yet :) martin

>Martin asks
>
>>i'e been considering playing with the saran wrap product used for pallet
>>wraping as a short term 'glazing' for cold frame/cloche..perhaps even a hoop
>>house ...any one out there tried this ??
>
>
>I haven't tried this and, actually wouldn't. Saran Wrap(tm) or any other
>kitchen film has virtually no UV stability adn would go to shreds or powder
>in rather quick order, maybe even less than 30 days, then you have the
>problem of how to get this hydrocarbon based contamination out of your
>field.
>
>I have used plastic 1 and 2.5 gallon water bottles with the bottoms cut out
>as cloches. I punch a hole in the bottom and anchor it with irrigation
>stakes against the wind. I punch a hole in the cap, and tie it with a
>string to the jug. Cap them at night to reduce heat loss, take it off
>about 10am to ventolate. Doesn't work against freezes. Ok against light,
>quick frost.
>
>I've also use contractor's plastic to wrap field fence tomato, pepper and
>eggplant cages in early spring, or for an unforseen frost. This stuff will
>hold up in the sun for about a year, so it comes out of the field intact
>and can be recycled.
>
>One caution, peppers in particular are more sensitive to cold feet than
>ambient air temps. If the soil is not at least 55°F at root depth, don't
>set them out. They will pout and may not catch up all season. If you want
>to test this for yourself set one out earlier than the rest and see what
>happens. Everyone should have a good soil thermometer, but if you don't
>try the sit test. If you can sit comfortably on bare soil at about 10am
>for at least 15 minutes it's probably ok. If you feel like your fanny is
>freezing off, your peppers won't be happy.
>
>Marcie A. Rosenzweig
>Full Circle Organic Farm
>Auburn, CA
>
>
>
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>
Martin Connaughton
Wilderness Flowers
223 North Guadalupe St. pmb # 159
Santa Fe, NM 87501
zone 3-4-5 depending on mother nature .. zone 5 this year and no snow






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