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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] plastic

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  • From: "William H Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] plastic
  • Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:54:15 -0500

I think Kim is right. We use black in the north to generate more heat around the plant. Watermelon loves heat and we’re too cool early. That gives the melons a big jump which gets growers into the market earlier. That might work for you as an early-season planting. The crop canopy will shade the plastic later. But growers in Florida will use white-n-black because it keeps the soil, and more important, the air under the film cooler. This keeps the vines from getting to much hot air venting out the hole and reflects light into the canopy of the plant. Different ecosystems call for different tactics.

 

Bill

William H. Shoemaker

Sr. Research Specialist, Food Crops

University of Illinois - Crop Sciences

St Charles Horticulture Research Center

535 Randall Road, St Charles, IL, 60174

630-584-7254, FAX-584-4610

wshoemak AT illinois.edu


From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Barking Cat Farm
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 1:22 PM
To: Market Farming
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] plastic

 

 

We've done white on black plastic with the white side up. I think black would be too hot for Texas, especially if you are any further South than we are. 

 

Kim - Barking Cat Farm

Texas zone 7/8 where we're harvesting lettuce this afternoon and we grow it year round, but I don't have time right now to chime in on the lettuce thread, ;-)

 

 

On Apr 22, 2010, at 1:10 PM, Road's End Farm wrote:



 

On Apr 22, 2010, at 11:36 AM, charlie cameron wrote:



has anyone planted watermelons on black plastic?I am thinking it would burn the vines here in tx.

 

 




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