Shade netting is a key element in the success of greenhouse vegetable crops. This is because reducing the intensity of sunlight reduces the growth and development of many plants. For this reason, greenhouses must be equipped with the correct type of shade to control the amount of light entering the structure to ensure crop success. Shading is not the only way to control the amount of sunlight reaching a greenhouse. A commonly used technique to reduce sunlight is the use of multi-flexible tarps. These tarps have a semi-transparent consistency and allow for a gradual, controlled variation in the amount of light entering the greenhouse. This tool is ideal for indoor environments with excessive heat propagation due to direct sunlight. Other common techniques used to control the amount of light entering a greenhouse are shielding, curtains and blinds.
These products are designed to block sunlight by specific amounts, and offer greater customization to greenhouse users. It is important to note that shade netting does not always provide a suitable solution for greenhouses. In general, professionals recommend opting for metal shading as plastic shading is more prone to deteriorate over time. Metal materials offer better weather resistance as well as durability for several greenhouse seasons. Still, smaller greenhouses commonly use shade netting to provide crops with adequate sunlight reduction. The amount of sunlight in a greenhouse is a key factor in ensuring the success of vegetable crops, and different types of shading serve the role of restricting the passage of light. Shade net continues to be the most common element for smaller greenhouses, while metallic materials offer better results for larger greenhouses.
Why is shade netting the best choice for vegetable shading?
Shade netting is an indispensable tool to protect vegetables from the sun during the hottest months of the year. This mesh prevents excessive exposure to the sun, helping vegetables to reach their optimum ripening point and also achieving their best aroma and flavor. It consists of a light-transmitting fabric, which does not allow full sunlight to pass through, while at the same time allowing light to enter the medium. This improves the growth of vegetables, avoiding sunburn due to UVB rays from the sun, and polishing the appearance of the crops. These nets also provide an increase in storage temperature, contributing to a better ripening process and improving crop profitability. Until a few years ago, vegetables were protected by wooden or steel structures with open roofs.
These structures can be perfectly applied to shade fruits and vegetables during the growing period, but they usually have significant production costs. On the other hand, shade netting is a more economical solution for extensive farms, as it is a single fabric system with a very limited production cost. In addition, the installation of shade netting in security is simpler than other structures, since it only requires the concatenation and placement of the fabric on the crop establishments. It does not require structural elements, since the fabric is fastened with a simple bolt-based anchoring system. This saves space, resources and time spent on assembly. All these factors make shade netting the best option when choosing how to protect vegetables from the sun.
How does a shading mesh help?
Not only does the right fabric contribute to crop growth, but it also protects the grower by not having to worry about controlling shade structures in the event of unexpected or temporary weather conditions. Shade netting is also strong, and its use is suitable for both agricultural and sporting uses. It has been proven that the shade netting can withstand superior UV rays from the sun, compared to other shading systems, perhaps because the exquisite technical material endowed to this shade cloth prevents sun damage on the fabric, at a higher cost than traditional systems. This netting is also useful for post-harvest food preservation, as the fabric prevents moisture accumulation, also contributes to the ripening process of crops, and offers protection to vegetables from harmful insects and bacteria.
There are many systems to provide crops with an optimal environment for their development and ripening, and many growers are opting for shade netting as the best option to shade their vegetables. This fabric allows to offer the given requirement in terms of sun protection and environmental protection, with a reduced cost and easy installation. The shade netting is, undoubtedly, a safer option for those producers who wish to obtain a higher profitability with a lower product cost. In recent years, shade netting for vegetable gardens has become an essential element to achieve the best results in vegetable production. This netting is especially intended for vegetable gardens, as the netting provides protection against harmful insects such as aphids, scale, aphids and whiteflies, as well as preventing the loss of liquids due to evaporation.