The summer can be very hot and have some very intense sun exposure/ Many plants can not survive exposure to the summers intense sun light or the the heat. There are, however, some options to help extend the growing season of some light and heat sensitive plants.
Temperature Controlled Greenhouse
This is a very expensive option, and out of the budget for most home gardeners, but it is a very effective one. These types of greenhouses will have air conditioning or some sort of cooling system that will regulate the heat, and they will often have some type of shade that can be adjusted. The growing season in these types of greenhouses is year round for most plants.
Shade Cloth Structures
Many gardeners use some sort of DIY shade cloth structures. A popular method is the build a frame out of PVC pipe and drape the shade cloth over top of the frame. It is best to have the top and both the east and west sides of the DIY structure covered with shade cloth while the north and south sides are open to allow airflow and light to enter.
As the summer, and amount of sun progresses, the shade cloth can either be replaced with a thicker cloth, or a second thin layer can be applied.
Grow in Partial Shade
If there is an area of your garden that is shaded during the hottest times of summer, this is a good place to grow crops that can be sensitive to high levels of sun exposure. Be sure to watch the shade as it will be different in summer than it is in winter.
Commercially Available Products
There are many commercially available products on the market. They range from simple shade cloth frames all the way to elaborate solar powered cooling systems. A simple search of Amazon or your preferred online retailer will return MANY options. Here are a few that we have used from Amazon:
- Shade Cloth Roll
- Shade Cloth with Grommets (Easy to attach to any structure)
- Simple Greenhouse Hoops (To attach shade cloth to)
Conclusion
With the summer heat and intense sun, it is important to protect sensitive plants. There are many techniques and methods available, but often a low cost highly creative solution is the best! Put your thinking cap on and protect those plants!
