Re: CULT: Solarization
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: CULT: Solarization
- From: R* T* D* <r*@sierratel.com>
- Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 23:03:54 -0600 (MDT)
Sharon McAllister wrote:
> And I concur, with one small caveat -- in climates with REALLY serious heat, the
> transparent polyethylene degrades too quickly to be effective but black plastic
> works well.
Sharon--
You can't get a lot more intense summer heat than we get--nary a cloud
ever in the sky to block the sun's rays and daily temps in the upper
90s. In climates like ours, you MUST use clear plastic. The KEY is to
use clear plastic that has UV inhibitors in the plastic--they're a
little more expensive, but they can last up to a year (and we only need
6 weeks for complete and total solarization)--EVEN in our long, intense
summers.
You're right about cheap construction grade plastic--it can and does
break down within a few weeks. Spend a little more and buy the RIGHT
plastic for the job.
Black plastic reflects the sun's rays--clear plastic lets IN the sun's
rays to HEAT the soil (at least in this climate). These are printed
recommendations for solarizing in our climate in tests done by the
University of California.
Rick Tasco
Superstition Iris Gardens
Central California Sierra Nevada foothills
Zone 8
