slower growth
Here is something I am beginning to wonder about. Everyone tries to cover
the growing fruit to keep the harsh sun off it so that it will grow better.
BUT, can you overdo covering it up and that in turn slows down the fruit
growth?
Reason I ask is for the last couple years I cover the new fruits with a
heavy white cloth type cover and then when it starts growing and looking like
it is going to be a good one I put the shade frame and cover over it to make
it as dark as I can on the fruit. It seems like with the heavy white cloth
that I use to cover it with that the fruits show a very good growth rate to
the chart but then when I cover it with the shade frame and cover, that
shortly after, the growth slows down. The shade frame I use has a lot of air
space between the fruit and the top of the cover so heat does not build up to
close to the fruits. I try to use a white tarp or a blue tarp covered with a
heavy white material on top to reflect all the sun/heat off it so that heat
will not build up inside on the fruit.
This year the fruit was a little behind at day 10 but then at day 20 she was
way over the chart and showing great growth. I decided to put the frame and
cover over her and guess what? She slowed way down on growth and on day 30 she
is way behind again. So when I only use the heavy white cloth to cover with it
seems like growth is good but when I cover the fruits with a better shade
system am I depriving the fruit of some needed sun that makes the growth so
much better?
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thomas
S.W. Oklahoma
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