Shade Houses

[Jay-ell]

On my second plot, The New Territories, I inherited 2 greenhouses - or at least 2 frames with alot of broken glass.





I had thought about moving them across to the Jungle and re-glazing them - as I think I already have too much shattered glass in the ground I was going to use polycarbonate, but checking out the price of the sheeting I've decided it would be more cost effective to buy a poly-tunnel.

This leaves me with 2 frames which I would like to utilise - I could dismantle them and use them as a source of aluminium construction material but that is a non-reversible option should in the future I deide I have the need for an 8x6 or 6x6 greenhouse.

Neither frame would easily go over my fruit bushes but as shade cloth is a lot less expensive than glazing I've been thinking about using the frames to build shade houses but not sure if shade houses are that useful.

Does anyone use shade houses and if so what for. I was thinking hardening off and using them to grow crops which don't handle mid summer well (suggestions please) but not sure about it.

Any input greately received.

[veggiechicken]

Do you mean like this one............




More info at.......
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1278498

[veggiechicken]

This is how it looked in May this year - great for brassicas!

[Jay-ell]

Yeah VC - Exactly like that (but probably not as good)

Is it scaffold netting or shade netting (if the latter what percentage)? Are the ends open or glazed? Is it manly for shade or butterfly protection?

Appart from sprouts and kale I'm not a big brassica fan (takes me longer to eat a cabbage than it does to grow) what else would benefit from growing in there? Spinach, lettuce, leafy greens?

[veggiechicken]

Scaffold netting. the ends are "glazed" as I could only get one set of glazing panels, but 4 cheap GHs. I There are tomatoes as well as brassicas in there now.
I have a fruit tunnel which is similarly covered and grow soft fruit, rasps, blackcurrants and strawbs in it. That works well too

Birds can't pinch the fruit but there are enough gaps that pollination hasn't been a problem. No need to water, like a GH.