Polytunnel Shading

[pigletwillie]

In an effort to provide some shade in our new tunnel , a friend suggested growing cape gooseberries on wires over the tomatoes, aubergines and peppers.

Could this idea be adapted to use cucumber plants to trail over rather than cape gooseberries.

Height isnt a problem as the tunnel is 9` high but is oriented east waest to catch maximum light.

[andrewo]

Doesn't sound like a problem to me but I would be wary of viruses being spread from the cucumber and a little worried whether the cucumber would get up there fast enough before mid summer.

[Lesley Jay]

When I grew cape gooseberries they didn't grow big enough to train across the ceiling of the greenhouse. What about a grapevine?

[nick the grief]

How about climbing french beans PW. They prefer warmer conditions or even runner beans outside the polytunnel or a row of sunflowers.

[pigletwillie]

The french beans sound like a good idea Nick as I have a load of borlotti beans to try this year. It has also been pointed out that the cucumbers themselves may like being shaded.