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This One Change Protects Our Entire Strawberry High Tunnel

This Video is from the Youtube channel: “Homegrown Passion”. 

Summer heat can quickly turn a high tunnel into an oven, so today I’m showing you how I install shade cloth over my strawberry high tunnel at Bradwood Farm.

Strawberries love sunshine, but when temperatures climb into the upper 80s and 90s, excessive heat can cause plant stress, smaller berries, fewer flowers, slower growth, and even sun damage. Shade cloth helps reduce the intense sunlight entering the high tunnel while still allowing the plants to receive the light they need for healthy growth.

In this video, I’ll show you our entire shade-cloth installation process, including:

• Measuring the light inside the tunnel before installation
• Unrolling and positioning the greenhouse shade cloth
• Using a rope and water bottle to pull it over the tunnel
• Avoiding bolts and objects that could tear the material
• Centering the cloth for even coverage
• Securing it with clips and tie-downs
• Preparing it for wind and summer storms
• Measuring the light again after installation

One of my favorite tricks is tying a partially filled water bottle to a rope and gently tossing it over the high tunnel. That lets me pull the shade cloth across without climbing onto the structure or dragging it roughly over the greenhouse plastic.

Before installing the shade cloth, my light meter showed a reading of approximately 43.4. After the cloth was installed, the reading dropped to approximately 31.9. That gives us a noticeable reduction in direct light while still leaving plenty of energy for plant growth.

A loose shade cloth can quickly turn into a giant sail, so it’s important to center it carefully and secure it along both sides. Spending a few extra minutes attaching the clips and tying everything down can prevent a lot of trouble during windy weather and summer storms.

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Installing shade cloth is a relatively simple summer project, but it can make a big difference for strawberries, vegetables, flowers, and other crops growing inside a greenhouse or high tunnel. It helps reduce heat stress, moderates intense sunlight, and creates a more comfortable growing environment during the hottest part of the season.

Please subscribe to Homegrown Passion for more greenhouse growing, hydroponics, strawberries, gardening projects, and everyday life here at Bradwood Farm in Ohio.

Thank you for spending part of your day with me!

Katy
Homegrown Passion
Bradwood Farm

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Our Address: 1130 E. Main Street Suite 118 Ashland, OH 44805

#ShadeCloth #HighTunnel #strawberries

00:00 Summer Heat in the Strawberry Tunnel
00:38 Why Strawberries Need Protection From Heat
01:31 Measuring Light Before the Shade Cloth
02:29 Unrolling the Greenhouse Shade Cloth
03:46 Positioning the Cloth for Afternoon Sun
04:37 Preparing the High Tunnel
05:12 The Water Bottle and Rope Trick
06:28 Pulling the Shade Cloth Over the Tunnel
07:31 Join Homegrown Passion With Katy on Patreon
08:24 Centering the Shade Cloth
09:19 Installing the Clips
10:10 Tying Down the Ends
10:52 Securing the Cloth for Wind and Storms
11:46 Testing the Light After Installation
12:30 Shade Cloth Results and Final Thoughts