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Deal With It

Here in Oklahoma, we have the opposite problem of most of you northern growers: a need for protection from extreme heat. Hoop houses are unnecessary in the spring because AG seedlings go into the ground in early May, beyond the latest threat of frost. Since there are very few AG growers on this site who need to modify for 100+ degree heat, I haven't seen many innovative solutions for this problem.

Other than sheets and canopies, how does one keep an entire AG plant cool under these circumstances? A simple fan would be insufficient, as it would not lower the ambient temperature. I do not have the funds this year to build a a/c-cooled 'kin cave. Has anyone seen success with cooling an entire AG plant with the use of a window a/c unit blowing under canopies during the worst of the summer heat?

Just looking for ideas while I have the time to create something. Thanks.

P.S. I lost all of my AG plants in late July 2012 as a result of too many days of 105+ heat, even with canopies protecting much of the plants.

2/5/2015 1:16:03 PM

Deal With It

Yes, I do cover the vines, in case anyone was going to suggest that.

2/5/2015 1:24:04 PM

Hinckley MN

40% shade cloth and misters would be my advice for cooling. That is assuming water is cheaper than electricity

2/5/2015 1:33:51 PM

Colorado

ditto on the shade cloth/misters

2/5/2015 1:37:38 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I know more then a couple growers that deal with 100 plus a day. Shade cloth like Ben said and misters that go on from 11:00am to 4:00pm every 10 minutes for a few seconds keeps their plants cool enough to get very large kins.

Maybe one will chime in.

Good luck!

2/5/2015 1:38:48 PM

Deal With It

Thanks. Any retail or secondhand recommendations for misters on timers?

2/5/2015 1:42:56 PM

Springfield, Missouri

Creating shallow trenches, for the vines, has helped me the most. I don't cover the vines with dirt as it seems to be an issue in this area. I also use plywood a couple feet wide, on stilts, to shade vine tips. I try not to over use my shade cloth as it facilitates PM growth, causes the leafs to elongate(more prone to wind damage), and increases light sensitivity (when cloth is removed on mild days).

Increasing organic matter helps improve water uptake, but it can facilitate disease.

I also use a cowpea cover crop. They have nice heat/drought tolerance, but more importantly help keep the soil cool and alive. I mow peas down in front of the plant, and add them to the compost. Helps reduce soil disease from what I can tell, and improves the root system. (living soil is better than dead soil). Everyone has their own way of doing things, every place is different, but I hope this helps.

2/5/2015 3:55:03 PM

San Diego

dripworks is a great company to get micro sprinklers and drip line. Research on line for companies that sell large shade cloths for your best price, 40% is good in high heat along with misting on 100 plus days. I got 22% and 40, 22 seems a little light. Last few seasons I would put up the 40 over the 22 if it was gonna get smoking hot for a week or so if my plant was not heat tolerant, when temps cooled a little, the double protection comes off.

2/5/2015 5:46:07 PM

Torrance, Ca.

And let me tell you,,,,, team faith in the above post grows in hot, hot, hot conditions!!! And does very well!!!!

2/5/2015 6:08:55 PM

Deal With It

Thanks for the tips. I used drip irrigation last year, but no drip tape or misters. Any recommendations for which drip tapes and misters on the Dripworks website? I'm likely to be growing two AG plants (maybe three?), with each plant occupying about 600 square feet.

2/5/2015 6:57:49 PM

East Jordan, MI

Here is the shade cloth we bought, doubles as hail net. http://www.ecologictechnologiesinc.com/shade_cloth_films_screens_greenhouse_shade_cloth.html

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=215699
it's retractable by one person in just a couple of minutes
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=215700

Here are the misters we have -- be sure to get the barb one not the threaded one (3/4 GPH Mister--Brb (Violet) pg 20)

MND34B http://www.dripworks.com/product/Q_MND

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=217328
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=217330
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=217332
misters in action
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=217825

2/5/2015 7:16:05 PM

Minneapolis, Mn

After 4 years we Gave up, and changed tactics...we are growing Jan-May and having a May 30 weigh off....

I had good plant health one summer by having light frost cloth over the plant, and I had a micro sprinkler spraying ON TOP of the cloth...kinda made a swamp cooler effect.....anyone try to mist on top of shade cloth just enough to wet it without dripping, for evaporative effect?

2/5/2015 8:17:46 PM

Deal With It

Thanks, cntryboy. I won't be able to make the cloth system that elaborate this year, but I'll figure something out. Davidphx, We have a "real" winter here, so we can't exactly offset our season. Average first freeze is 10/30, and average last freeze is 4/5. We were at 14 degrees this morning. Coldest this winter has been 2 above.

2/5/2015 9:09:51 PM

San Diego

drip works has many sprinklers, they vary by gph and distance of spray. It depends on soil type, temps, humidity, and if you want it to water the ground as well or just cool the leaves. I would recommend to try several types and experiment, you will dial it in pretty quickly as you learn which works better than others in your area and patch.

2/6/2015 12:13:53 AM

Upa Creek, MO

If you get the high humidity like here in Missouri, Logan would be a good person to listen to since he is by the Oklahoma\Missouri border and a proven grower. High heat, low humidity, sunny skies and little rain out west is much different than high heat, high humidity and rain/clouds/sun here. Always consider all factors before you take any measures. Something that works great in one location can cause have negative affects like disease in another. I found out over the past few years that very few things are universal in this hobby.

2/6/2015 7:50:25 AM

Central Illinois

irrigationdirect .com has free shipping dripworks does not, one site might be cheaper on one item but higher on another,dripworks has always been higher than irrigationdirect (for me) on my orders when shipping is included.

2/6/2015 8:34:30 AM

Deal With It

Thanks for the continued suggestions. Our weather is almost identical to what would be experienced on the Oklahoma/Missouri border, as we're located about 20 miles northeast of Tulsa. Long-term average annual rainfall here is about 40 inches, with May and September ranking as the two wettest months. Average annual rainfall drops off very quickly just to our west, since the influence of the Gulf of Mexico diminishes.

Thanks for the tips on irrigation suppliers. Has anyone found that the prices are cheaper during the winter?

2/6/2015 9:14:06 AM

Partlow,Va

Claremoron, I had the same problem in 2012 with the heat and decided I was covering the entire plant in the future. Nothing like seeing all the plants flat on the ground on a 100 degree day after all your hard work. You can look at my diary last year to see what I did and it may help you. I purchased 30% bulk shade cloth from Greenhouse Megastore and the clips that go with them and used my own rope. The cost was about $260 for a 26 X 70. Last years patch I had two of these side by side to cover 4 plants. What I learned is the higher you can put them the better off you are for more air flow. It also holds more moisture in your patch so I don't burry vines I pull dirt to them. The only problem I had was during cloudy wet periods I had some vines rot and I would like to make it removable for this year.
Berryhilldrip.com is the supplier I have used in the past for irrigation supplies. I have never used misters so I can't help you there. Hope this helps.

2/7/2015 9:47:01 AM

Partlow,Va

Some more info to add on the cloth...it is very light and each 26 X 70 weighs only about 25 pounds. Running down the center is an old dog running cable and that's all I had supporting it.

2/7/2015 10:03:23 AM

Deal With It

Thanks, HankH. I just looked at your Grower Diary from last year. How far apart are the posts holding up the edge of the shade cloth? I should be able to anchor to the barn roof on the north side, but I'll have to figure out the budget for the rest. http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=233298

2/7/2015 4:10:43 PM

Partlow,Va

You are welcome. The span of the shade cloth from the taller centerpoles to the 6 ft fences is about 30 ft. Also, the patch is 93ft long so there is 31ft in-between the taller poles.
For your patch you can always stick a couple center prop poles(8-10ft long 2x4s) up in the center where/if it sags too much between the barn and your future outside poles. Just put a towel or something on the top to protect the shade cloth.

2/7/2015 7:17:38 PM