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Massachusetts

A few years ago, I had a discussion with an accomplished NY giant pumpkin grower who applied CalCarb to his plants in anticipation of really sunny days to help protect them from scorching sun/UV. Many human sunscreens use minerals like zinc and titanium salts to create a barrier on the skin to reflect and scatter UV rays. I think of materials that we use that are mineral salts like CalCarb or Manzate Prostick that leave a grayish film on the leaves after a foliar application. Does anyone use materials like this to help protect the plant? Probably not as effective as shadecloth but maybe another tool for the outdoor grower?

7/5/2025 9:23:04 AM

Bethlehem CT

I think dale down in Australia does.

7/5/2025 10:10:47 AM

Grittyville, WA

I tried dusting the plants with calcium as a wash-off-able shade cloth. It may have helped. It didnt hurt. I think some minerals like zinc may help the plants protect themselves from damage. I dont know how much benefit there is from these minerals being inside the leaf vs outside/coating the leaves.

7/5/2025 1:37:02 PM

Australia [email protected]

I have used a Yates product called wiltnot it's for extreme weather conditions or changes l use it for heat and uv is the main one but starting to think shadecloth might be better as most of those products need 24 to 48 hours before they are affective I surf here and you need to wear sunscreen but friends who have on holidays surfed in the Northern hemisphere say you don't get sunburnt like here as think its the uv possibly why we have one of the highest skin cancer rates another product you could try is envy

7/5/2025 4:55:14 PM