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Apr 18, 2014 8:00 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
This is how my three greenhouses look today. I have removed the solar blanket material over the tops and sides, but remains on the two ends of both GH's. I have 50% shade cloth on the lean-to ("Orchid") and 75% on the free-standing ("Everything Else") GH. The mini-greenhouse is full of tomato, pepper, and plumeria, but they will all go outside in full sun today. I think/hope our cold weather is gone for good. I will use the mini-greenhouse to harden off plants and start seeds for a month and then it will come down until the fall.

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drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Nov 15, 2014 11:51 AM CST
Name: Billy Perez
Panhandle of Florida (Zone 9a)
Have been a plant lover all my life
This is my first year using the solar blanket . How well do they really help? I have oil heater in each one ?
Thanks Billy Thank You!
The true POWER of LOVE has NO COLOR, NO SEX, OR NO NATIONALITY, LOVE comes from within our HEARTS, and we all have the same hearts. So lets let our hearts, share that love to all..Billy
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Nov 15, 2014 10:16 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Billy, there is absolutely no doubt that the solar blanket covering helped a great deal last year. We had the worse winter I can remember. This year has now started out to surpass last years horrible cold. I am considering covering my two greenhouses with another layer of solar blanket, at least on 75% or so of the total coverage. I don't know that it will help, but what the heck, I have extra solar blanket material and I might as well use it.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Nov 26, 2014 11:08 AM CST
Name: Ric Sanders
Dover, Pa. (Zone 6b)
And his children Are his flowers ..
Birds Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Ponds Region: Pennsylvania Greenhouse
Garden Art Dog Lover Cottage Gardener Butterflies Vegetable Grower Garden Ideas: Master Level
I did add a solar cover to my HFGH covering the whole roof and south side. Even with the added support structure I was worried about snow loading. It would seem my fear was for naught. It is snowing here so heavily that it knocked out our DishTV but it appears to be sliding off as well as can be expected. The year we built it, we didn't yet have heat when we got a terrible Halloween storm. I was out there ever 30 mins. or so pulling the snow off with the pool brush. Hilarious!
The solar cover has performed above my expectations. It should only be a matter of weeks till we recoup the expense and it is so much nicer than the bubble wrap stuck to the inside. I bought either a 5 or 7 year cover, so it should last a while. I was thinking I may just leave it in place and see if it diffuses the light enough to not use my shade cloth. My shade cloth was a 10 year remnant I bough from GH Supply and is 50% black mesh. Your thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Ric of MAF @ DG
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Nov 26, 2014 11:43 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Apparently you installed the smooth-side out, Ric, which is what you should have done. The plastic being smooth and "slippery" allows the snow to slide off the roof. I still have to use shade cloth, either 60% or 70% and install it in the spring. Though the solar blanket material does indeed diffuse light (and is supposed to block UV), I can't take the chance with all my orchids and other tropical plants. Though sunburn doesn't kill plants, it sure does make those sunburned leaves ugly. I remove the solar blanket material from two side plus the roof on my free-standing GH and the roof/side on the lean-to in the spring, when the night/morning temperatures stay above 50 F.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Nov 26, 2014 12:04 PM CST
Name: Carol Texas
Central Texas (Zone 8b)
"Not all who wander are lost."
Bookworm Region: Texas Organic Gardener Hummingbirder Herbs Greenhouse
Garden Art Fruit Growers Dragonflies Composter Cactus and Succulents Gardens in Buckets
My solar blanket is performing great too! Very happy with it -- such a difference when I go inside -- no drafts! Regarding the shade cloth. I bought a roll at Home Depot but it doesn't say whether it's 50% or what ? Not sure if I should return it and order on line. Would be nice to know what I've got.
Www.carolmedfordart.com
My passion is painting but gardening is running a close second.
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Nov 26, 2014 12:32 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I don't know, Carol. Any shade-cloth should have a number on it that tells you the shade factor. A 50 would be a cloth that filters out 50% of the sunlight. A 70 filters out 70% of the light. If you can't find a number, you might be able to go to the HD home page, pull up "shade cloth" and see if the details are given there under the description of the product. Typically, depending on where one lives, the "stronger" the sunlight during the spring/summer months, the higher the shade factor you want. Thus those in the northern states might only need a 50 whereas those in S. Florida might need a 70. It also depends on what you are growing. My orchids are very sensitive to the infrared rays whereas my vegetable seedlings won't be as sensitive.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
Avatar for sharonslatte
Oct 1, 2017 3:08 PM CST

I am trying this for the first time. How did you fasten the solar cover to your greenhouse? I am unsure if I should cut it up and staple it on to the outside frame or just drape it over the hold thing and fasten it down with a clear tarp. ANY comments would help.
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Nov 5, 2017 2:40 PM CST
Name: Ric Sanders
Dover, Pa. (Zone 6b)
And his children Are his flowers ..
Birds Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Ponds Region: Pennsylvania Greenhouse
Garden Art Dog Lover Cottage Gardener Butterflies Vegetable Grower Garden Ideas: Master Level
sharonslatte, since your profile doesn't show where you are located, I don't have any idea what your conditions are. Sad
I attach my solar blanket with strips of wood screwed to the slightly larger strips I have mounted to my aluminum frame. I find the solar cover acts as a shade for most of the season, only using a 50% cover during the hottest summer months. Since your GH appears to have a wood frame I believe this should work for you. My whole roof and southern most side is one piece and the cut off is enough to cover the northern most end. Smiling
Ric of MAF @ DG
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