I’m using the black extruded polymer netting designed to exclude rabbits and such. I have it up the sides of my raised beds and up to about 6 feet and over some so that my tomatoes are getting whatever shade those nets throw. The nets aren’t exactly laying flat in every spot so the tomatoes might be getting more shade from the nets than I think, but those nets definitely block some percentage of sunshine, but I cannot find any data on how much. With the tree canopy that comes into play at times and the reflected light from a nearby white rock drive and concrete surface I believe I have good enough light.

I have a cheapo meter that measures light, ph, and moisture. I wonder if anyone has ever nailed down the optimum lighting for tomatoes? I read a number of things about reflective mulches increasing yield and production.

There must be some sort of range of intensity of light that is prime or optimal. Wonder if that has been nailed down in a paper or publication?

https://dengarden.com/gardening/How-Muc ... lants-Need
https://www.enlitehorti.com/the-light-i ... atoes.html
Two articles on light for tomatoes.

My stuff is in a sunshine hole in the neighbors trees.
So they are shaded in the morning and afternoon.
As summer comes along they get more sunshine due to the angle of the sun.
They seem to do fine.

karstopography wrote: ↑Tue Apr 05, 2022 8:32 am I’m using the black extruded polymer netting designed to exclude rabbits and such. I have it up the sides of my raised beds and up to about 6 feet and over some so that my tomatoes are getting whatever shade those nets throw. The nets aren’t exactly laying flat in every spot so the tomatoes might be getting more shade from the nets than I think, but those nets definitely block some percentage of sunshine, but I cannot find any data on how much. With the tree canopy that comes into play at times and the reflected light from a nearby white rock drive and concrete surface I believe I have good enough light.

I have a cheapo meter that measures light, ph, and moisture. I wonder if anyone has ever nailed down the optimum lighting for tomatoes? I read a number of things about reflective mulches increasing yield and production.

There must be some sort of range of intensity of light that is prime or optimal. Wonder if that has been nailed down in a paper or publication?

I'm sure it's less of a problem when placed on top of the side of a raised bed than pinned to the ground like I had it, but just FYI I kept getting snakes caught in that netting when I used it. I had no idea that would happen and wish the label had told me.

@Cole_Robbie I had that problem also with the snakes and the nets in my “low” garden. They haven’t shown any interest in the higher raised beds thus far.

I started using 50% shade on the west side of the EarthBox row last year and it seemed to help to keep the temperature down in the boxes. For any tomatoes on the other sides that look like they need help I'll drape 70% over that section, been doing that for a number of years and like it.

I’m trying out white 50% shade cloth this year. So far I’ve only just transplanted my 3-week-old seedlings into the garden bed yesterday but the shade cloth plus attentive watering has seemed to keep them in good spirits so far.

Here's a couple of looks at 50% shade cloth in the back yard garden in south Austin. May 28, 2021 and April 12, 2022.

Believe the cloth works well and the fruit sets, until the temperature goes over 95-degrees. Both photos shot in the soft light of early morning.

Too windy for shade cloth so I use wood.
*
*
* *

I was perhaps going to buy some shade cloth today because Greenhouse Megastore is having a 10% off sale that ends today (code 522TEN). I'm trying to simplify my seedling hardening-off next year, and I found a page by Joe "gardener" that talks about using shade cloth to be able to leave seedlings out all day starting with 70% shade cloth and gradually working your way down.

I use shade cloth every year for tomatoes, eggplants and peas when I first plant them out. It helps them acclimate to the sun and often sudden heat. We tend to go from cold to hot overnight. Nights are too cold for planting eggplants and tomatoes and then when I do plant it heats up! I remove the shade cloth after a week or 10 days depending on temps.
I also use mosquito netting, white insect cloth or black wedding veil material. Can’t afford real shade cloth for the whole garden so the others are cheaper but don’t last as long.
Consider shade cloth an investment that can be reused annually. I buy the unbound kind where it is cut to length. I can cut it to my size and it doesn’t unravel.
My mosquito netting is high quality and has lasted over 10 years so far. I clip it to the high fencing around my Earthboxes or straw bales with clothespins.
The mosquito netting stays attached year round but is tied back when no longer needed. Some stays on as a barrier to flea beetles so is double duty.
Shade cloth can be really useful so consider it as a short term solution at the very least. I think mine is 60% but bought it a long time ago. The sites to buy it often have a chart showing which percentage is appropriate for which crops. Think I bought it at Greenhouse Megastore. Great site. Saw the ad for 10% and am considering getting some more.