How to keep the hot August sun off your Fall garden?

Question

I just planted my fall garden and I wanted ideas to keep the hot August sun off the young seedlings so they won't wilt. I was thinking about using green plastic soda bottles. But I think they would be too hot. Any ideas?

Answer 1

shade cloth

Answer 2

I live in Florida and i already have my mustard greens,broccolli, and cauliflower outside..I don't know where you are but Florida sun is pretty hot..I started my seed indoors first  for a few weeks under lights then transplanted them outdoors so they wouldn't have to sprout in the sun..then i took them outside and put in a filtered shady spot for a week to "harden them off" then transplanted them..most fall ad winter veggies actually plant when it is still warm..but are timed to not be big enough to "bolt to seed" untill cooler weather hits...I grow veggies 12 months out of the year..heres a few pictures of my garden..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

Heres my collard greens already going..This was about 2 weeks ago..I already picked leaves once for a meal the other day..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

These are my mustard greens planted direct from seed about 2 weeks ago as well..I am already picking them but when young, for I have to eventually thin them out to 6 inches apart..I let them grow about 3 inches or so before thinning and use the plants I thinned out in salads..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

These are my swiss chard sprouting also a winter green..they were planted directly in the ground too..it will be cooling off soon..alot of winter plants can be planted directly in the ground right now..and our temperatures are still in the upper 80's and low 90';s..If i knew your zone I could find you a chart of waht to do in your garden month by month..I am in northwest Florida (panama city beach) which is zone 8b..I will give a link here that shows you an example..

http://bradford.ifas.ufl.edu/vegetable_p...

Answer 3

Shade cloth, yeah.  

Or a light 'floating row cover'. That works really well.  Provides some shade and keeps the moisture in. And you can just water right thru it.  

The plastic bottle will get too hot.  Cook you platlets.  I've done that.  However, if they are getting wnough water and not in full sun you could do it.  Just be sure you cut off the bottom and leave the cap off. They do make nice mini greenhouses.