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Fresno, CA

I have two seedlings ready to be put in the ground (first true leaf about 2 inches wide), but the wind is gusting hard here for the next 3 days. Is there a way to protect them from the wind without creating a greenhouse effect? I'm worried if I cover them with clear plastic tarp to protect from wind that it will heat up too much under the tarp.

5/25/2011 10:03:20 PM

Western NY

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=35178

go a little higher than in the pic

5/25/2011 10:44:38 PM

morristown, Tn email [email protected]

build a sceen wind break it will portect with out heating up the plant i will post a picture on my direy

5/25/2011 11:57:04 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

ET, a few posts down...someone suggested using not one but two laundry baskets upside down, and rotated a lil, to make the holes smaller!!! Would not heat up, but sounds like it would confuse the wind!!! Weight on top would be needed, of course!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...a wind break fence of some sort (silt fence) a few feet away would also help!!!

5/26/2011 12:01:44 AM

Las Cruces NM

I can't put up hoop house because of sun's heat. Don't really need it for heat but I do need to protect from wind. So I take 10ft counduit, cut in half, stake them in the ground and wrap 4 foot wide heavy (thickest mil I can find, but at least 6 mil) clear plastic around them while keeping the top open. Don't worry about wrapig them several times and wasting plastic for as the plants grow, I can expand them out by unwraping.

I tried the comercial black wind screen -- comes with stakes and all so in convenient, but wasn't good enough to save the plants with my daily 20-50 MPH spring wind which hasn't let up yet :P

5/26/2011 12:45:17 AM

Las Cruces NM

BTW, look like the pic Andy posted but I use thicker plastic and hug the ground good. Makes scarry snaping noises in the wind but it holds up!

5/26/2011 12:48:32 AM

Fresno, CA

Thanks Andy, Fred, Tim, Wayne and SWDesert. I'm giving it a try tomorrow morning.

5/26/2011 1:18:29 AM

Muddy Waters

I stick 4 stakes in ground 2x2s or electric fence posts,about 3-4 feet high & wrap in plastic,its topless heat escapes! Or old milk crates are grate wind,rabbit,wood chuck protection,K.I.S.S KEEP IT SIMPLE SLAPPY!!

5/26/2011 6:58:21 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

Endless, I'd apply another application to the silt fence so you get two layers of protection also you can get a semi hoophouse made by putting the hoophouse with just a tarp over the roof. with all that protection it shoulfd be more then enough to break the wind. Also some bamboo to hold the leaves up a bit giving it just enought to move without stressing it.

5/26/2011 7:58:32 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

I am glad that I put up my windbreaks...silt fence w/the wooden stakes...AND added tposts strapped to each of the wooden stakes!!!! season would be over if I had not done this!!!! Peace, Wayne

5/26/2011 4:53:02 PM

Connecticut, USA

Here is what I do. Very easy and mobile so you can reuse the plastic.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=114615

5/27/2011 10:49:13 AM