How To Choose A Shade Net

How to choose a shade net is a question farmers ask us when procuring shade netting for vegetables. Shade net percentages indicate the amount of shade provided by the different types of agricultural nets. How to choose a shade net for farming is key for crop performance. In this write up we also answer other questions asked by farmers who buy shade nets for agriculture.

How to choose a shade net for plants

1. Crop type

Some crops perform better under full solar exposure, and others under shade. A farmer must understand if or not the crop will bear well under shade. Ample sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis, the process by which plants make food

2. Crop stage of growth

Tender plants in the nursery are best shaded by 90% or 75% shad nets. It is important to understand how much does a shade net reduce temperature in nurseries. 50% to 30% is for the hardening stage

3. Location

Farmers in warmer low lands work with 90% and 75% most of the time. Farmers in the cooler highlands prefer 75% to 30%.

4. Budget

A 90% shade net is more expensive than a 75% one, and so on. The more shading you get, the more you pay for it. Shade net prices in Kenya by Grekkon Limited are;

1. 30% nets. Kes 65/ M square
2. 55% nets. Kes 80/ M square
3. 75% nets. Kes 110/M square
4. 90% nets. Kes 170/M square

When you buy a shade net, volume discounts apply.

How to choose a shade net FAQs

i. Does rain go through a shade net?

Yes it does, but the droplets are slower and lesser in size

ii. What percentage shade net should I use?

As explained in 1 -5 above

iii. Can you grow vegetables under a shade net?

Yes you will

iv. How do you build a net house?

This is build by setting up a wooden or steel frame structure, then covering it on top and sides with a shade net

v. What is the difference between a greenhouse and a shade house?

A greenhouse allows all light through. A shade net keeps off a certain amount of light

vi. Can you put a shade net directly on plants?

Yes. it must not interfere with the plant’s growth

vii. Does a shade net block the wind?

Yes, a shade net is also a windbreaker in windy farms

viii. Does a shade net block UV rays?

Yes it does.