Does shade cloth actually lower soil temp or is it just for plants?

I was reading a study from the University of Arizona that said shade cloth can drop soil temperature by up to 15 degrees in direct sun, not just keep leaves from burning. But then I talked to a guy near Phoenix who swears his veggies grew better without it because the warmth helped his peppers ripen sooner. I'm torn on whether to put 40% cloth over my raised beds here in Texas. Has anyone tested soil temps side by side with and without it?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray6138d ago

Huh that actually changed my mind, always thought it was just for the leaves.

cora_west58d ago

Actually had the same wake-up call with @ray613 a couple years back when someone broke it down for me. Turns out I was missing half the point for way too long. Makes you wonder what else we're all glossing over without realizing it.

shane1707d ago

Yeah I get that frustration. Had the same confusion last year with my tomatoes in Dallas. Put up 30% cloth and my soil temp dropped about 10 degrees on the hot side but my peppers took forever to ripen.

-1