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Minnesota([email protected])

My three competition plants will have outgrown their hoophouses in the next few days. I'm looking for suggestions of what I should use to shelter the plants from wind damage.
My three plant sites are in an area of 75'X 24'.
I'd like to put a wind break around the perimeter of this area. I'd like to keep it somewhat economical. I'd also like to know how high the windbreak should be. Thanks!

6/3/2006 10:35:52 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

7:1 ratio for windbreak...put up two several feet apart and you can reduce it by half. Corn and Sunflowers make good windbreaks

6/3/2006 10:41:38 PM

Rainbowlake Alberta

Depends on your Budget , and conditions, What are your requirements, can you grow other plants in the area? Are you confined to what type of structure etc, many good ideas out there.What are your basic Requirements, Wish I had the extra land to grow sunflowers for a wind break, thats the route i would take, corn would be a double bonus!

6/4/2006 12:22:10 AM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

doug i use silt fence it comes in 100 foot rolls and is 4 feet high,usually cost around 30 bucks a roll and allready has stakes attached to it so it goes up easy and is very durable,most farm stores carry it or landscapers may have some, anyway hope this helps keith

6/4/2006 12:30:41 AM

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Cheyenne Wyoming has to be one of the most windy places on earth. It seems like a calm day if the wind blows only 15 to 20 MPH. 55 MPH wind is common.

I have used many things for wind breaks over the years. The 6 ml plastic from hoop houses stretched tightly between poles four to six feet apart works well. Cheap 8' X 8' tarps cut in half, and then stretched in 4' tall X 8' long sections works well. Old wooden pallets set on end, with two utility poles put in the middle of them to hold them up looks like the Beverly Hill Billies, but works well. Depending on what you can get your hands on, 30 gallon trash cans (filled about 20% with dirt for weight) set next to each other do well.

The best thing I think I've ever used, I stumbled upon this year. I'm using the netting from my kids old trampoline. This is the top part that is supposed to keep them from falling off the tramp, not the part they jump on. After messing with it for a few minutes and folding it in half, it came out about four feet high, and about 20' to 25' long. If a person could get ahold of several of those, they could put a wind break around a very large area quickly and effectively. Anyone with an old broken trampoline is just trying to figure out a way to throw the darn things out, as they take up a large amount of space in the trash can.

John

6/4/2006 1:30:13 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

burlap is good also...only lasts one season because of the rot but also tills in nicely!!

6/4/2006 6:26:19 AM

Mocksville, NC

I use X supports 3/8 oak dowles cut in half, $ 7.75 For ten then cut 20pcs on big leafs little ways from stump area, main, sidevines more or less pinning to the ground. Not a hard pin let it have a little movement, the movement will turn the cells from up, and down to side to side making it a stronger plant, against wind, but thats just me, do what works for you! And grow a biggin

6/4/2006 7:31:38 AM

[email protected]

Snow fence, doubled up so that the holes are covered as much as possible by the other piece fo fence. Held in place with steel posts. Its not that expensive, will last several seasons and is easy to store once its rolled up.

6/4/2006 11:15:51 AM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

Don't try to stop all the wind. Use materals that will allow part of the wind to go through. Snow fence allows part ot the wind to pass.

6/4/2006 1:10:22 PM

Deer Park WA

We use silt fence around the patch perimeter, and old storm windows nailed together and strategically set up in and around the plants. Bury the vines and the wind dosen't mess with them so bad.

6/5/2006 12:42:41 AM

[email protected]

Jerry Rose did something different last year. He used vertical boards placed in thirds (I think). A 4" plank then an 8" gap then another 4" board....or something like that. Like Shannon said, a 4' high break protects for 28'.

6/5/2006 7:06:36 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Silt and snow breaks/ fences have always worked well here...

6/5/2006 8:51:07 AM

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Get some pallets to use as fence, you can also haul your giants to the weigh off with them. Then if all fails, they make a great bonfire to burn the diseased vines.

Have a great season

6/6/2006 1:05:43 AM

huntsburg,ohio

No Steve 8 inch board 3 inch gap.Jerry

6/6/2006 9:14:04 AM

[email protected]

Thanks Jerry....I relly need to write that down somewhere. At least I had an "8" in there.

I've mostly used silt fencing too. Cheap & easy is always good. But they like to slap around if you don't add extra verticals here & there.

6/6/2006 9:51:41 AM