Hello George, What you are saying is true. The nets don't cover the entire filed. However, when you look up, there is a lot more net than space. The individual nets might be 3 metres wide, while the space between nets is only 0.5 metres. I suppose it is to protect against hail being blown in at an angle by the wind. But you are quite right; there must be spaces to let the hail through. I am not sure about the humidity. It could be a problem. But I am not close enough to the countries that use these nets as routine to ask the question. Con
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of George M. Greene Sent: 07 August 2007 14:40 To: Apple-Crop Subject: RE: Apple-Crop: sheltered apple trees Con: I can't quite imagine a full field hail covering. Is it strong enough to hold the hail until it melts? I would think that mildew would be worse under a covering since the humidity would likely be higher. I guess I have seen photos of nets over orchards in Mexico. To me covers over single rows seem a lot more practical. Best regards, George Greene >Thank you very much Derry, >Those covers seem like a very innovative way to >help avoid using fungicides. Karmijn are very >prone to scab and mildew, and would normally be >thought of as high chemical input apples. >The way I have my trees planted, I could not use >a system like yours. In various parts of Europe >(and elsewhere) hail covers are becoming >commonplace, but they cover entire fields rather >than rows of trees. I though your system might >be a bit like that, but I can see it is >different. >Con -- George M. Greene II 68 Willow Lane Wiscasset, ME 04578 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 207-882-8074 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
