Is this shade too much? Keeping new arugula from bolting...

[paulnjgarden]

Hi everyone,

Newbie home gardener, but well aware that arugula does not like super hot direct sun. It's in the mid-80s now here in NJ, so I'd like to keep some newly (~2 wks) transplanted arugula from getting too hot.

I built this shade out of PVC & black ground cover fabric- is the fabric providing TOO much shade here?

[img]https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/910/coverasu.jpg[/img] [/img]

[gumbo2176]

I looks like it is giving too much shade to me. I think most folks use something a bit lighter in color to help reflect the heat and filter the sunlight. That stuff looks pretty heavy. Others will be along shortly to add their opinions.

[paulnjgarden]

Thanks- I'll get some mulch!

It's actually not plastic- it's just black landscape fabric (like this: [url]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T8ASCM/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_I=B000BX4RYQ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0KEJ7TCGVB8HNR8WYSFH[/url])

[jal_ut]

I don't know if there is a way to keep plants from bolting. It is the mission of plants to make seed. I don't know if they need so many heat units like corn, to mature, but suspect this to be the case. Perhaps they need so much time? I don't really know. At any rate they will bolt when it is time, and when they decide to send up a seed spike, not much we can do about it. The best thing to do is plant a few seeds every week if you want a continous supply of fresh greens.