Shade Net for Plants: 35, 50 or 75 Percent for a Hot Summer?
For most vegetables on a hot roof in Lahore, Multan or Delhi, a 50 percent shade net for plants is the safe middle choice. Go lighter (30 to 35 percent) for fruiting crops that love sun, heavier (70 to 75 percent) only for ferns, money plant and seedlings. Put it up by early May, high enough that hot air can escape, and take it down when October cools.
Quick facts
- Most vegetables and herbs: 35 to 50 percent
- Leafy greens, mint, seedlings in May and June: 50 percent
- Ferns, foliage houseplants, nursery trays: 50 to 75 percent
- Height: at least 1.5 m above the pots, open on the sides
- When: late April or early May to late September on the plains
- Colour: green or black both work; white or silver runs cooler
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What does the percentage on a shade net mean?
It is roughly how much sunlight the net blocks. A 50 percent net lets about half the light through. Plants need light to grow and fruit, so more shade is not more care. Tomatoes and chillies under a 75 percent net grow tall and leafy and drop their flowers. The aim is to take the edge off the 1 pm to 4 pm sun in May and June, not to make a cave.
Which shade percentage is best for which plant?
| Plant | Net | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato, chilli, brinjal, okra (bhindi) | 30 to 35% | Need strong light to flower; stops leaf scorch on roofs |
| Gourds, cucumber (kheera) | 35% | Light shade only in the hottest weeks |
| Coriander, spinach, lettuce, mint | 50% | Bolt and burn in full summer sun |
| Seedling trays, new cuttings | 50 to 75% | Shallow roots dry out within hours |
| Ferns, money plant, peace lily | 70 to 75% | Shade plants by nature |
| Cacti, aloe, bougainvillea, Amaltas | None | Built for full desert sun |
Mint and aloe have their own heat routine in our guide to herb pots in summer heat.
The two net trick
Instead of one heavy net, string a 35 percent net over the whole roof garden and add a small 50 percent piece only over the herb and seedling corner. Fruiting plants keep their light, tender ones get extra cover, and you buy less of the heavy, costly net.
Green, black or white shade net: which is better?
Colour matters less than percentage and height. Black is common and lasts long. Green looks softer on a home roof and works the same at the same percentage. White and aluminised (silver) nets reflect more heat and keep the air beneath a little cooler, which helps on Multan and Sukkur roofs. Whatever the colour, buy UV-stabilised knitted net; cheap woven sheets go brittle and tear in one summer.
Do plants really need shade in summer?
Not all of them. In Karachi, sea air and humidity keep leaf temperatures lower, and many vegetables do fine with only afternoon shade from a wall. In the dry plains, where roof surfaces bake well past the air temperature, pots heat up, roots cook and leaves scorch by mid May. There, a net is usually the difference between a summer garden and a dead one. In the hills, most plants need no net at all.
How do you put up a shade net on a roof?
- Measure the area and add half a metre on each side for overhang.
- Fix four or more strong posts or use the parapet and stair room wall, with hooks at about 2 m height.
- Run galvanised wire or nylon rope tight between the hooks as a frame.
- Lay the net over the frame and tie it every 30 cm with cable ties or twine.
- Leave the sides open, or drop a side panel only on the west to block late sun.
- Check the ties after the first dust storm and before the monsoon.
Keep at least 1.5 m between the net and the plant tops. A net sitting on the plants traps hot air and does more harm than good.
Wind, storms and safety
A tight net acts like a sail. Pre-monsoon andhi storms tear loose nets and can pull light posts over. Use firmly anchored posts, never tie to water tanks, solar panels or wiring, and add a few small slits in very large nets so wind passes through. If a big storm is forecast, untie one side and roll it.
Never fix a frame to electric poles, cables or a dish antenna on a shared roof. Working at a roof edge without a parapet is dangerous; get a second person and stay inside the wall line. Heavy frames add load to old roofs, so keep them light. Torn bits of net trap birds; repair or remove them. Sagging nets hold rainwater pools, which breed mosquitoes, so tension them before the monsoon.
When should the net come down?
Take it down in late September or October on the plains when days drop below about 35°C. Winter vegetables need every hour of the short winter sun. Wash, dry and roll the net and store it out of light; it will last several seasons.
New to roof growing? Start with grow bag vegetables on rooftops, and find more in Kitchen Garden.
Shade net questions people ask
Which shade net is best for vegetables in Pakistan?
A 35 to 50 percent net for most vegetables in the plains. Fruiting crops prefer 30 to 35; leafy greens and herbs prefer 50.
Is 50 percent shade net good for plants?
Yes, for most summer gardens. It protects greens, herbs and seedlings while letting fruiting plants still flower, if hung high.
Is green or black shade net better?
At the same percentage they shade about the same. White or silver nets run a little cooler. Pick UV-stabilised net in any colour.
How high should a shade net be above plants?
At least 1.5 m above the plant tops, with open sides, so hot air escapes rather than collecting under the net.
Can tomatoes grow under a shade net?
Yes, under light shade of 30 to 35 percent in peak summer. Heavier shade gives leafy plants and few fruits.
When should I put up a shade net?
Late April to early May on the plains, before the first 40°C days. Take it down by October.
Do succulents need a shade net?
Usually not. Cacti and aloe handle full sun; only freshly potted or indoor-raised ones need light shade for a couple of weeks.
Can I use an old bedsheet instead of a shade net?
For a few days on a heat wave, yes, hung high. For a whole summer it blocks too much light and holds heat.