Do it with mirrors?

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SweeKim Philadelphia, PA May 05, 2006

Our city backyard garden is shaded by a six foot high wall on the south, and beyond that by a two-story neighboring house. There is limited sun in the morning and late afternoon, but no sun on the garden itself in the middle of the day.

My idea is to put mirrors up on the south wall of the house to reflect sunlight into the garden. I don't know if that will work from a biological viewpoint, nor do I know what kind of mirrors to use. Large glass mirrors are likely to be too expensive, though, and I am thinking about some kind of reflective plastic sheeting.

Can we do it with mirrors?

We grew tomatoes last year, and got really big bushes, but very few tomatoes. This is probably because of the lack of direct sun in the middle of day. Flowers did fine, and we will grow more flowers this year.

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) May 06, 2006

i really have no idea, but it seems like it might burn not just the plants but maybe your house as well. we need a scientist to answer this one or a boyscout!

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SweeKim Philadelphia, PA May 06, 2006

We have a solid brick townhouse, about 130 years old, so I do not see any risk of fire. We would direct the sunlight away from the house wall towards the garden, which is along the south cinder block wall of the yard.

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seedpicker_TX (Taylor) Plano, TX(Zone 8a) May 07, 2006

I saw them use mirrors like that on Ground Force several times, and know of a lady here in town that used it like that, too...

There is also a mylar type reflective material sold for greenhouses specifically for that purpose. I've seen it on ebay recently...
-T

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BloomsWithaView Moab, UT(Zone 6b) May 07, 2006

I think it sounds like it would work... and appear to double your garden from some viewpoints. ~Blooms

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