MFJFIGS
Well-known member
I have given this subject a lot of thoughts and come up with a couple of ideas including glueing R30 pink insulation direct on heavy duty tarps.
Two options:
1- Wrap the insulated tarp (Tarp w/ R30) around a metal mesh structure housing the fig tree, or
2- Build a tent. A simple gable roof frame using two 4”X4”X8’ pt posts, and a 2”X4”X8’ beam. Center the tarp on top of the beam and extend it down on either side all the way to the ground and about 4’ away from the posts. Voilà, you have the perfect tent structure with a large 8’ X 8’ footprint to capture more than enough ground heat.
You can use CMU blocks, rocks, or other materials to secure the perimeter of the tarp against the ground and make sure it is airtight.
I would continue to use burlap and black felt paper to help with moisture.
Either option can be used to cover one or two trees at a time, assuming they are planted close enough to one another (no more than 6 feet apart as shown in the picture).
One can always suspend a heat bulb from the beam, or wrap incandescent Christmas lights around the trees, just in case temperatures dip below say -5 F or -10 F and there is a need for additional active heat source.
Comes end of March / early April, one can expose the south side of the tent (roll up the south side of the tarp…), and replace with a clear Polyethylene: 10 Mil Greenhouse Film UV Resistant. Alternate between insulated tarp and clear polyethylene as needed (day time & night time).
That is my little project for next year… the perfect project for a retired architect
who has been infected with the fig addiction virus.
Two options:
1- Wrap the insulated tarp (Tarp w/ R30) around a metal mesh structure housing the fig tree, or
2- Build a tent. A simple gable roof frame using two 4”X4”X8’ pt posts, and a 2”X4”X8’ beam. Center the tarp on top of the beam and extend it down on either side all the way to the ground and about 4’ away from the posts. Voilà, you have the perfect tent structure with a large 8’ X 8’ footprint to capture more than enough ground heat.
You can use CMU blocks, rocks, or other materials to secure the perimeter of the tarp against the ground and make sure it is airtight.
I would continue to use burlap and black felt paper to help with moisture.
Either option can be used to cover one or two trees at a time, assuming they are planted close enough to one another (no more than 6 feet apart as shown in the picture).
One can always suspend a heat bulb from the beam, or wrap incandescent Christmas lights around the trees, just in case temperatures dip below say -5 F or -10 F and there is a need for additional active heat source.
Comes end of March / early April, one can expose the south side of the tent (roll up the south side of the tarp…), and replace with a clear Polyethylene: 10 Mil Greenhouse Film UV Resistant. Alternate between insulated tarp and clear polyethylene as needed (day time & night time).
That is my little project for next year… the perfect project for a retired architect
who has been infected with the fig addiction virus.Attachments
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