How to Choose the Right Shade Net for Your Farm

1. Match the shade percentage to your crop

As a rule of thumb: 35% shade suits sun-loving vegetables like tomatoes, chillies and brinjal during the hardening-off stage. 50% shade is the all-rounder — ideal for most nurseries, floriculture, leafy greens and capsicum. 75% shade is reserved for shade-loving ornamentals like ferns, orchids and indoor plants, and for non-crop uses such as cattle sheds and car parking.

If your region regularly crosses 42°C in summer, step one level darker than the standard recommendation for the hottest months, then swap back for winter.

2. Always choose knitted over woven

Knitted shade nets lock every loop, so they never unravel when cut and stretch around structures without tearing. Woven nets cost slightly less upfront but fray at the edges, degrade faster, and usually need replacing in half the time. Over a five-year horizon, knitted nets are significantly cheaper per season.

3. Colour affects more than looks

Green nets blend into the landscape and provide balanced light — the default for most farms. Black nets carry carbon black, the most effective UV stabilizer, giving them the longest outdoor life; commercial nurseries prefer them for permanent structures. White nets diffuse light rather than block it, scattering sunshine evenly through the canopy — excellent for flowering crops where uniform light improves bloom quality.

Whichever combination you choose, insist on polymer-stage UV stabilization and a written shade-factor specification. Both are standard on every Tirumala shade net.