[Cheshire Phill]

Last year my parsnips suffered big time. Carrot fly mainly, but also some canker. So this year, as I like parsnips, I decided to tend 'em really carefully.

So I planted under a green fleece "Easy tunnel". All came up well and good. As I thinned them, I decided to transplant some of the thinnings, as I'm not good at killing plants.

Now, 2-3 weeks further on, I've noticed that the thinned plants I put OUTSIDE the tunnel, (but in the same bed) are about twice the size of the ones under the fleece tunnel!!

Wondering if the reduction in sunshine etc. is really having that much effect on the "tunnelled" ones? All have been watered and fed the same etc.

Anyone got any experience? I'm thinking I might take the tunnel off now, as maybe the early fly spate has passed a bit, and anyway, I'm using nematodes as well, and the unprotected ones look fine so far...

P.S. Snip mad this year, got a half barrel of 'em looking great, should be up to my ears in 'em have promised er indoors some for Christmas dinner!!

Phill 

[prakash_mib]

interesting. I faced the same problem. 6 pots of lettuce left on floor of garden and six lined in a wooden box like pot covered with fleece. they never looked vigourous. Funny thing is I gave all the pots to my sons pre-school and they have 6 inch tall lettuce and mine are still in juvenile state. (I have removed the fleece recently after noticing the difference)

[JayG]

That's an interesting observation Phill and I think you have probably answered your own question!

My guess is that with sunshine in short supply the slight warming effect of the fleece was outweighed by the reduction in light levels it causes.

Have also got a funny feeling this is a topic which will have some members claiming the exact opposite of your findings! 

(Stop press!!  But Prakash obviously isn't going to be one of them!)

[mumofstig]

 Plants that are 'brushed' or blown about in the wind, do grow stronger than protected plants, so maybe the lack of breeze under the fleece stops them strengthening up.

[DD.]

They do say to run your hands across tomato seedlings once or twice a day to encourage strength, something I'd forgotten until this thread popped up.