{"id":3732,"date":"2026-09-26T18:18:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-26T18:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=3732"},"modified":"2026-09-28T07:32:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T07:32:56","slug":"grow-tomatoes-in-a-shaded-greenhouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/grow-tomatoes-in-a-shaded-greenhouse\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Grow Tomatoes in a Shaded Greenhouse &#8211; The Foil Wall Trick"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<div class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-auto kksr-align-left kksr-valign-top\"\n    data-payload='{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;3732&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;valign&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;ignore&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;reference&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;legendonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;readonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;score&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;starsonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;best&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;gap&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;greet&quot;:&quot;Rate this&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;0\\\/5 - (0 votes)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;How to Grow Tomatoes in a Shaded Greenhouse - The Foil Wall Trick&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;_legend&quot;:&quot;{score}\\\/{best} - ({count} {votes})&quot;,&quot;font_factor&quot;:&quot;1.25&quot;}'>\n            \n<div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 0px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"kksr-legend\" style=\"font-size: 19.2px;\">\n            <span class=\"kksr-muted\">Rate this<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"QAPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"How can I increase sunlight in my greenhouse if it is blocked by a fence or building?\",\n    \"text\": \"My greenhouse is very close to my neighbor's fence and buildings, so the north-west side is heavily shaded. How can I get more sunlight and heat into that side of the greenhouse so my tomatoes don't suffer?\",\n    \"answerCount\": 1,\n    \"datePublished\": \"2021-04-24T23:11:00+03:00\",\n    \"author\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Person\",\n      \"name\": \"Ketrin007\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/profile\/58763-ketrin007\/\"\n    },\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"To fix a shaded greenhouse wall, hang highly reflective Mylar film (the kind used in indoor grow tents) along the dark side. It acts like a giant mirror, reflecting ambient light and sunlight back onto the plants. This not only increases the light intensity for photosynthesis but also significantly warms up the soil on the shaded side!\",\n      \"datePublished\": \"2021-04-25T08:00:00+03:00\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/grow-tomatoes-in-a-shaded-greenhouse\/#answer\",\n      \"author\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\n        \"name\": \"gala7496\",\n        \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/profile\/61096-gala7496\/\"\n      },\n      \"upvoteCount\": 21\n    }\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"tldr-box\" style=\"background: #f4f9f4; padding: 20px; border-left: 5px solid #4CAF50; margin-bottom: 30px; border-radius: 4px;\">\n<h3>\ud83d\udccc Quick Summary: The Mylar Greenhouse Hack<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83c\udf11 <strong>The Shade Problem:<\/strong> If your greenhouse is built too close to a fence, house, or tree line, the shaded side will stay cold, and the plants will become leggy trying to reach for the sun.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83e\ude9e <strong>The Mylar Solution:<\/strong> Hang highly reflective Mylar film (commonly used in indoor grow tents) on the inside of the dark, shaded wall (usually the North or North-West side).<\/li>\n<li>\u2600\ufe0f <strong>Free Heat &amp; Light:<\/strong> The Mylar acts like a giant mirror, bouncing sunlight back onto the plants. This &#8220;sunbeam effect&#8221; drastically increases light levels for photosynthesis and warms the soil on the dark side of the greenhouse much faster in the spring!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"add-review-cta\" style=\"margin: 20px 0; padding: 15px; background: #f9f9f9; border-left: 4px solid #4CAF50; border-radius: 4px;\"><strong>\ud83d\udcac Is part of your greenhouse shaded?<\/strong> <a href=\"#wpdcom\">Share how you deal with it below!<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">G<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">gala7496 (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,461 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Karelian Isthmus (USDA Zone 4a) | \ud83d\udcc5 April 24, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">I finally planted my tomatoes into the 20-foot (6m) greenhouse, and filled one bed in the smaller 13-foot (4m) greenhouse. Towards the evening, I covered them all with frost blankets. I also finished planting a bed of peppers in another greenhouse that has a space heater running at night.<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; margin-top: 10px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_04\/20210424_142810.jpg.c417321c32a34b4b1b1f2a57d35a11b8.jpg\" alt=\"Tomatoes planted in a greenhouse\" \/><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; margin-top: 10px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_04\/20210424_160617.jpg.e34e88c0b966b5d00a17fbd2ed1772d7.jpg\" alt=\"Reflective mylar film in a greenhouse\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Aleksan9ra (Ludmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (15,056 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4b) | \ud83d\udcc5 April 24, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">Galya! Your seedlings look wonderful. Now you just need to survive this week, and they say the nights will finally get warmer after that. It is freezing cold here right now.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">G<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">gala7496 (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,461 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Karelian Isthmus (USDA Zone 4a) | \ud83d\udcc5 April 24, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">Ludmila, I just decided to go for it. It&#8217;s weird, but the soil in the greenhouse is actually really warm! I checked it several times last night and again this morning, and finally decided to plant. I think everything will be fine. Worst case scenario, I&#8217;ll throw some heavy plastic film over them.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">L<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">LavandaN (Natalia) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 User (576 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4b) | \ud83d\udcc5 April 24, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">I planted my tomatoes today too, and covered them with a heavy spunbond frost blanket. I actually took the plastic film off. The temperature difference makes the condensation drip right off the plastic onto the plants. Maybe it&#8217;s okay if you throw the plastic <em>over<\/em> the frost blanket, though.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">G<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">gala7496 (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,461 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Karelian Isthmus (USDA Zone 4a) | \ud83d\udcc5 April 24, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">We had rain mixed with snow and heavy winds today. I was running around all day doing plantings, I didn&#8217;t even pay attention to the weather. Now my face is burning, completely windburned from the snow, rain, and wind!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">K<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Ketrin007 (Ekaterina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (3,490 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Taldomsky District, Moscow (USDA Zone 4a) | \ud83d\udcc5 April 24, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">Awesome! I am way too scared to plant out in my polycarbonate greenhouse right now. It was snowing this morning and only 50\u00b0F (10\u00b0C) inside the greenhouse. I literally brought my tomatoes back inside the house.By the way, what is that shiny stuff on the wall in your picture? Is that foil? Is it on the North side or the South side? Or is it some kind of insulation?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"answer\" class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">G<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">gala7496 (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,461 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Karelian Isthmus (USDA Zone 4a) | \ud83d\udcc5 April 25, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Ketrin007 (Ekaterina) wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nBy the way, what is that shiny stuff on the wall in your picture? Is that foil?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Katya, good morning!<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s freezing here too. That shiny stuff on one side of my greenhouse is a highly reflective film meant for indoor grow tents.<\/p>\n<p>My greenhouse is pushed right up against my neighbor&#8217;s fence and his outbuildings, so that entire side is completely shaded (it&#8217;s the North-West wall). I hung the film there, and it reflects the sun and ambient light straight back onto the plants. It creates a massive &#8220;sunbeam&#8221; mirror effect!<\/p>\n<p>Because of all that reflected light, my automatic roof vents started opening much earlier on sunny days, and the soil in that shaded bed finally warmed up\u2014which is exactly why I was able to plant early!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"editor-note\" class=\"editor-note\" style=\"background: #eef7ff; padding: 20px; border-left: 5px solid #2196F3; margin-top: 25px; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.6; border-radius: 0 4px 4px 0;\">\n<h4 style=\"margin-top: 0; color: #1565c0;\">\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\udd2c Editor&#8217;s Botanical Note: The Mylar Greenhouse Hack<\/h4>\n<p>Galina&#8217;s trick with the reflective wall is a phenomenal hack for gardeners dealing with small, shaded suburban lots!<\/p>\n<p>If part of your greenhouse is shaded by a fence or a house, the soil on that side will stay much colder in the spring, and your tomatoes will grow leggy and lean toward the sun. By hanging <strong>Mylar film<\/strong> (the highly reflective silver material used in hydroponic grow tents and emergency space blankets) along the solid North or North-West wall, you bounce the sunlight coming from the South directly back onto the plants.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike regular aluminum foil (which easily tears and creates &#8220;hot spots&#8221; that can burn leaves), Mylar diffuses the light evenly. This essentially gives your plants sunlight from two directions at once, boosting photosynthesis and rapidly heating the soil on the shaded side of the greenhouse!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ud83d\udccc Quick Summary: The Mylar Greenhouse Hack \ud83c\udf11 The Shade Problem: If your greenhouse is built too close to a fence, house, or tree line, the shaded side will stay cold, and the plants will become leggy trying to reach for the sun. \ud83e\ude9e The Mylar Solution: Hang highly reflective Mylar film (commonly used in &#8230; <a title=\"How to Grow Tomatoes in a Shaded Greenhouse &#8211; The Foil Wall Trick\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/grow-tomatoes-in-a-shaded-greenhouse\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How to Grow Tomatoes in a Shaded Greenhouse &#8211; The Foil Wall Trick\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[529,806],"tags":[932,929,931,933,930],"class_list":["post-3732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-growing-tomatoes","category-grower-diaries","tag-early-transplanting","tag-greenhouse-lighting","tag-mylar-film","tag-row-covers","tag-shaded-garden"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3732"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3732\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3808,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3732\/revisions\/3808"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}