You might want to look into a 30% shade cloth for this purpose any more than that will probably deeply inhibit fruit production. Even at 30% may slow some crop production but may extend the season more so it equals out. I would think about a system that allows you to put it up only as you need it so as to maximize the early season sunlight. As to watering I water on both sides of the day if I have to but always prefer the morning for watering if at all possible so as to allow the leaf surface and soil surface to dry some. Molds, mildews, and fungi are almost always related to water of leaf surfaces for a long enough period to encourage their growth. That being said, if I had a container or bed in this case that was stressed for water at the end of the day I would water that evening as opposed to waiting til morning to do it. Well hydrated plants are more important to health than the time the water is applied if all else is equal. Hope this makes sense to you and helps with your project. Happy Growing David

You don't say what you plan to grow. Perhaps vegetables in rasied beds? Generally, I would ease myself into the new environment by having a reasonably sized garden at first with some soil ammendment. This would allow you to do some gardening while getting to know the local gardening community and the local methods. I am a frugal gardener and the thought of spending hundreds or perhaps thousands of dollars on raised beds and soil ammendments does not fit with my idea of gardening. I have some raised beds but those were made from salvaged lumber. Doing a little at a time is not a bad idea. It seems that in our "make over age" everything has to be done at once to look picture perfect. I do all my gardening with hand tools which includes a garden fork, a shovel and a crow bar. A little at a time gets the job done and saves my back.

Thanks for your reply , greenhouser2. My raised are watered till the water can be seen dripping below. I want the shade structure so that I can hybridize with my daylilies. Daylilies will not set seed if temperature is above 80 degrees. Every day since May we have had temperatures in the low to mid 90's. With water restrictions I can only water one day a week either before 6 am or after 7pm Therefore even with all the water I could give them , the sun has done a number on the foliage drying it out till it just crumbles when I touch it. I lost a lot of plants in the late Feb freeze we had and I am trying to get the survivors some protection so I can at least attempt to pollinate and produce seeds this coming spring.

None of the plants have been in the ground long enough to make moving them now a problem, so go ahead and make the changes now. As far as what to use for the raised bed, this is largely a matter of personal taste. Stone, however, has many advantages: it can be arranged in pleasing curves much more easily than other materials, it will look more natural over time as it weathers and grows moss, it will not support insect infestations and will last for a millenium or two. Beware of the concrete materials at home stores. Almost all shade plants need acid soil and the free lime which will leach from concrete materials may be a problem if it is a relatively small bed.