To cloche or not to cloche....

Having only grown my own veg for 2-3 years I am determined to expand my vegetable plot this year. I am presently considering buying a cloche ââ?¬â?? my local Countrywide has a nice looking number on offer at the moment at Ã?£25 (1m x 2m). As I am not very well endowed in the monetary area; does anyone think that they are a good investment or just a handy tool to have, to get off to an early start on the veggie plot? Any opinions/experiences would be greatly appreciated. DD

 

The size (1m x 2m) sounds more like a cold frame than a cloche.
Cloches do make a difference particularly if you get them in place before sowing to warm up the soil. If you don't want to spend a lot you could always try using fleece - it's not quite as good as glass or plastic but can still advance crops by two or three weeks. One advantage of fleece is that it can be left in position to protect crops from insects.
Cheap tunnel cloches can be made from hoops of fence wire run through old garden hose and covered with horticultral polythene which is not all that expensive.

 

DoubleD
corrogated perspex is something I have used.
2 lengths will provide you with a 12' run
just arch them up, put bamboo canes either side every 2 feet, twist some wire round one bamboo, tie to opposite cane across the perspex.
put some fleece across both openings, HEY PRESTO

 

Great ideas, thank you both!! I think I'll try the cheaper alternatives first. Thank you for showing me the light as I'm a bit of a sucker when it comes to 'gadgets'. I will try my early (ish) beetroot under polyethene and/or perspex & let you know. Regards DD

 

good luck and happy growing, and even better... EATING

 

ide been thinking about a cloche to put my lettuce under ( WE LOVE OUR SALADES) and had been looking at the corrogated perspex the canes and the wire sound a great idea only started veg gardening this year is there anything els i need to put under a cloch

 

Hi Roy F, & double D
most of the salad crops are fine under cloches, put the cloche over the area first for a couple of weeks or so just to warm up the soil, then either plant the seedlings started in the greenhouse, or sow direct into the ground.
you can start off some early carrots such as 'Nairobi' or 'Nantes express' Beetroot, Garlic, french beans, in the cloche, but remove when weather permits..you don't need to put stuff under a cloche, but it just gives you some earlier produce..remember to also sow at staggered intervals in open ground to give you continuous crops..
hope this helps

[ 12. March 2006, 03:33 PM: Message edited by: rossco ]

 

Thanks rossco thats been a big help have got myself a small plastic greenhouse to start with to see how i go and ive started some onions got some lettus,carrots and peas i will start them in there this weekend and get that cloche sorted