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Cloche-what can you use them for?

Quercusrobur81Quercusrobur81 Posts: 231
in Tools and techniques
Hello-I have a cloche, I have applied it to soil to warm it up as suggested by Monty on Friday. I like it better than my chicken mesh lids (necessary to keep cat out) and wondered if veg will grow underneath it happily enough and can I just keep it on-will the plants get enough light through the mesh? Sorry if obvious question, that’s probably the point of a cloche! Thanks 

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  • Quercusrobur81Quercusrobur81 Posts: 231
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    That wont warm the soil, it will keep out pests later when stuff is growing.
  • Quercusrobur81Quercusrobur81 Posts: 231
    Thanks-so will seeds germinate and grow etc under a cloche? It seems to me that less light would reach the young plants? If they keep pests out that’s great!
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    The cloches I know tend to keep out water/rain. There are some where you can spin the top section to allow air in, but the cloches I know are useful to have when you have young and tender plants that needs protection from the elements like wind, snow and excess rain. They could also warm up the soil underneath them.

    The one in your photo looks like a modern style lightweight cage that keeps out birds and animals, but will let in rain and unlikely to heat up the soil. Not sure if it's good to keep on permanently, the texture looks very dense, which could block out some light, but certainly useful on young plants.
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  • Quercusrobur81Quercusrobur81 Posts: 231
    Ah ok, so not all cloches do the same thing... might go back to the cardboard then for the time being and save the new cloche/cage for my thyme which I read I should have protected over winter (it has perished). Thanks!
  • Quercusrobur81Quercusrobur81 Posts: 231
    Oh dear! It was only a bargain buy from Aldi, I’m sure I’ll find a use for it-plenty of pigeons to fend off... thanks!
  • stuart.dotstuart.dot Posts: 127
    Might be butterfly netting, so good for brassicas. The mesh is big enough for bees but too small for the dreaded cabbage white butterfly
  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    It should definitely be good for growing brassicas - and they don't mind lower light levels either.
  • Quercusrobur81Quercusrobur81 Posts: 231
    Thank you-will give that a shot!
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