Topic: plastic tunnel cloches

[Justy]

I have got several small plastic tunnel type cloches that my sister found for me at the pound shop!  Trouble is I am not sure if I should be putting them on the soil now to warm it up or over the plants when they are growing.

If it is over the plants how do they get water?

Does anyone else use them?  Are they worth using?

[Roy Bham UK]

Good question Justy ;) I will be keeping an eye for answers ;D

[Svea]

just inherited two myself with the plot. they are only about 4ft long and about 1 1/2 wide at the base.
not sure about it either, though i had planned on using them over my first few sowings if the weather is adverse. warming up the soil beforehand however might also be a good idea ???

[ina]

I use the small plastic tunnel to warm up the soil first so I am able to plant the courgettes out extra early and sow carrots. The plastic I use is perforated to avoid condensation.
How do the plants get water? One guess hahaha. You have to lift the plastic up.
I use long poles on either side and some bricks on the short ends to hold the plastic down, just roll a pole off and lift up.

[Justy]

thanks Ina.  Think mine are slightly different type - the plastic is attached to the wire hoops so would have to pull whole tunnel away to get into water... think I may put them out now to warm up the soil (and keep the snow off?!) but take them off once plants are growing.

[sandersj89]

I have a few of these type cloches from various sources.

I use them to warm the soil sowing of carrots for instance. I have two rows out on the ground now doing that fro me.

I also place them over such things courgettes and pumpkins to give them a little more heat after planting out. The sectional ones are best for this as they are about 24" long so one cloche per plant is ideal.

If any one is interested Lidl is selling 5m by 1m plastic cloches for £3.49 at the moment. I will be getting a couple I hope.

Jerry

[wivvles]

If any one is interested Lidl is selling 5m by 1m plastic cloches for £3.49 at the moment. I will be getting a couple I hope.

Jerry

From next Thursday I believe, plus other gardening stuff (some useful, some I suspect not quite so useful...)

See here for further details: http://www.lidl.co.uk/gb/index.nsf/pages/c.o.oow.20050303.index

[sandersj89]

If any one is interested Lidl is selling 5m by 1m plastic cloches for £3.49 at the moment. I will be getting a couple I hope.

Jerry

From next Thursday I believe, plus other gardening stuff (some useful, some I suspect not quite so useful...)

See here for further details: http://www.lidl.co.uk/gb/index.nsf/pages/c.o.oow.20050303.index

oops, did not see the date on the blurb before, need to head of my wife who said she would pick up sokme for me today.....

  ;D

I did wonder if the low "greenhouse" or coldframe type thing would be useful to people to grow a block of carrots in as it should keep fly away if the mess is fine enough.......

Jerry

[wivvles]

Under "Assorted Protective Covers" they have "Shrub cover, size: 0.65 x 10m" which looks from the picture to be fleece in tubular form.  If so, 10 metres for £1.99 sounds pretty much like a bargain to me!!