Just come up with a nice cheap alternative to the bell type cloches you use for individual plants.
Does anyon buy fat balls for the birds in tubs that are about 9" deep and 12" across? Well we do and have amassed a quite a collection of them. I was planting out some dahlia plants in the border yesterday and needed to give them some temporary protection while they hardened off. I remembered these tubs. Anchored with a bit of wire over the handle they were the perfect size to put over the young dahlia plants. OK so they look a bit odd in a border and i dont know if they'd stay put in strong winds, but IMO they are the ideal thing for protecting individual plants.
I guess on the veg plot or allotment they would be good for young courgette, pumpkin or squash plants, or anything else you grow as individual plants and need protection for in their early days.
I also have another use for these tubs, as planters. If liked with black plastic and given drainage holes, they would make good plant pots for veg plants. In fact I have used one like this for some carrots (which dont grow in my soil).
Hope this is of help to some of you.
Used 50cd cakeboxes ie the cases that hold 50 blank cds.
Just drill a few holes in 'em.
Currently experimenting to see if they help keep off slugs and snails as well as cold protection. Jury is still out on that one!
i've got my aubergines sitting in mine in the house waiting for the g/h to clear and the temp to warm up.
;D