[kranser]

Hi,

I have two large cloche tunnel - 60cm wide by 45cm high. One with polythene and one with fleece. Both cloches have end panels too.

I'm hoping these will protect against frost and enable me to start squash earlier and also to grow aubergenes and cucumbers later in the season (and act like a kind of greenhouse).
Will they be good for both these tasks? Which should I use for which task? Fleece or polythene?

Also, do I need to burry the sides into the ground and/or heap up earth other the sides or peg them down? Or is there supposed to be a gap at the bottom where the air can get in? Will the frost also get in through the gap if I don't earth it up?

The cloches look strong - so I'm yet to see whether the wind does any damage to them - or moves them around - yet! If they struggle in the wind, I guess I would need to employ bricks or stones to hold down the sides.

Also, the allotment has rabbits -  will they be a risk to the cloche tunnles?

Thanks for listening to me as this is the first time I am attempting to use cloche tunnels.

Steve.

[bigben]

A couple of thoughts - 45cm is not very high so you will need to either limit what you grow to stuff that does not grow very high or start them in the cloche and then remove the top when they get bigger and the weather turns warmer.

The other thought is access. If you bury both sides it will be difficult to get into to weed, water etc. At the height you suggest you could just attach the edges to a wooden baton perhaps with a couple of holes in to drive "tent pegs" through. Then when you want to get in, lift the baton up and over the hoops I assume you have holding the plastic in place. If you need more weight then you could makes the wood thicker or weigh down with bricks etc.

[TheSpartacat]

Hi,

I have two large cloche tunnel - 60cm wide by 45cm high. One with polythene and one with fleece. Both cloches have end panels too.

I'm hoping these will protect against frost and enable me to start squash earlier and also to grow aubergenes and cucumbers later in the season (and act like a kind of greenhouse).
Will they be good for both these tasks? Which should I use for which task? Fleece or polythene?

Also, do I need to burry the sides into the ground and/or heap up earth other the sides or peg them down? Or is there supposed to be a gap at the bottom where the air can get in? Will the frost also get in through the gap if I don't earth it up?

The cloches look strong - so I'm yet to see whether the wind does any damage to them - or moves them around - yet! If they struggle in the wind, I guess I would need to employ bricks or stones to hold down the sides.

Also, the allotment has rabbits -  will they be a risk to the cloche tunnles?

Thanks for listening to me as this is the first time I am attempting to use cloche tunnels.

Steve.

If you're just starting things off in them, the size will be fine.
I wouldn't have a gap... it gives the wind an opportunity to get under it and send it flying!
So definitely have the edges of the plastic below the surface of the ground. Earthing up a little can't hurt... but as bigben says, you'll have to redo it everytime you weed under there... which is better than having it take off like a sail and leave your crops unprotected.

Since i can't see the cloche, I can't say how sturdy it is anyway (does it have spikes or hoops that are meant to be pushed into the ground or does it just sit on the soil?)

[kranser]

Thanks for your reply bigben and TheSpartacat.

The cloche has hoops designed to be pushed into the ground.

It says it is a 'Giant cloche tunnel' and fits larger plants and covers a double row, so I would assume it is one of the largest cloche tunnels available - or am I wrong?!

Steve.

[bigben]

Thanks for your reply bigben and TheSpartacat.

The cloche has hoops designed to be pushed into the ground.

It says it is a 'Giant cloche tunnel' and fits larger plants and covers a double row, so I would assume it is one of the largest cloche tunnels available - or am I wrong?!

Steve.

A lot of us make our own - you can buy the plastic pipe from DIY places as well as the plastic sheet. I would go for a bit more height if I was making my own. Have a look at
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[TheSpartacat]

Thanks for your reply bigben and TheSpartacat.

The cloche has hoops designed to be pushed into the ground.

It says it is a 'Giant cloche tunnel' and fits larger plants and covers a double row, so I would assume it is one of the largest cloche tunnels available - or am I wrong?!

Steve.

A lot of plants would need more height if you were to use that cloche for most of their growing season... peppers can grow 3ft, Aubergines too.... squash can romp for 12ft and would get crowded and mildewy under there... sprouts and broccoli would also be too tall. But starting things off should be ok.

I think you could use that cloche to cover a double row of something like lettuce running into the autumn period, so it is a handy size alright!