Summer cloches...

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Growster...

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Summer cloches...
« on: July 07, 2012, 05:45 »
I cannot recall any year when we used cloches in July to warm up plants, and also keep them dry!

For example, the purple sprouters are struggling in the open, and we had some spare plants left over which looked pretty feeble, but went into a cleared bit, and once cloched, took off at a rate of knots!

It doesn't seem to worry them that they had no direct rain, as the water table extends across from the sides, so presumably, their roots should go south rather than sideways!

Even the onions are getting cloched occasionally, for some R and R...

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mumofstig

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Re: Summer cloches...
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2012, 09:12 »
It's that kind of year, for sure  :(

This reminds me to ask, did you ever get your barn cloches up and running?

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Growster...

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Re: Summer cloches...
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2012, 19:03 »
This reminds me to ask, did you ever get your barn cloches up and running?
[/quote]

I'm afraid I had to give up with them Mums!

I'm sure most of the frames had been altered for some reason, and although I found some more metalwork in the undergrowth, they still didn't make sense!

An old friend and retiring plotholder gave us about  thirty galvanised metal hoops, (probably an old small polytunnel), which we pounced on and fitted with corrugated plastic, and they've been pretty successful even if they're a bit light!

Besides them, we have the 'Growsterlights', which are my own design for 'Chinese hat' cloches, and made with old window glass, so they don't blow away! (Well they haven't done that yet anyway...)!
« Last Edit: July 08, 2012, 06:25 by Growster... »

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mumofstig

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Re: Summer cloches...
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2012, 19:05 »
that's a real shame, but doesn't matter if you've got others to use now.

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MJS

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Re: Summer cloches...
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2012, 19:55 »
I cannot recall any year when we used cloches in July to warm up plants, and also keep them dry!



I think they're called polytunnels, the bigger the better!  ;)   :lol: :lol:

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Growster...

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Re: Summer cloches...
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2012, 06:30 »
When does a cloche become a polytunnel MJS?

I thought polytunnels were those huge things in which they grow strawberries, and the whole lot blots the landscape!

The smaller ones - about 18" wide, became a super wheeze in the seventies, when everyone seemed to buy them! I think that's the sort what we have inherited.

My Percy Thrower book shows two barn cloches being used on end to protect one sweetcorn plant, which seems a bit over the top for me...;0)

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MJS

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Re: Summer cloches...
« Reply #6 on: July 08, 2012, 07:59 »
It was a Tongue in cheek comment, brought on by the the effects of the diire weather this year. Just about everything I have needs covering, hence "the bigger the better" . Apologies, my sense of humour may get lost in the written word.  ;)

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Growster...

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Re: Summer cloches...
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2012, 06:15 »
Oh, really not a problem MJ!

I really don't know the answer!

;0)


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