Mini cloches

[alldigging]

I've cut the tops and bottoms off some 2L pop bottles. I'll be planting seeds under them in a raised bed today.
I've got some out already that have the bottle top bit on and they work fine, but I was impressed to see how well some of my rhubarb had done with a half bin round it.

Has anyone else used collars rather than covered cloches?

I figure it'll make a warmer environment than nothing - and will allow some weather in so won't be as much of a shock to the plant when it gets removed. And it'll keep slugs and snails out hopefully.. And maybe even the mice. Although if they get in they might be stuck and I'll have a bottle full of meeces to deal with

I've got a green bottle coming up next - will this be any use or not?

[lottie dolly]

last year,i cut the bottoms of 3 flower buckets,used as a tall collar round some squash plants,i also put a bit of slug sweeties inside,just in case,it helped them well,you could see the difference,BUT,as the weather was not friendly,i lost them all when the collar had to come off,now,another plot holder knocked up a see through cold frame with open top,and had them coming out his ears,so yes,anything thats going to stop the wind chill,should be of benefit,

[Two_Sheds]

I was impressed to see how well some of my rhubarb had done with a half bin round it.

don't forget most plants need clear cloches, to let the light in. Rhubarb is forced in the dark

[alldigging]

don't forget most plants need clear cloches, to let the light in. Rhubarb is forced in the dark

Indeed. My plan had been to order some straw but I never got round to it and in the end I thought I'd just the bin on its own. The other rhubarb is barely out of the ground. And I did have rhubarb crumble last night.

[veggiechicken]

And it'll keep slugs and snails out hopefully..

I tried that last year, planting squashes inside a big yoghurt pot collar. It slowed the slugs up, but once they'd eaten the collar-free ones, they devoured the collared ones.