plastic bottles to cover new shoots...good idea for winter?

[helenbun2005]

Helpo again all! Another question!

Ive been saving up plastic bottles and placing them over some over new shoots that have come up from some of the bulbs I planted a month or so ago...



Is this the right thing to do or should i take them off and just see how they go over the winter? Thanks x

[Guest]

I personally would take them off for fear of rotting

[Kristen]

Not sure about rotting, as I think it will keep the plant within drier (than without a cover). However, I think it will be warm in there, which will bring on the plant early / with soft growth, which is probably not ideal for anything hardy, or that should not start until the Spring.

Might keep (surface) slugs out though?

[Guest]

I just feel wet soggy ground, moisture in the air, then you create a warm pocket perfect for mould and rot.....in my mind anyway, not necessarily correct

[veggiechicken]

I wouldn't bother for bulbs - they're hardy enough not to need protection.

[helenbun2005]

OK thanks all....general consensus would be to remove them then....so will do x

[skeggijon]

I think bulbs can pretty much look after themselves.

[Greenleaves]

I use plastic pop bottles the make collars around young plants as slug protection and as cloches over pots in the greenhouse when normal propagaters are in use. But like everyone else I would not bother with bulbs.

[veggiechicken]

Is this a first? We're in agreement

[Greenleaves]

On second thoughts perhaps........

[Two_Sheds]

some of the bulbs I planted

Flower bulbs, or light bulbs? (you never know)

What you're doing with the bottles is making a "cloche", a protective bit of plastic usually used at the start of a seedling's life if it's of a delicate nature, eg. French beans sown when the weather's still a bit too cold for them.
If you're putting in plants that are suitable for the weather conditions, you don't need a cloche.

Therefore, if your bulbs are hardy things like daffodils, tulips, Jap onions, garlic .... they don't need a cloche.


Cons of cloches:
- they can make plant growth too soft & tender: it's usually better to grow plants hard & tough
- they make ideal slug hotels

[alldigging]

Might keep (surface) slugs out though?

or in...

Found one bottle with a lovely big slug in and not very much lettuce left.

[Kristen]

Bother

Block the neck with some gauze perhaps? A Right Faff though