Do I take the bottles off in the day?

[janeyo]

Morning, I am a little confused (what's new)

I planted out some lettuce and broccoli yesterday evening, and covered each one with a cut up bottle, lid off.

Question is do I have to take these off in the day? We have a lot of birds (pigeons mainly) and the plants are quite small, about 5 inches high.

I am out all day today so don't want to get home to stalks, but also don't want them to die. They have all been watered and look still damp today. And not wilting (had to go and check on them first thing, lol how sad am I?)

Any advice?

Thanks janeyo

[shirlthegirl43]

I planted out peas under bottle cloches about 10 days ago. They have not been watered (other than by nature) since. Yesterday, I noticed that a few plants were poking out of the bottle tops so off came the bottles. I used the bottles as the peas had grown so quickly I didn't have time to harden them off fully before planting. I guess the removal of the bottle depends on what feels right, the weather in your area and why you used a bottle cloche - warmth, pest protection, etc.

[janeyo]

I think as they are so small I will leave them on a bit.

It felt like I was letting my children go to school knowing the bully was waiting round the corner, when I planted them out yesterday! I was so anxious! First edible thing I have planted in the ground, that's not a seed, bulb or tuber!

janeyo

[Mikey]

Leave them on, until they have a root system of their own, or they start trying to grow out through the top.