Air into cloches

[Guykp57]

Hi viners, putting cloche up tomorrow and want to know do I need to leave a hole for air to get into it or leave it sealed up?

[rustylady]

What sort of cloche and how is it sealed?

[Guykp57]

Home made, bendy plastic piping and plastic sheet, going to put a few cauli and spinach in and maybe few baby carrots.

[marchogaeth]

I think the advice would be that air needs to circulate so that you don't get a build up of humidity which leads to all sorts of problems. You can leave the ends open or partially open or you can make you cloches so that the sides can be rolled up as and when. However you solve it, I would try and make the solution as flexible as possible as going into the Autumn and Winter the weather can be really changeable (well not just then) and you might want to close the whole thing up if it suddenly gets cold or if it gets really windy.

[Guykp57]

Cheers, I only get up to lottie twice a week for a few hrs so I'll see what I can do.

[marchogaeth]

Cheers, I only get up to lottie twice a week for a few hrs so I'll see what I can do.

So you need to try and get your ventilation at the top of the cloche - keeping it relatively warmer at ground level but without the plants sitting in stagnant, humid air.

[Guykp57]

So if I make little holes near top to allow air in that should be ok..new to poly and cloche cover.

[rustylady]

How are you fixing them to the ground Guy? Pictures would be even better.

[Guykp57]

Hi Rustylady, just put bricks around to hold plastic down..just experimenting at moment to see how I do..still a newbie to all this allotment business but really enjoying every minute,

[Guykp57]

Will post pics over weekend when I download from phone to Ipad.

[The Allotment Shed]

I make mine like this with a bit of net stapled to one end.
Hope this helps

[Guykp57]

Loving that idea Allotmentshed..will try it out next time I'm up there.