Advice needed on cloches, fleece and netting (sorry, long post)

[IndigoElectron]

I have seen these in our local Wilkinson's:

Wilko Cloche Tunnel Polythene 3m at wilko.com
Wilko Cloche Tunnel Fleece 3m at wilko.com
Wilko Cloche Tunnel Netting 3m at wilko.com

I thought they might be a cheap and effective way of protecting my crops throughout the year. But I'm not sure how/when I would use them, or whether they would be suitable for all crops. I can already see that the netting provides protection from strong sunlight, so I think it might not be any good for sun-loving crops.

The problem is that my main growing area is a border (South-facing against a fence) which is about 650 cm long and varies in width between 95cm and 25cm. The area I was planning to put the tunnels has a minimum width of 45cm, so they will just fit. However, I think it will mean I can't put any tall plants in this area, because they won't fit under the tunnel. The tunnels are 3m long so it would leave me with about 31/2 m left to put tall plants (corn, beans etc.) but I want to rotate my crops as much as possible, as well as follow the guidelines for companion planting. I am doing the square foot method, and the sort of things I will plant in the border are:

Aubergine (maybe better in a pot?)
Basil
Beetroot
Carrot
Corn
Corn salad
Cress
Cucumber (maybe better in a pot?)
Chives
Coriander
Dill
Leek
Onion
Parsley
Parsnip
Pepper
Radish
Rocket
Salad leaves
Spinach, perpetual spinach
Spring onion
Thyme

I will be doing the herbs in pots and some of the salad (e.g. cress) in window boxes, but might plant a few herbs in the border as companion plants.

Wilkinson's also sell these:
Wilko Cloche Dome Large 33cm at wilko.com
Wilko Cloche Dome Medium 25cm at wilko.com

Would they be a better option? I chose the tunnels because I thought I could protect more plants for cheaper, but if only some plants need protecting, the domes might be more suitable. I've also read about making my own from old plastic milk cartons. I do already have some sheets of fleece fabric, and can buy some sheets of netting - I just thought the tunnels would be easier to construct.

So my questions are:

Are these tunnels useful/necessary?
When/how would I use them, and for which plants?
Will they restrict my options in terms of crop rotation and companion planting, as I suspect?
If I use fleece/netting instead, how would I stop it blowing away?
Do I need to use cloches/netting at all, and for which plants? I think it would be easier if they're not necessary :-)


I should also add that I have just bought one of these:
Wilko Mini Greenhouse 4 Tier Clear 164cmx90cmx49cm at wilko.com

which I will use for hardening off/acclimatising plants that I have grown indoors. Would that do the job of a tunnel instead, or is it something different?


Sorry if any of these questions are silly but I am completely new to this! Thanks for any advice.

[Bill HH]

Just because a cloche is a certain length doesnt mean you cant cut it into smaller chunks to suit. Different covers do different things, the poly will offer some protection against frost and wind, the netting will help keep away pests, the micro mash will keep off smaller pests like carrot fly. Its all one big juggling act. I never have much success with shop bought cloches they seem to blow away or fall apart, and make watering difficult. This year i am hoping to make some sturdy ones using water pipe hoops on a solid 2"x2" frame. These will be much taller than the usual shop bought ones and probably cover two rows of plants instead of one, they will also be easy to lift off for watering etc.

The mini greenhouses are good for your needs but make sure its well protected against the wind.

As for cloches being usefull the answer is yes but not essential, they give tender seedlings a better start, protect plants from pests and the elements but they are a blxxdy nuisance, so you takes your choice. The fact that half of cornwall is covered in them must be some recommendation.

One more thing is that weeds do very well under cloches and the wire hoop type are hard to remove for weeding purposes, the type you can just lift of complete make weeding easier.

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks Bill. I'm not sure if these can be cut down without opening the packet :-/

I don't want anything that is going to be too much of a pain to use. I will be planting marigolds etc. and getting some biological pest controls, I am hoping that will give some protection against pests.

I just can't decide what to do!

[IndigoElectron]

Are there any particular plants that will need the added protection? If I can cut the tunnels in half, that gives me more options where to put them and it might work out.

[Scarlet]

I only use a cloche or a tunnel for crops that are planted out a little early. I've got a few of those plastic tunnels that I use for my early lettuce/salad leaves. Occasionally I've used them to cover crops that I've just planted out to give a bit of protection if frost is forecast but they are never in use for long, they are not tall enough for many crops.

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks Scarlet. We don't actually get much frost down here, and I'm not worried about planting out early. So I'm starting to think I don't need them, what do you think?

[Scarlet]

Well I've got a few ( presents from my Mum) and they've been hardly used! Leave them in the shop, there are better things to spend your money on.

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks Scarlet. Back to the shop they go then! Might have a go at making some home made ones from plastic bottles instead.

[rustylady]

Indigo. Stop worrying so much and just start growing. You will learn from your own successes and mistakes.

You don't need loads of equipment and gadgets - just some seeds and soil (or compost)

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks Rustylady, I do have a tendency to overthink things :-) Just don't want to spend money on something unless I need it, but the tunnels are on offer at the moment so didn't want to lose out if they would be useful.

[rustylady]

Stop spending, start growing

[IndigoElectron]

Actually I haven't spent that much, the previous owners kindly left behind a spade, fork, trowel, shears, and a very nice shed. But I get your point :-)