Double cloche?

[kingkano]

How much extra protection does a cloche inside a cloche give? (or fleece inside a cloche for that matter)

I have a 600 guage polytunnel cloche and have stuck a few large 'bell glass' style cloches inside thinking maybe I can plant out some early courgettes or beans?? Am I unrealistic?

[bazzaboy]

You are well south KK which is an advantage to an early start so I guess the only thing is to try it and see... it's going to depend on what frosts happen in the next month or so. My general hunch however would be that it probably won't advance the season that much more than a single cloche - plants under cloches are usually still affected by two things: draughts if it's windy and soil temp. Your double cloche should reduce or even stop the draughts but I'd have thought would have less effect on surrounding soil temp; the other aspect it cannot alter is hours of daylight. A risk might be if they're in the sun they might cook without any draught at all in a very small space... I assume they'll also need watering which will probably mean dismantling the double cloche. By all means give it a try! But I can think of an easier life

[King Carrot]

Years ago I started my Toms in a double poly cloche as I had no room inside to grow anything - I'm probably a good bit milder here and I didn't start them off untill April.

I'd say you might get away more with courgettes than French beans and sow some fall back insurance ones as well - if you have spare seed I think its worth a try.

I sow Parthenon F1 courgettes mid March for transplanting into a frame mid April - They live by day in a lidl tent greenhouse and come in the house on very cold nights. As they self pollinate I don't have to worry about lack of insects and their access. They generally run out of steam pretty quick (probably my close spacing at 2ft) and I pull them up when the later sowings start producing. We're usually eating courgettes from them around mid/end of May.

[gojiberry]

I'm all for pushing the boundaries especially if you have plenty of backups. I have loads of stuff already planted out on the lottie and it's all doing well. Two really good rows of parsnips started of in loo rolls, peas starting to climb the support net. If you have an idea and the time then I always think it's worth having a go.

Ian

[kingkano]

Thanks guys pretty much as I thought - worth a try! I am starting the seeds indoors - just till the pop thru - so will be a week or 2 for the courgettes but i have some beans ready now. Its only a handful plants so will give it a go and report back!