overwintering protection

[Spunky]

Evening all which would say was the best for overwintering veg, a cloche with plastic (homemade hoop style) or a cloche with horticultural fleece?

[rustylady]

Depends on what you want to protect.

[Spunky]

Really, what's the difference? I'm doing peas, broad beans, onions, spring onions, potatoes for Xmas, pak choi and lettuce
I've got plenty of cloches so even if they don't need the protection I still will to protect from wind

[rustylady]

Crops can get "sweaty" under plastic cloches.

[Spunky]

Oh I see, which veg sweat the most?

[WendyC]

So called Christmas potatoes are not frost hardy so needs much protection as you can give them and probably a heater too! Onions don't need protecting.
I would favour poly cloches but with the ends open to allow the air to circulate. They can always be closed if really bad. The only time I used a fleece tunnel it shredded in the wind!

[Bill HH]

Which veg sweat the most? Has to be runner beans.

[Snadger]

Oh I see, which veg sweat the most?

Never been asked that before!

I grow stuff in the greenhouse or cold frames which makes for a drier atmosphere easily ventilated by opening or closing cold frame 'lights' or windows and doors.

Enviromesh over hoops can give some degree of protection also.

I garden on a windy site so polythene cloches or fleece would just blow away for me!

[Snadger]

Which veg sweat the most? Has to be runner beans.

Must be getting old..........had to think about that one!

[rustylady]

Oh I see, which veg sweat the most?

No idea (apart from Bill's runner beans) - the point I was trying to make is that a damp atmosphere under a sealed plastic cloche will encourage moulds and disease.

None of the crops you mentioned need protection, apart from the potatoes which need a lot more protection than a cloche would give.

[veggiechicken]

I always think lettuce are sweaty

[Snadger]

I always think lettuce are sweaty

Remind me never to have a salad at your place..........

[veggiechicken]

Don't you think the floppy leaved ones feel sweaty and slippery, Snadger? I hate it when they slide out of a sandwich