Protecting plants over winter

[beejay]

I have a few cabbage and carrots in the garden that should be ready in the new year. With the weather getting colder I'm wondering what is the best way of protecting them against frost. Cloches were my first thought but the cabbages are getting quite big and I'm not sure I have room enough for them. Any recommendations?

[Wings]

Buy some clear polythene approximately 1 metre wide, then some metal wire approximately the thickness of a metal clothes hanger. Then make half circle hoops, pushing each end of the hoop into both ends/sides of the polythene, repeat through the run/length of the polythene and at the other end/side of the polythene. Then tie a knot into each end of the polythene. So if you can imagine a Christmas cracker, you should end up with a polythene cloche, fixed into the ground by the metal hoops.

A bit like this, but a lot cheaper;

http://www.plasticsbypost.co.uk/polytunnel-cloche-...

[Shaolin]

Horticultural fleece works ok and is easy to deploy.

[Simpo Two]

Shaolin said:

Horticultural fleece works ok and is easy to deploy.

Deploy is a good word.

'Horticultural fleece - stand by - deploy left go go go!'

[beejay]

Wings said:

Buy some clear polythene approximately 1 metre wide, then some metal wire approximately the thickness of a metal clothes hanger. Then make half circle hoops, pushing each end of the hoop into both ends/sides of the polythene, repeat through the run/length of the polythene and at the other end/side of the polythene. Then tie a knot into each end of the polythene. So if you can imagine a Christmas cracker, you should end up with a polythene cloche, fixed into the ground by the metal hoops.

A bit like this, but a lot cheaper;

http://www.plasticsbypost.co.uk/polytunnel-cloche-...

Looks like the job Would you take that off during the day to let the plants breathe?

Although deploying some horticultural fleece sounds a lot more exciting

[Shaolin]

Simpo Two said:

Deploy is a good word.

I find it works best starting with the root veg and talking to them in an Inspector Clouseau accent:

"Parsnips, by the left deploy!"

Edited by Shaolin on Tuesday 24th November 22:35

[Wings]

Only if you get a very, very hot sunny day, which I doubt will happen over the next few months, other wise there will be enough air blowing into polythene cloche, If the weather gets extremely windy, you might either consider drawing the soil up and over the side of the polythene, a bit like you might do when growing potatoes, or placing stones along the side of the polythene.