An easy-to-make cloche

Good guy · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 10:15 pm Post subject: An easy-to-make cloche

I made this cloche a couple of years ago. It is still going strong and is useful protection for young plants and seedlings from insects and heavy weather. It is covered with Enviromesh but could have polythene added over that for early crops. I have shown some of the construction details. I used some surplus butyl pond liner, cut into strips, to reinforce the fastening of the mesh to the frame with staples.

Sue Deacon · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 10:37 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that GG. OH wants to know what the hoops are made of. We were thinking of alcathene (think that's how it's spelt) pipe. But the stuff you used looks heavier duty.

I really need to do something. My cabbages are taking a real old battering at the moment.

tagwex · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 10:42 pm Post subject:

If I was making one of them I would have it as heavy as possible. So 3/4" heavy duty water pipe. I would even consider filling them with wet sand and sealing the ends.
Although on reflection maybe anchoring it down into the soil some way would have the same effect

Sue Deacon · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 10:56 pm Post subject:

Good thinking that man. Sounds like you are firing on all cylinders again! Very Happy

tagwex · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 11:10 pm Post subject:

Surely not. Coughing and wheezing here like an ould man who smoked Sweet Aftons all his life. And I have never smoked.

Blowin · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:56 am Post subject:

Sue - I can never remember the proper name for the black tubing but it's what farmers use by the mile for piping water round the fields to drinking troughs. Any plumbing merchant or farmers co-op will know what you mean. It's not dear and comes in a variety of sizes which can interact together sometimes. Because it's wound straight on to drums when made, it sets into a coiled shape that will never go away. A pain if you want to use it straight, but ideal for cloche hoops, of course.

I've always got a few bits in the shed to use as handle replacements etc. and have been using wire netting protectors, as illustrated, for some time but you could cover them with polythene if so wished. If you use a fairly small size for the main hoops, a larger size will make clips with which to secure the polythene. Simply cut the larger stuff into one inch lengths and then cut each one lengthwise on one side so that, by opening them up they can be slipped over their smaller cousins and the polythene. This is a variation of an old trick used in drawing offices where large sheets of paper would be held on to boards using pieces of two inch plastic down pipe prepared in the same way.

Sue Deacon · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 9:19 am Post subject:

Loads of good ideas there Blowin, thank you. I especially like the 'clip' idea.

tagwex · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:50 am Post subject:

My hoops are 1/2" light guage water pipe. I have 10mm diameter rebar approx. 300mm long, they get tapped into the ground with a hammer and the pipe just slots over it. They have never blown away yet.

The rebar can be sourced in most builders providers Sue but I think you may circumvent that if previous posts are anything to go by!!!

Good guy · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 2:03 pm Post subject:

The pipe I used was 3/4 inch Alkathene water pipe from the local builders' merchants.
I like the clips, Blowin!
My cloche hasn't blown away despite the windy site. Perhaps it's because the mesh is permeable? I had thought I might put a couple of screw-eyes into the frames and pin the cloche down with something like tent pegs, but I haven't needed to.