Next stage in protection

Eventually cloches will become too small or the temperature too warm. A next step in protection is to use open topped cloches. These can be made of old plastic pots with the bottoms cut out. If temperatures turn cold again crop cloth can be draped over the tops.

Early season crop protection

A variety of cloches and wire mesh/crop cloth can be used to protect early season veggies from cold, rain, and pests. Pop bottle cloches work well. Peas wrapped with wire mesh then covered with crop cloth seem to like the protected environment. A simple cold frame made with an old window keeps greens sheltered. The goal is to help the fragile seedlings get established. Early in the year starting seedlings indoors seems to work best.