Garden Greenhouse

Someday in the hopefully-not-too-distant-future, Nick and I would like to be able to grow many of our own greens and vegetables.  This plan is limited by a) time and b) money.  This year we had just enough of both to put in one raised bed containing (as previously mentioned) broccoli and Brussels sprout seedlings, a baby bell pepper or two, our transplanted basil and tomato plants, and some seeds for lettuce, carrots and radishes.  Planting in late August/early September is not unreasonable in the Mid-Atlantic, with the first frost date generally predicted for mid-October.  We should be able to get at least one crop of the lettuce and radishes.  But in the hopes of prolonging our growing season a few more weeks, Nick decided that we should try making a cloche.  It's also known as a row cover, but cloche sounds better (it's French for bell).

So Nick did some online research and planning, as well as some shopping, and this weekend we put together our first cloche.  It's not perfect and it's not professional, but we think it'll get the job done. Take a look!

Here is the garden bed pre-cloche (photo is a few weeks old but you get the idea:

 Step 1: Cut in half three lengths of PVC pipe.

Step 2: Attach PVC to exterior of raised bed with brackets and wood screws.  Attach on the long sides; one at each end and one in the middle.

Step 3: Go trekking around in the woods that are our backyard to find tall beech saplings or pliable branches no wider in diameter than the diameter of the pipe opening.

Step 4: Trim such branches/saplings of branches and leaves and cut them at their base.  Feel slightly guilty about it but realize that the woods are chock full of beech trees and that there are new saplings coming up constantly.

Step 5: On the way back to the garden with said saplings, be very confused by the proliferation of weird little insects with fluffy white waving bits that have taken over one of the trees.  Make mental note to figure out what the heck they are (other than reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss book).

Step 6: Insert saplings into PVC pipe and twine together saplings from opposite sides of the garden bed.  Secure with twine.  Cloche frame complete!

Steps 7-9 have been summarized/oversimplified so as not to bore you with the details of how many times things had to be adjusted and readjusted.

Step 7: Drape plastic sheeting over framing and attach by making very small holes (with a tiny screwdriver used to adjust eyeglasses) and threading twine through them.  

Step 8: Make two slits on the near side of the long end of the cloche, to allow access to the plants inside.

 
Step 9: Attach Velcro to the edges of the slits and a few extra pieces to allow the cloche openings to be sealed shut or held open, depending upon the weather.

Step 10: Celebrate teamwork and a job well done with a cup of Earl Grey tea.  What, you were expecting something fancier?


Now it's time to cross our fingers and hope it works!