The fruits and vegetables harvested from your own patch of earth are always the sweetest–doubly so if your garden is more shoebox than sprawling country pile. In pursuit of the perfect strawberry, modern gardeners are turning to the old Victorian favourite: cloches.
But what is it about these glass structures that make them so handy in tight green spaces? Like a miniature, portable greenhouse, pop them over plants and they trap the sun's heat, creating a warm microclimate ideal for propagating seedlings. They're especially helpful in the summer, ripening chillies and accelerating the growth of basil. Plus, in smaller plots where you might not have room for garden furniture, an antique cloche can up the decorative ante.
We spoke to Beth Gregg, co-founder of Claverton Cloches, who believes Victorian ingenuity has given us an excellent way to make the most of a tiny garden. The idea for the company came when Beth began planting seedlings in her windy terrace garden. Her partner, having seen ‘these perfect things’ as a child at Audley End House, had no idea what they were called, but they quickly discovered a reproduction was impossible to find.
As Beth notes, ‘cloches protect tender plants from frosts and prevent hungry birds and nibbling mice from eating your precious crop. Instead of cluttering a sunny windowsill with your seed trays in spring, they can be brought outdoors and placed under cloches to kick-start germination; they can also be used to start off summer lettuces, sweet peas and radishes.' Plus, she adds, ‘in an urban setting cloches provide protection for plants from pigeons and even curious pets.’
These days, cloches are available in a variety of designs, from faithful Victorian replications to contemporary tunnels. Below are the best picks to help your kitchen garden bear fruit (and veg) – even when it isn’t big enough to swing a cucumber.
The dos of cloches
How cloches protect tender crops is fairly simple, no matter how new you are to growing your own food. However, there are a few tips and tricks that will give you better results.
- Your seeds will do better if you warm the soil by placing your cloche in your chosen planting spot 10 days before you sow them, this step gives them a higher chance of germination.
- Unlike standard-sized greenhouses, your miniature greenhouse can blow away if not well anchored, so make sure your cloche isn’t vulnerable to gusts.
- Cloches work by trapping heat, so on sunny days, they can get very hot inside, so do give your plants some much-needed fresh air.
The don'ts of cloches
- According to the RHS website, well-ventilated cloches can reduce common air-borne plant diseases. Don’t be tempted to try to make your cloche completely airtight as this will cause mould and mildew to form.
- While your miniature greenhouse is ideal for protecting overwintered plants from frost, the glass itself can become very cold, so be sure to keep your crop’s foliage away.
- Finally, don’t plant your seeds in the summer without first giving the soil a good soaking – you don’t want your thirsty seeds to end up failing for lack of water.
