A cloche is a clear cover that traps some daytime warmth and protects one small plant from wind. A clean drink bottle can do the job briefly in cool spring weather.
- Use a clear, clean 2 L beverage bottle. Coloured plastic reduces useful light and is not safer than proper ventilation.
- Ask an adult to remove the bottom with a suitable cutting tool, smooth or cover the cut edge, and recycle the loose piece. Children stay clear while cutting.
- Remove the cap for ventilation and anchor the cloche with soil staples or soil around its outer edge. Do not force a sharp edge beside the stem.
- Check the plant every morning and again when sun reaches it. A bottle can overheat astonishingly fast, even on a cool day.
- Vent more or remove the cover during warm, bright weather. Replace the cap only for a genuinely cold night, then remove it the next morning.
- Check soil moisture; rain may not reach the root area evenly.
- Remove the cloche before leaves touch the sides or top. Wash, dry, and save or recycle the bottle.
A cloche cannot make a tender plant frost-proof. Follow local frost forecasts and the plant's temperature needs. For a whole row, a properly used floating row cover is usually easier to manage.