Why Is That Lampshade Covering The Kale?
By Andrea Peck
When we first plant a seed, seedling or newly acquired plant, we hardly consider the eventuality that our little start may need protection. Hope springs eternal as we pat the last crumb of dirt into place and then dutifully water.
Certainly we do not fight off the clutches of severe ice on a daily basis in Central California. Nor do we expect major pest invasions. The truth hurts, however, because we often find our little pride and joys being slowly eradicated by tiny caterpillars that are the same color as kale, for example. Or chickens, maybe eight of them, might have taken to digging around your soft stemmed beds that were once edible. Maybe the weather was not icy, but the wind blew fiercely enough to bend newly formed stems.
It was the chickens with their talons of steel that led me to the idea of the cloche.
The cloche is an early gardening device that originated in France and gained popularity in Europe and America during the mid-1600's. The term “cloche” means bell and the original cloches were made of glass that were bell-shaped. If you see them in photographs you may be a bit put-off because they are just so pretty and delicate, some extremely ornate – you may wonder how you could reconcile spending the money on such garden finery. These elegant casings were placed over seedlings to keep them warm in cold weather. A cold frame follows the same concept; it allows young plants time outdoors while controlling for temperature extremes. To generalize on the idea of the cloche as a form of all around protection is useful in the garden, particularly during times when the plant is vulnerable.
When it comes to pests, even the large bird variety, we tend to look at methods that control the pest. Of course, controlling pests, especially those that come in multitudes is an exhausting business. But, if we switch our thinking, we have the opportunity of following another path altogether. Preventative methods that exclude and discourage pests allow us far greater control. Cloches, though classically used for temperature control, are just such exclusionary devices.
Your garden, your reasons for using a cloche and the materials you have on hand will determine your approach.
One method is the row cover, which, though not what comes to mind when you envision the term cloche, is essentially just such a contraption. A row cover is made of plastic or fabric and generally laid upon stakes that keep the fabric elevated.
There are many do-it-yourself methods that are useful. Old one-gallon milk jugs are commonly made into cloches by cutting the bottom off of the jug and placing it into the soil over the plant. The cap may be removed for venting.
An old lamp shade covered in fabric or screen material, discarded birdcages or an old light fixture can be easily fashioned into a workable cloche. Keep in mind that venting is crucial when temperatures get hot. Also, it is important to consider the possibility of lead and other unwanted toxins when reinventing used items.