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The cloche is a device that encloses a young plant in a protective covering that shields it from low temperatures and high winds. Invented in France, the first cloches were made of glass and later of plastic. Our tee pee cloche is made of 6 mil clear plastic supported by garden stakes. These tee pee cloches are easy to erect, remove and store, and are inexpensive to make.| Materials Needed: For One Small Cloche: 1 green garden pole, 6 feet long* 5 pieces of 3/8" dowel, cut 1 " long 1 piece 6 mil clear plastic, 16" x 16" Rubber bands For One Large Cloche: 3 green garden poles, 6 feet long* 5 pieces of 3/8" dowel, cut 1" long 1 piece 6 mil clear plastic, 20" x 20" *Metal poles covered with green plastic about 3/8" in diameter |
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Instructions:
1) To make circle: Take the wooden yard stick and drill a hole on one end to accommodate the size of the tip of a black magic marker. Measure 16" (20" for large) from hole and hammer a nail into the yard stick as shown in illustration A. Layout the clear plastic and press the nail in the yard stick into the center of the sheet of plastic. Put the marker in the hole of the yardstick and draw a circle as shown in illustration B.
2) Following the layout in illustration C, draw a 2" circle with a compass in the center of the circle. Using a protractor divide and mark the circle into 3 equal sections. Following the marker lines, cut out the 3 pieces from the plastic (you can make 2 more cloches out of the extra pieces of plastic). Wipe off the black marker lines with mineral spirits.
3) Take one of the plastic pieces and lay a piece of masking tape a 1/2" from one of the straight edges. Turn over the plastic and lay a piece of tape a 1/2" away from the other straight edge. Spray the glue adhesive along the 1/2" edge on both sides as shown in illustration D. Remove the tape and bring both sticky edges together so as to form a cone. Press edges together and allow to dry over night.
4) To make stakes: Cut the green pole(s) into 3 pieces. See illustration E. Hammer in the 1" dowels into the open edges of each piece of green pole. Paint the ends and allow paint to dry.
5) Bundle up green stakes and secure with heavy rubber bands about 2" from one of the ends. With rubber band end of stakes sticking up, place cone over stakes. Spread the stakes to form a tee pee shape out of the plastic. Push stakes into the ground and mound up dirt around the bottom of plastic so that wind will not blow it down. See photo on top of page. Excessive heat will escape through top of cloche. On very hot days and after danger of frost, remove the cloche to prevent excess heat from building up under the cones.
