The colder months seem to be lasting longer each year and as gardeners, we are faced with the challenge of protecting our seedlings and plants from the harsh elements. Without the luxury of a greenhouse, we find alternatives to protect our plants. Here are three practical and budget-friendly ways to shield your plants from winter’s chill.

1. DIY Cloches for Individual Plant Protection

When it comes to shielding delicate greens and herbs from freezing temperatures, cloches are a gardener’s best friend. These simple, bell-shaped covers act as miniature greenhouses, trapping warmth and sheltering your plants from frost. They are easy to make and allow for targeted protection, making them ideal for young seedlings or specific plants that need extra care.

Steps

• Cut a bottle in half to create a cylinder, either use the top or bottom half. We find it easier to use the top and remove the cap rather than drilling holes in the base for air.
• Remove the cap and place the cylinder over your delicate plants, pushing the open end into the soil.
• For added insulation, surround the base of the cloche with a layer of mulch or straw if enough space.

Cloches are particularly effective for protecting young seedlings and perennial herbs like parsley and chives. They allow sunlight to reach the plants while providing a barrier against frost, ensuring your greens stay fresh and vibrant throughout the winter.

Not only do we use these outside for our herbs, we use them inside on freshly planted seeds on the windowsill in the colder months to add that extra bit of heat for them to grow.

2. DIY Cold Frame Microclimates for Multiple Plants 

Cold frames are excellent alternatives to greenhouses, providing a microclimate for your plants while shielding them from the elements. They are like miniature, low-profile greenhouses that trap sunlight, creating a warmer environment.

Creating a cold frame from a plastic container is a simple and cost-effective way to protect your plants during colder months, it is also a great way to repurpose plastic containers.

All you will need is a large, clear plastic container with a lid, or anything with a lid like zip bags that bedding comes in. Having a lid is key and if you are short of space, you can stack them up or if high winds are predicted, you can bring them back inside. 

Cold frames are versatile and can accommodate various plants, from hardy winter greens to early seedlings. They are particularly useful for extending the growing season and protecting delicate plants from frost.

They are also great for protecting your seedlings inside. Use anything you can find that is clear to cover and protect your seedlings; cake storage boxes work well, or glass jars, or even just propagation lids.

3. DIY Greenhouses with Plastic Sheeting

When it comes to raised beds, larger plants or potted specimens, creating a makeshift greenhouse with clear plastic sheeting can be a game-changer. This DIY solution provides ample protection and retains heat, ensuring your plants thrive during the winter chill.

Indoors, find anything that you can wrap your seedlings in for protection; used cling film, bread bags, or roll bags. Anything clear will work, placing the covered plants on the windowsill to add the extra heat as they grow.

As winter settles in, do not let the lack of a greenhouse limit your gardening ambitions. Use what you have, before you start buying new items. You will be surprised what you come up with once you start looking! What do you use?

Katrina and Clayton live with their family in East Ayrshire and share their daily life in the garden on Instagram. They practise permaculture principles in the garden, reducing and repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive.

Clayton completed the ‘Grow and Learn’ course with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society last year. This year, he started the Level 2 ‘Nurture’ course. Clayton is 16, autistic, non-verbal, and has been home-educated for the last 5 years.

Katrina and Clayton featured on BBC ‘Beechgrove’ (Ep23 2022 and Ep17 2023), and are authors of the children’s series ‘Clayton’s Gardening Adventures: Stories of Autism and Gardening’ available on Amazon.

You can keep up with Katrina and Clayton on Instagram, Facebook, and on their website.