# Using Garden Cloches For Early Tomato And Pepper Transplants Without Cold Damage

- Link: https://lifeandwork.blog/using-garden-cloches-for-early-tomato-and-pepper-transplants-without-cold-damage/
- Published: 2026-10-24T03:09:55-05:00
- Author: Bert Swope

Cloches (pronounced klo-she) provide warmth for crop growth while deterring pests
like slugs.

Gardeners typically utilize glass cloches on metal frames for protecting plants 
from frost or early freeze, however chicken wire, plastic storage bins and even 
recycled milk jugs work just as effectively. These structures can easily be moved
indoors or to a garage to shield plants from late spring frosts or early freezes.

## 1. Invert A Clay Pot

Early tomato planting has become a widespread practice to avoid blossom end rot 
and ensure a bumper harvest. Unfortunately, late freezes still pose a threat in 
certain regions, necessitating protection for transplants from late freeze damage.
Cloches, horticultural fleece or even an old sheet will trap heat to help avoid 
frost damage; alternatively creating a barrier between garden soil and tomato plants
is another effective strategy – I used newspaper and handfuls of sand as a quick
barrier solution.

## 2. Build A Wall

If your garden features walls, use them to protect tender plants such as tomatoes
and peppers from overheating by covering them at night with a cloche or horticultural
fleece for cooling nights and removing it during the day to avoid overheating. Just
ensure to plant them in protected or south-facing locations – according to landscape
designer Nahal Sohbati this ensures adequate warmth and protection is given them.

## 4. Use A Solar Umbrella

There’s something very charming about a bell-shaped glass cloche (pronounced kloshe).
These garden cloches provide protection from animal nibbles and harsh spring weather
as they create a microclimate for young edible plants, while looking good and fitting
into your garden environment with their open lattice design allowing light and air.

Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants belong to the nightshade family, meaning they contain
both male and female reproductive parts. Although self pollination may work best,
hand pollination works just as effectively so long as no heat damage or sunburn 
has occurred to the flower.

## 5. Build A Lantern

Many gardeners recall the 19th-century French market gardeners using barn-shaped
glass cloches over their crops, while modern gardeners have more lightweight solutions
such as solar umbrellas or plastic grow domes that snap together easily and can 
be vented by opening the top.

Cloches provide excellent protection for individual plants or rows of greens and
vegetables, but can also serve to shelter perennials like bladder cherry. Keep in
mind that warm days require you to remove this cover to allow the plant to breathe
freely.

## 6. Cover With A Milk Jug

Many thrift shops and flea markets carry antique glass bell jars known as cloches
that date back to the 19th century French market gardeners who used these protective
covers over early crops to shield them from frost damage.

To protect tomato plants from scorching sunlight and reduce leaf burning, it is 
essential that jugs remain open on sunny days but are removed before nightfall. 
This will stop scorching sun from scorching leaves while simultaneously keeping 
plants warmer than with blanket or row cover alone if you wish to expose more sunlight
for photosynthesis.

## 7. Build A Grow Dome

There’s something charming and timeless about a glass bell-jar cloche (pronounced“
kloshe”) with charming knobs on top. Not only can these charming covers protect 
plants from frost or cold temperatures outdoors; indoors they make stunning displays
for collections, fairy gardens or houseplants.

Cold frames and greenhouses are an ideal way to provide long rows of vegetables,
while plant protectors are useful when you need to protect individual warm-season
crops such as tomatoes or peppers from frost damage. Plastic milk or water jugs 
with their bottom cut out may offer some frost protection; just be sure to vent 
them appropriately!

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