From the page: The plastic bag deserves a second life
Idea 9
Winter-protected seedlings
Vegetable growers cover seedlings with plastic to create a microclimate — the physics is simple: the plastic retains the soil's heat and blocks the dry wind, like a miniature greenhouse. In the cold, it's the difference between the seedling that survives and the one that burns at the tips.
What you need
- Transparent or light-colored plastic bags
- Sticks, skewers or wire to build the structure
- Clips, clothespins or small stones
- Seedlings or small pots
How to make it
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1
Stick two or three skewers around the seedling, forming a mini support that keeps the plastic from touching the leaves.
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2
Stretch the opened bag over the top like a little dome and secure the edges with stones or soil, leaving a small gap for air to circulate.
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3
Prefer transparent plastic: it lets the sunlight in to warm things up while retaining heat through the night.
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4
Remove the cover during the warmest hours of the day so the seedling can "breathe" and doesn't develop fungus.
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5
Always water in the morning, so moisture evaporates before the cold night.
Finishing touches
On nights with frost expected, double the protection with two layers of bag. For garden beds, you can build a low tunnel by stretching an opened bag over wire arches.
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