Hotkaps will give you a two to four-week head start in spring gardening. Inside the “kap,” temperatures will be 10° to 20° degrees Fahrenheit warmer than outdoors, no insects can enter, and the soil will remain soft and moist.
Such ideal growing conditions for early gardening can be provided inexpensively.
Standard Hotkaps
The standard hotkaps made of waxed paper shaped into a cone cost about four cents each. If you are careful with them, and your dog doesn’t chase rabbits through the hotkaps, they can be utilized for a second season.
Hotkaps are easily set out over seeds or growing plants to guard against rain, frost, cold, hail, birds, and insects.
These little hothouses are early planting insurance for home gardeners and market growers alike. They increase and hasten yield.
The cone-like “Kaps” usually measure 11” inches in diameter at the base and come to a point at the top. A cardboard setter is provided with quantities of 25 or more of the “kaps.” They must be held firmly in place with soil around them, or spring winds will sail them away.
Plants can be set out and seeds planted under hotkaps when hard freezes are over but when frost and light freezing is still expected.
Miniature Hothouses Idea
The idea of these individual miniature hothouses probably came from France and certain other countries where a system of close intensive soil cultivation is practiced.
The general principle is based on getting the most out of the soil in the shortest time possible, procuring crops at the most profitable seasons, and wasting no more space or crop than is unavoidable.
Cloches
In Europe, these small hothouses are called “cloches” (kloshes). Cloches are little bam-like structures made of glass and supported by small wire frames placed over outdoor crops.
They are set to end in the row, and because they have no ends, an extra pane of glass is used at each end of the row to complete the protection.
Cloches are used widely in English gardening, and there is no reason why we should not use them more.
They can be usefully employed over fall-sown annuals in the border, prized plants or bulbs in the rock garden, as a cover for violets, or to speed up tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.
The cloche usually provides a “push” in starting seeds or young plants and then moves on to help get something else on its way.
For example, cloche culture makes it easy to get an early crop of radishes and lettuce. Carrots, peas, beans, and most annual flower seeds may be started early under the cloche. Sweet peas especially benefited from such an early start.
Inexpensive Paper Hotkaps
The inexpensive paper hotkaps can be used with satisfying results in most of these instances. They will protect tender young plants and cut plant loss to a minimum.
Plants of tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, head lettuce, broccoli, and most annual flowers will reward you for being set out early under the hotkaps. In addition, hills of corn, cucumber, watermelon, and squash seeds can be covered with a hotkap and started three weeks ahead of the normal sowing time.
When not in use, the “kaps” should be cleaned and stored in a dry place.
44659 by Elvin Mcdonald