A garden cloche may be one of the simplest tools you can add to your gardening arsenal—but its impact is anything but small. Whether you’re protecting tender seedlings from frost or giving heat-loving crops a head start, learning how to use a cloche in the garden can make a surprising difference in plant health and harvest success.

Let’s dive into what makes garden cloches so useful, how to use them effectively, and which types work best for different situations.

What Is a Garden Cloche?

If you’ve never heard the term before, a garden cloche might sound fancy—but it’s really just a small, protective covering designed to shield individual plants. Think of it as a mini greenhouse, just for one or two plants at a time.

A garden cloche (pronounced klōsh) is typically bell-shaped and was originally made of glass. Today, cloches come in many materials and shapes—from recycled plastic to breathable fabric and wire domes. Regardless of their design, all cloches serve the same purpose: they create a microclimate to help plants thrive in less-than-perfect conditions.

A Brief History of Garden Cloches

The concept of the garden cloche dates back to 17th-century France, where early market gardeners around Paris used bell-shaped glass domes to protect tender plants. The word cloche literally means “bell” in French, a fitting name for these elegant glass covers that closely resembled church bells.

These original cloches were made of hand-blown glass and used extensively in French market gardens to extend the growing season and protect valuable crops from frost. They became a staple of intensive vegetable farming, especially for cold-sensitive greens, strawberries, and melons.

By the 19th century, cloches had become popular among European estate gardeners and were seen as both a functional and fashionable gardening tool. Their use eventually spread to England and North America, evolving over time as materials like plastic and wire mesh became more available.

Today’s cloches may look a bit different, but they follow the same timeless principle: create a microclimate that gives plants a head start and shields them from harm. Whether you’re using a modern pop-up cloche or a vintage-style glass dome, you’re tapping into a gardening tradition with roots that go back centuries.

Why Use a Cloche in the Garden?

Many gardeners don’t realize how powerful a cloche can be. It’s not just about warmth—it’s about control. By adding a cloche to your garden setup, you gain more influence over the conditions your plants face day to day.

Here are some of the biggest benefits to using garden cloches:

• Frost Protection – Cloches provide a crucial layer of insulation to shield young plants from late spring or early fall frosts.
• Extended Growing Season – By warming the air and soil underneath, cloches allow you to start seeds earlier and harvest later.
• Pest Barrier – A physical shield against nibbling insects, rabbits, and birds.
• Wind Break – Young plants, especially seedlings, can suffer from wind damage. Cloches help protect them during vulnerable growth stages.
• Focused Warmth – Ideal for heat-loving plants that struggle in early-season chill.

Types of Garden Cloches

There’s no shortage of cloche designs out there, and choosing the right one can depend on your space, budget, and the type of protection your garden needs. Let’s take a look at the most common types you’ll encounter and what they’re best for.

• Glass Cloches – These are the traditional bell-shaped covers you might see in vintage garden photos. They’re beautiful, heavy, and long-lasting—perfect for decorative garden beds or small seedlings.
• Plastic Cloches – A more practical and affordable option, plastic cloches are lightweight, often come with vents, and are easy to move around.
• Fabric Row Cloches – These cover entire rows of plants and are excellent for covering larger garden beds with breathable frost protection.
• Wire or Mesh Cloches – Ideal when you need to keep pests away but still want rain and light to pass through.
• DIY Cloches – You don’t have to spend a dime—repurpose milk jugs, soda bottles, or even mason jars to cover individual seedlings or small plants.

When and How to Use Garden Cloches

A cloche is only as good as its timing. Knowing when to place it, and how to manage it throughout the day, makes all the difference in how well your plants perform.

Here’s how to get the most out of your garden cloches:

• Start Early – Set your cloches out in late winter or early spring to help warm the soil before planting.
• Protect Overnight – On nights when frost threatens, placing a cloche over your plants in the afternoon lets it trap heat for extra protection.
• Vent on Sunny Days – Overheating can be just as harmful as cold. Be sure to vent or temporarily remove cloches during warm afternoons.
• Anchor in Windy Weather – A gust of wind can turn your cloche into a tumbleweed. Use stakes, rocks, or soil mounds to keep them firmly in place.

Best Plants for Cloches

Not every plant needs a cloche, but some absolutely benefit from the extra care. Whether you’re starting from seed or protecting tender transplants, a cloche can offer a major boost.

Here are a few great candidates for cloche use:

• Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and arugula
• Strawberries and low-growing fruits
• Herbs such as basil and cilantro
• Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant (especially early in the season)
• Tender seedlings of nearly any variety

Master Gardener Tips for Using Garden Cloches

Want to use cloches like a pro? These quick tips will help you avoid common mistakes and get better results from day one.

• Use a soil thermometer to track how much warmth your cloche is generating.
• Cluster your cloches in the same bed for easier management and better efficiency.
• Store your cloches carefully in summer to extend their life.
• Pair cloches with mulch or row covers for layered protection in colder climates.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re hoping to beat a surprise frost, start your seeds earlier, or defend your garden from pests, garden cloches are a simple but powerful tool to have on hand. These little domes create the perfect microclimate, helping your garden thrive even when the weather has other plans.

Adding a few cloches to your toolkit is one of the easiest ways to step up your garden game—from the ground up.