Time for a cloche?

We planted the colder seeds last Saturday to watch the weather turn more seasonable (colder) now. Sunday morning I took the time to cover the garden with PVC laid on the soil loosely, and held down with some bricks.

I wonder if I should turn it into a cloche so the plants can sprout? Or will that now be delayed due to the weather?

Hi Rob - I would turn it into a cloche. These work well with our wet-ish Springs, and you don't have to worry about overheating for the most part. You'll be surprised at how warm the soil can get under one. The cool season crops will take off.
What did you plant?
Are you still wanting Sunflower seeds?

And wasn't it molasses that you used last year, Kate, to help get the soil warmer?

Excellent. We planted bush peas, lettuce, scallions and radish right now, and started some bush beans and peppers right now inside. That's at least what the packages called for. I bought some Sunflower seeds, but if you have something special, it would be great to get some.

Now, building a cloche, I have heard of PVC pipe hoops, do I need to support them? What are the secrets?

Rob, there are different ways of doing it. One way is to attach short sections of metal pipe to the sides of the bed & insert the pvc pipe into it. Or, pound 24" lenths of rebar into the ground - either in the bed or outside the bed, leaving about 12" above ground. The pvc is placed over these vertical rebar pieces. The one thing i found necessary for structural integrity is to reinforce it along the top, linking all the "hooped" pieces together. I like mine higher so i don't feel like I have to crawl under it, and you can grow taller crops like Broccoli.
There are some very cool plans online for coldframes, but not high enough. But you're a handy one - you could probably tweak something pretty well.
Also saw something i'd like to duplicate, but it requires some sourcing for the parts; ready-made is a bit spendy. I'll try to get a link for you...

try these out:
Flip top:
http://www.growerssupply.com/farm/supplies/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10001&langId=-1&division=GrowersSupply&productId=120411

Stationery:
http://www.growerssupply.com/farm/supplies/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10001&langId=-1&division=GrowersSupply&productId=121775

And then just a little pvc to cover and some duct tape?

Yes get the thickest mil plastic - 4 or 6 works well. Attach with binder clips - duct tape works for a while then get ratty & leaves an adhesive film on the plastic. My plastic lasts about 3 years unless I forget to store it inside for the winter.

Clips alone will hold it in place?

yes - there are other ways to attach. but that worked well for me.
You could also make a half-cylinder shape out of hogwire & cover that with plastic.
The wind can be an issue, depending on one's siting.

They make these clips:

http://www.territorialseed.com/product/1657/171

Or you can just use standard spring clamps:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=5546

ooooooooooh Flex Jaw - sounds formidable!

OMG- I got it up, a bit simpler than Katie59 described, but it was a sweat box near noon yesterday. What a difference. No sprouts yet.

Excellent!

The radishes are doing well, about 1/4" tall, the scallions just poked through, wow!

Amazing, isn't it? It provides a cozy place for things to start growing. I like working the beds with the covers because the soil warms up so nicely.
What else are you planting in there, Rob?

Lettuce, scallions, peas, beans, cukes, carrots are the limit, I think, but which veges has been my wifes plan, not mine, I am the technical advisory. IE I build cloches, water and advise on picking. we are planning on several sowings of lettuce and scallions and peas.

I am going to plant lettuces & cabbage this weekend. Another cloche is necessary so I think I'll try a wood frame version that's tall to accomodate other veggies to be sown next month.
I'd love to have one made of metal to fit over the bed, that's tall enough. Most are shorter for seedlings, but I think they work well here for the entire Spring season - keeps everything warmer/drier, plus you can switch out the plastic for screening in the summer to keep the varmints out & allow for ventilation.

Most of our bush beans in pots on the window sill, blew the plastic cover off them about 2", so that they have now partially naturalized themselves to the less humid environment. should we just plant them in the garden under the cloche?

You could do that, but be sure to cover them & keep them toasty.
Beans are a warm season crop, but a cover will keep that soil warmer which they will like.
I don't normally plant out my beans until May due to the weather, but I grow pole beans which are a bit trickier to cover. So, if it were me, Rob, I would give it a go.
This year may prove warmer, so you could be harvesting well ahead of the typical season. That's always nice!
If they don't make it (I think they'll be fine), try sowing more seed in another couple weeks. Succession sowing works quite well for many crops. I think Mrs. Rob might be needing another nice raised bed...

We moved all the beans into the cloche, and they have taken right off, as if the time is right. I probably will move the first of my plants outside into the little greenhouse, as I want it to get all the sun it can to regrow its top. It was given a trimming that almost got me convicted of murder of a housekeeper. Yes, its good to Freezing.