This is the season for germination and the weather is playing along for now; except, for example, when there is one of those “April showers” or springtime downpours. Another common threat during this season is night-time cold. It could even hail. Since we already have our brand new seeds, and we don’t want to ruin the babies that they have just produced, it’s time to protect them from the weather, but also from bugs and lizards that have looked at your sprouts with hungry eyes. 

Table of Contents

  1. Containers
  2. Greenhouse
  3. ‘The Quechua’
  4. Bins
  5. The complete, ‘really professional’ kit

Containers

You might not be very crafty or have time to make structures or room to put them. Well, one very simple solution is to place plastic or glass containers over the plants. However, you should make sure that they have some kind of opening for the air to come in. In this case, they have reused a jug of water, but you may also use plastic cups anchored to the ground with wires when the plants are smaller.

This kind of container is also really useful if you wish to start planting in March, when it gets colder at night. The cups and bottles will maintain optimal humidity and temperature levels. Another example is the containers in the cover photo that look like CD cases. Whatever works best for you.

Greenhouse

Relax. This is easy and simple for the whole family (as seen on DIY TV show). Outdoors, you can build some mini-greenhouses which will protect anything delicate. It is best to stud the structure with wooden slats and put a mosquito net on each side. For the cover, you should install hinges and use a harder material, preferably glass or plastic. That way, the plants can breathe easily and get the air they need while being protected by a hard cover from storms or eventual hail.

'The Quechua'

This method is also quite professional and it is typically used to protect all kinds of vegetables in outdoor gardens. It is made out of a mesh or plastic tarp placed over structures bent in a crescent shape. You can buy pre-made ones but also make them yourself and adapt them to the space you have. You can use plastic or cloth, but mosquito netting is the best. 

Bins

This is just like the plastic bottles or containers, only that in this case, they are containers with a mesh. The ones in the image are made of bamboo, but you can be creative and recycle other things. For example, some mesh paper baskets. These structures will protect plants from any outside threat except for cold. But you can also cover them with plastic, if you wish to start planting before April. 

The complete, 'really professional' kit

And if you really want to get serious, you can buy these adjustable gadgets with NASA technology, specially designed for germination purposes. Even though they may look cute, we prefer to reuse, recycle and manufacture. In short, in order for your plants to live, the best thing is a little creative muscle. Maybe you, Internet users, have better ideas and photos of them in practice. At LaMota, we are looking forward to them.