On 05 Jun 2004 00:09:37 GMT, (Sly boots 9) wrote:

What is a hot cap? Is it like a plastic bag over the plant?

They have been around for years, but are pretty much a dome formed
with a wire frame and waxed paper formed around that and enough of an
extra fringe around the edges so you can plop the cap over the
transplant, and then scoop some dirt up on that "fringe" to hold it in
place. They're used to protect transplants from being frosted, and
when put out early in the spring when the sun is weaker or it's cloudy
a good deal of the time, they're also used like a little green house
to allow earlier planting. But like greenhouses, they get hot fast
under sunshine, so they're usually put over the plant you want to
protect at night,then taken off in the daytime.. at least in the home
gardens.

I have seen whole fields with hot caps over the transplants, but I
think they were melons..and they left them on the plants ..until they
were safe from frost..no on and off there!

Janice