‘Bottomless pots’ are a brilliant and simple device to protect newly transplanted seedlings – plastic flowerpots with the bottom ‘sawn’ off with an old bread knife. I’ve just used them on sunflowers and pumpkins. They keep birds from scratching them out, stop them being buried by compost, deflect the wind, provide shade and deter rabbits. They even direct the water when I’m watering onto the roots. I’ll remove them after a couple of weeks once the plants are established. I’ve been using these ones for about ten years and I suspect they’ll be going at least another ten. I’ve got different sizes depending on the plant and at this time of year I deploy most of them. I’ve taken the frost cloth off the hoops over my potatoes as I’m not expecting another frost now. Its still covering newly sown carrots and some onions I’ve just planted out.