Shading unit for plant propagation

Claim 1

A non-greenhouse type plant propagation unit for shading a garden bed, said unit including means for providing an environment generally cooler than the surrounding ambient conditions to facilitate the growth of plants during hot weather which plants such as lettuce for example, generally require a cooler environment; said means comprising a continuous substantially solid side wall means extending entirely around said bed and substantially to the tops of mature plants growing therein and a perforate, removably mounted top means formed on non-transparent materail extending across and vertically spaced above said side wall means for protecting the plants therein from intense sunlight and beating rain, said unit retaining a body of relatively cool air, with respect to the ambient atmospheric conditions, around the enclosed plants; support means extending below and supporting said side wall means and defining a gap beneath the bottom of said side wall means and the bottom of said support means to permit passage of air therethrough and drainage of water; post means spacing said top means above said side wall means and thereby defining a passage for air between the top of said side wall means and said top means; and securing means releaseably retaining said top means in normal operative position extending across said side wall means for covering the bed, whereby air may circulate freely about plants due to said gap and said passage.