i'm new to this forum, usually over in New England gardening. i thought you folks in the further north might have some advice concerning protecting my dianthus from crown rot over the winter. i was wondering if putting a plastic "cloche" over the plants would be of benefit. some of my dianthus come thru just fine, others have rotted even tho the drainage is good. i have made pseudo-cloches from some large round food containers i bought at Walmart, and have drilled small holes in the top for ventilation. will stake them so they won't blow away. does this sound like a good idea? or will the temps inside get too hot or moisture form on sunny days without snow cover? thanks for any comments!