My Garden

Cold Frame

Last post 06-11-2008 9:49 AM by Digger. 15 replies.

• 02/11/2008 08:10 PM
  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743	Reply | Contact OH has just found me a grand little cold frame for less than £40, it's aluminium framed with polycarb glazing, it measures 3' 6"x3' 6" and is a barn type with an apex roof, I am going to put it up at the new lottie, it will be ideal for hardening off the sweetpeas and things. well tha's my christmas present to myself sorted out. digger

• 02/11/2008 09:24 PM	In reply to
  Phot's-Moll Location: The sunny South coast. Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 3,347	Reply | Contact  Sounds good Digger. I considered getting a cold frame, but as the only place I could put it is on full view, I'd want a timber and glass one - they're very pricey. Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.

• 03/11/2008 08:43 AM	In reply to
  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 5,200	Reply | Contact That's not a bad price for one that size digger, just make sure you anchor it into the ground somehow so it doesn't get blown away. sue1002

• 03/11/2008 10:17 AM	In reply to
  miranda Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 2,974	Reply | Contact  Nice one, digger! And listen to Sue, or you'll be cross if it blows away.

• 03/11/2008 11:34 AM

  In reply to

  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743

  Reply | Contact What would I do without you guys? I didn't even consider anchoring it to the ground, it's a good job you said it or it probably would've ended up in the farmers field! I've seen those posh wooden and glass cold frames but you need to be a lottery winner to buy them, some of them are more expensive than buying a greenhouse! Gabriel Ash do somelovely buildings and frames but they are so expensive their catalogue should have a warning on the front cover digger

• 03/11/2008 03:12 PM	In reply to
  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 5,200	Reply | Contact You could use some heavy wood to make a frame for the bottom which should stop it from blowing away.  It shouldn't be too much trouble to drill some holes in the aluminium frame to screw it down onto the wood, it will also raise it by a couple of inches so you get a bit of extra growing height. sue1002

• 03/11/2008 04:21 PM

  In reply to

  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743

  Reply | Contact Good idea sue1002, I already have some four inch square timber that was given to me, I was thinking about putting some covering on the bottom of the frame and then I could put lots of trays and pots in there, but OH said ooooh digger why don't you dig the ground and grow something inside the frame? I am not sure how deep it is but if i do the timber it will as you say be another four inches deeper, if it's a good one I may get another but it will have to be after christmas time digger

• 03/11/2008 04:25 PM	In reply to
  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 5,200	Reply | Contact  I think most people put in either a layer of sand or gravel in the bottoms of the frames, I think sand would be a bit warmer for the winter for plants to stand on but gravel would give it more drainage. sue1002

• 03/11/2008 04:58 PM	In reply to
  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743	Reply | Contact I have lots of sharp grit down at the stables near to the lottie,i should put a membrane down first,should I? digger

• 03/11/2008 06:56 PM	In reply to
  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 5,200	Reply | Contact The membrane will help stop the weeds from coming through, especially if it's going on the ground. sue1002

• 03/11/2008 08:42 PM	In reply to
  Phot's-Moll Location: The sunny South coast. Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 3,347	Reply | Contact  You could dig the ground now and put in some winter salads. When you've eaten them, put down the membrane and sand at it will be ready for hardening off seeds in the spring. Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.

• 03/11/2008 09:05 PM

  In reply to

  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743

  Reply | Contact Actually I was considering making use of the hot muckheap this winter, i thought if i stuck a frame on the heap and filled it with compost,it should be okay for carrots. I don't know exactly where to put the new cold frame when it comes,, i can put it facing south on a small incline,but if i did a quick crop it would need to be really quick, because by the end of January i would be needing it for storing new crops for hardening off. digger

• 05/11/2008 01:43 PM	In reply to
  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743	Reply | Contact The new cold frame has just arrived. It will be after the weekend now before it's installed and erected, I won't have the time before I go away for the weekend. digger

• 06/11/2008 04:13 AM	In reply to
  Foxnfirefly Location: Virginia,USA Joined on: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 165	Reply | Contact Hi, Digger!!  Congratulations on your new cold frame!!  Sweet peas and what else?  You've got room for more stuff.

• 06/11/2008 08:57 AM	In reply to
  Phot's-Moll Location: The sunny South coast. Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 3,347	Reply | Contact Prize winning onions and leeks??? Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.