Cold frame - on the cheap

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by PeterS, Nov 17, 2008.

  1. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

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    I was looking at coldframes that you can buy a couple of days ago. - They are not cheap. So I thought I would show you what I did today.

    [​IMG]

    The above frames cost nothing, simply used bits that I already had. They are made from breeze blocks (and old bricks, when I ran out) covered with old windows. By putting them against the house, you kill two birds with one stone. You use less blocks and they get a tiny amount of heat coming from the house. Another advantage of this sort of construction is that you can dismantle it when winter is over, and store in a spare corner.

    I am going to use it for the plants that are borderline hardy, such as perennial Lobelias, Salvia patens, Salvia uliginosa, Liatris spicata (tends to rot with winter wet). Bellis perennis, Penstemon etc.
     
  2. Quercus

    Quercus Gardener

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    They should do the job!

    On really cold nights you could even throw another cover on top, just for a bit more protection.

    Don't forget to ventilate well on mild days, just as much damage is done by having plants in damp, stagnant conditions than the cold.
     
  3. Helofadigger

    Helofadigger Gardener

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    Well done Peter you're a man after my own heart I do love making something useful out of nothing. Brilliant idea of making them up and then removing them all when no longer needed. Hel.xxx.
     
  4. lollipop

    lollipop Gardener

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  5. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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    Well done PeterS ... it's always nice to find uses for things otherwise just lying around.

    We were at a friend's for the weekend and were impressed with something he made. I had intended on doing a thread similar to yours so hope you don't mind if I tag onto here.

    Our friend was given a pile of old curtain rails so he bought some cling film and for under 10 Euros fixtures and cling film he made this walk-in greenhouse for his tomatoes and seedlings ....

    [​IMG]



    He has also taken this satellite dish he found, covered it in foil and is using it as a solar panel ....

    [​IMG]
     
  6. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

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    Brilliant LoL - I love that greenhouse and the reflector. The older I get the more I realise that you don't have to spend a lot of money.
     
  7. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Good job Peter, you might need watch out for winds blowing over the windows and breaking the glass, or are they fixed down?
     
  8. men8ifr

    men8ifr Guest

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    How much earlier can you plant summer flowers with a coldframe? How much earlier do you get flowers? Are there other advantages?
     
  9. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    I'm sure you can get them going earlier, but my reckoning would be to start them in a greenhouse (which you could heat if you wanted them to be really early) and then harden them off using a coldframe (in early may, say) and then plant out when risk of frost had passed - maybe 1st June
     
  10. Ivory

    Ivory Gardener

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    There is no end to the advantages of coldframes,in all seasons. You can start seeds (and tubers) perhaps a month earlier or so(inside, then out in the coldframe), you can overwinter semi-hemi-demi-hardy plants that are tricky in cold and wet weather, or biennial seedlings, and in summer it's very handy for cuttings.
     
  11. Ivory

    Ivory Gardener

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    PS LOL the greenhouse made of clingfilm is gorgeous!!
     
  12. sweetpeas

    sweetpeas Gardener

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    I like all of those ideas:thumb:, very tempted to use the brick construction but as I don't have any spare windows do you think a small wood frame and plastic would do the job too?
     
  13. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    sweetpea - yes I've used wood and plastic to make up cheap & cheerful cold frames - they don't last that long - but they do the job. Basically anything that keeps off the wind and keeps in the warmth helps :thumb:
     
  14. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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    PeterS ... just noticed there is Salvia in the foreground of the picture of the satellite dish solar panel .... it's a wonderful clump of it ..... :thumb:
     
  15. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

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    Yes LoL. I have seen the Salvia, now you pointed it out. A bit indistinct to say exactly what it was. Could be a microphylla (or greggii - virtually the same). My microphylla is still flowering having started late June/ early July.

    Sweetpea. Yes plastic will do. The old windows were saved when double glazing was installed. But the two nearest pieces of glass were recovered from our local tip - at no cost. However don't be tempted to use old double glazing units, as I did initially. They are very heavy, and as they generally have no protection round the edge the glass will cut your hands.

    JWK, I did reply earlier but it appears the wind blew my post of course. I just put a brick on top to stop the panes getting lifted by the wind. All very high tech and no expense spared. :D
     
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