Cold Frames -v- cheap option

About to purchase one to harden off veg plants (if they grow)Have spotted a see through plastic covered 4 tier shelf thingy in Robert Dyass for only 12.99 will this sort of thing work as well as a cold frame--?? Would appreciate some advice. Kind regards.

 

It should work fine Bunslip. We've had one for three years, though the winter gales shredded the cover this year.
A tip - if you plan to leave it standing empty, put some bricks or something heavy on the bottom tier.

 

Nice one Dave, Its a lot cheaper...

 

Why not build one like mine from old rubbish....

here

The one on the right is phase two (codename 'The Boilatron') and will be tall, insulated, double glazed and very hot. You could paint it up to make it look smarter if you like that sort of thing.

Total cost �£3.99 for screws.

[ 04. March 2007, 06:22 PM: Message edited by: sawfish ]

 

Love your coldframes Sawfish I've found a piece of glass to make one out of, was thinking of putting it up on bricks as a quick and easy option. What are the sides made out of on yours???? Bricks seem in fairly short supply down here in Granite country.....

 

If you've got a double glazing firm close to you there will always be old windowsashs available to scrounge, as they usually treated as rubbish to be tipped. Great for frames etc if you're not too fussy about what they look like!

 

I got some bricks of freecycle and made a square with them. Then someone managed to get me a couple of double glazed windows in aluminium frames which I just placed on top. You might be able to get some glass panels in frames from a double glazing firm?

 

Brilliant idea, BPM! We're about to make another one, so will talk to Mr D about it!

 

If you have a fishmonger near to you, scrounge some of the polystyrene boxes they have their fish delivered in, add a glass pane on top and you have a well indulated cold frame. Works a treat.

 

I have mine made out of reclaimed cheese crates and old caravan windows similar to sawfish, but not so nice looking. Because i move mine round from location to location, i have lined mine with feed sacking, similar to membrane but white. It keeps the snails out and allows the water to drain away, and keeps weeds out. They're all full at the min, under a table in my polyt. But i also like olde9856's idea, Must hit New quay and Aberaeron to visit the fish sellers. I still got loads of caravan windows.
Oh and i sometimes use tyres with bits of glass on top. Again with feed sacking at the base.

 

I've used the poly fish boxes as well just like olde9856, and yes the pong does disperse eventually! Meanwhile watch out for cats!

 

I made mine out of the old garden furniture which had seen better days. The only thing I had to pay for was the polycarbonate top.

 

I just used thick plywood that was lying around. Insulate it with polystyrene which you can usually find lying about in skips.

You can usually find units in industrial estates that replace double glazed windows, they usually just chuck out all the old ones which are in near pefect nic. Thats where I got mine.

[ 19. February 2007, 11:06 PM: Message edited by: sawfish ]

 

you can get an old bed frame (people chuck them out all the time), rip off the fabric on a few sides and cover it with clear pvc (again, not hard to come by) or fleece if you're fancy. bingo

 

Finished the second one .

see here

boilatron1

boilatron2