A surprise in the cold frame.

I must admit to being very lax about the coldframe in the excitement of having a new polytunnel delivered and erected. In fact, I didn't even lift the lid when everything died off in the autumn and the first snow came in late November. I was really surprised to look inside yesterday and discover 4 little lettuce plants happily surviving the winter and extremely cold temperatures with no attention at all. We are in the north east of Scotland and had some very cold spells at -10c for several nights running so I'm amazed at these hardy lettuces making it. The only thing I can think of is that the coldframe was really well protected by the depth of the snow and that the lettuce were grown in fish boxes (plastic) - would the plastic have been a good insulator? Knowing how cold it gets up here, I was a bit doubtful of continuing the growing through the winter in the new polytunnel but this has given me a lot more hope.

 

Hello Katkin. Yes, it's amazing what came through the winter in the cold frame.
I had lots of cuttings in mine, fuchsias, spring onions, parsley and other herbs and some winter density lettuce.
Like yours, the winter was awful and temps were sometimes down to - 20.
The coldframe was under a foot of snow for weeks.
But surprize - everything in there was in good condition, except the lettuce and I don't think it was the cold that did for it. Too dry I think.
I'm sure you'll have lots of success with your polytunnel. You can start researching what you can have in there for the winter - or do some experiments of your own.

 

I had one survive that was actually IN the snow

 

Was it called Iceberg:D:D

Naughty Spruce:D

 

Nice one Centurion. Like it, like it.

 

Call me stupid but I dont get the Centurion bit ?

Stupid Spruce :D

 

Sorry, I sometimes forget that not everyone knows Monty Python off by heart:DOH:

Its the "Manacles" prisoner from Life of Brian. He always laughs at the Centurions jokes.

 

No "Holly Grail" I think I am catching on :D



Spruce not so stupid as I thought