Cold frame - on the cheap

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.



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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Nice Job there.

 

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 ....





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

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

PS LOL the greenhouse made of clingfilm is gorgeous!!

 

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?

 

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:

 

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