Topic: I have a cold frame!!!

[aquilegia]

 ;D ;D ;D

At last I have my first ever coldframe (thanks to mum's neighbour not needing hers now she has a greenhouse!)

It's huge - about 4ft x 4ft (coincidentally the same size as my raised beds!) Can I use it late/early in the year to protect a whole bed of crops?

Where should I put it?

It's made of thick, white plastic. Any hints/tips on that?

What else do I need to know?

[philcooper]

Aqui,

Lucky you (silly neighbour - cold frames are essential if you are going to make best use of your greenhouse)! I presume the top is clear glass.

I use mine in Spring as the staging post from the greenhouse into the garden, but an allotment neighbour uses his (he has sevral home made) to get his courgettes and runner beans off to a good start.

In the late Autumn winter they are useful for overwintering plants that don't mind the odd gentle frost (sweet peas and hardwood cuttings for example) or, again on the allotment, for winter salads

Phil

PS a lightweight one may need anchoring if the allotment plot is exposed

[sandersj89]

Agree with Phil, they are a vital bit of kit. I have 3 now. One large one home made and two smaller ones from Haxnicks I picked up on eBay for £12.

As Phil says they are great as a staging post or for overwintering plants.

I also used them to bring on trays of early cut and come again salads. Come the autumn I will do the same and also grow some winter leaves such as mizuna.

My two smaller coldframes have been put away for a couple of months but my large one, you can see pictures of it on another thread, will now be used as a mini hot house for some melons which I hope will like the extra heat.

Jerry

[aquilegia]

I'm very excited about having it! hoping to extend the season!

Actually top is white, see-through-ish plastic.

Does it need sun or shade? (shade is easier to provide in my garden as the sun areas are all planted now!)

[sandersj89]

I'm very excited about having it! hoping to extend the season!

Actually top is white, see-through-ish plastic.

Does it need sun or shade? (shade is easier to provide in my garden as the sun areas are all planted now!)

For winter you need as much light as possible, in summer light is still important but not needed all day. Mine gets direct sun from abou 9am through to 3pm.

They can get very hot in the sun and I open mine up in the morning and shut at night at the moment. In winter they stay shut most of the time.

Jerry

[Marianne]

I am with Phil and Jerry on this one.  A coldframe is a necessity if you want to overwinter your tender plants.

I have put my fuschias to overwinter in there.  Also all my cuttings go in the bottom of it (in the nice warm straw). 
So you are very lucky and your neighbour, well...  ::) not so lucky!  ;D ;D ;D ;D