Coldframe advice

[chlodonnay]

Hello all. We have today bought a coldframe from lidl. We are now not sure if it is too early to put things in it. Our tiny flat is completely overflowing with plants. We have the following-
Tomatoes (2 types)
Cucumbers (2 types)
Aubergines (2 types)
Peppers
Cayene Chillis
jalepenos
Butternut squash
White courgettes
All the above are inside but we would love to move some of them out to the coldframe. Would any of them be ok or should we wait longer now it is cooler? Many thanks  :)

[chlodonnay]

[Suzanne]

I have a similar problem in that I don't have a greenhouse, but do have (now) two allotments, so grow my seeds indoors until I have no space left and they go into coldframes.

My tomatoes are in frames at present, the same as previous years. I found the trick was to keep an eye on the forecast and if it looks like we are going to have a real frosty night (-1 or lower) I cover the frame with old compost bags and some old carpet I have for the night. So far this has worked relatively well. A couple of years ago when I think we had a -6 frost in our area in late May I did lose a couple of courgette plants around the edges of the frame. But I had forgotten the carpet trick (it was a Saturday night and I had been to the Pub) so this was my own fault.

I hope this helps.

Suzanne 

[allaboutliverpool]

The trouble with greenhouses and cold frames is that you need to be prepared to visit them morning and night at the moment.

I forgot to open the door of my unheated greenhouse 2 days ago and the temperature went up to 46C with disasterous consequences.

Do as Suzanne says and cover at night if temperatures lower than 5C are forecast.

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage.html

[Trevor_D]

Personally, I'd keep all of those indoors for a bit. (In the SE, going down to 3F tonight!) But it's a juggling act at this time of year. We spend half an hour am & pm taking plants out & putting them back again. If your tomatoes will eventually end up outside, it's OK to start hardening off (if they are ready), but the aubergines & peppers need to grow under glass, so keep them in.

The weather is very unseasonal, so don't be fooled.

[chlodonnay]

Hi all, Thanks for all the advice. We are in Brighton and the wind has been quite chilly the last couple of days so I guess we'll keep them in until our next lot of seeds come up. Hopefully next week we can put them out if it warms up a bit, and cover them with fleece at night.  It's our first year of growing things from seed so I am so worried about killing anything! Thanks again, Chlo