This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy was my first dog and he thought the garden was his, even though I did all the work. Now Suzie and Charley follow in his footsteps. We're located near Boston (USDA zone 6A). I have a community plot, a backyard vegetable garden, fruit trees, berry bushes, chickens, and bees. I use sustainable organic methods and do my best to grow all of my family's vegetables myself.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
snug cold frame
Here is my cold frame with its newly replaces plastic panels on the front and back. Also new battens to seal the seam between the top panels and the sides. In the next warm day, I will add compost to the soil and replant everything.
I checked on the type of plastic and the sides are 4 mil basic plastic sheeting from Home Depot. Its not very transparent, but reflects the light well.
I think it might be good to use a stronger plastic that lasts better next time we replace it. I've heard that green house plastic (available in mail order catalogs) is more UV resistant and doesn't get brittle as fast - but its a lot more expensive. The sides do not need to be transparent.
The top panels are a fairly thin, very clear plastic also from Home Depot. It has held up well so far. One year old now.
I have a standard green tarp that I can pull over the top to protect it from snow, ice etc.
Its 'cold frame' because I have not active heating in it. If I ran a heat cable into it, it wold be a 'warm frame'. But, yes, it is warm anyway. Its been getting up to 75*F in midday this week.
I buried my remote thermometer 8 inches down in the soil yesterday and the soil temp is 40-45*F right now. The air temp in the frame is ranging from 40 to 75*F.
I took out all the plants in the frame yesterday and turned under 6 bags of manure and compost and then replanted the plants. I had to bring out a couple buckets of water for them too. They are now looking very happy.
7 comments:
I am green with envy (pardon the pun:-)
It looks good! What material did you use for the tarps?
What is your soil and air temperature in your cold frame this time of year?
Isn't "Cold Frame" a strange term? It should really be "Warm Frame"!
Whatever the name, we gardeners could not be without them...
I checked on the type of plastic and the sides are 4 mil basic plastic sheeting from Home Depot. Its not very transparent, but reflects the light well.
I think it might be good to use a stronger plastic that lasts better next time we replace it. I've heard that green house plastic (available in mail order catalogs) is more UV resistant and doesn't get brittle as fast - but its a lot more expensive. The sides do not need to be transparent.
The top panels are a fairly thin, very clear plastic also from Home Depot. It has held up well so far. One year old now.
I have a standard green tarp that I can pull over the top to protect it from snow, ice etc.
Its 'cold frame' because I have not active heating in it. If I ran a heat cable into it, it wold be a 'warm frame'. But, yes, it is warm anyway. Its been getting up to 75*F in midday this week.
I buried my remote thermometer 8 inches down in the soil yesterday and the soil temp is 40-45*F right now. The air temp in the frame is ranging from 40 to 75*F.
I took out all the plants in the frame yesterday and turned under 6 bags of manure and compost and then replanted the plants. I had to bring out a couple buckets of water for them too. They are now looking very happy.
I am very interested in your garden, always looking good, do you mind if I add to my blogroll?
MY Life, http://loise-spell.blogspot.com
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