Re: Cold frame

GWN 10/8/2012, 11:43 am

I have built the hoop house with the inner hoops as Eliot Coleman showed in his book. Cold frame - Page 2 Dsc_0812

Under the two layers (as Elliot Coleman talks about) I was able to grow Spinach, Bok Choy, and peas in temps down to 20 Farenheit.

This was in Eugene Oregon which gets a lot colder than Saltspring Island, BC.
The christmas tree light thing is interesting, but I wonder how cold it gets at Saltspring. The temperature in the video (-2 celcius) is about 30 farenheit, and it has been much colder than that here thus far and my greenhouse has been fine, with no heat.
I have basil, peppers and tomatoes I brought in from the garden, that are all thriving in the greenhouse right now.

We are building a cold frame today against one of the walls of my greenhouse, for early starts in the spring (some guy was giving away these huge windows, so thought we would make them into a cold frame)

GWN 10/8/2012, 11:46 am

Cindy Lou
I have taken all of my pepper plants and cut them off at the base, and put them in large buckets in our basement to ripen.
I have done this for a few years and with them still on the vines they DO ripen and do not seem to rot, like they would sitting on the counter.

Hoggar 10/8/2012, 12:16 pm

WOW that is a beautiful hoop house GWN!
How did you build your table top planter? I have the box sides built of my 8' X 3' table but my brain is not coming up with a way to support it that I feel safe with.

I do the same thing with my toms as you do with your peppers
I hang them up side down and we use them as they ripen.

CapeCoddess 10/8/2012, 6:54 pm

GWN wrote:Cindy Lou
I have taken all of my pepper plants and cut them off at the base, and put them in large buckets in our basement to ripen.
I have done this for a few years and with them still on the vines they DO ripen and do not seem to rot, like they would sitting on the counter.

GWN, this is SO interesting! I didn't know this was an option. I have so many peppers growing now but that are still small to medium size. Is the basement dark & cool? Is there water in the buckets? Do they ripen to a color other than green? Have you done this with bells or jalapenos?

CC

CharlesB 10/9/2012, 9:27 am

walshevak wrote:
Agreed. The only purpose for the lights in the greenhouse were to keep some plants alive as we have no space in the house for overwintering. The lights combined with a mild winter accomplished this. We were just lucky that the hardy veggies in the SFG hoophouses had enough warmth and day length to actually grow all winter. Gonna try again this year, but plan to buy a small room heater for the greenhouse. The hope is to overwinter some of the exotic hot pepper plants that grew this summer. Only plan to keep it just above freezing, not growing warm. Helps to be in zone 8.
Kay

Keep us updated on how this works out. I have two pepper plants that are just monster producers. I may try the same thing to see how it goes. I've purchased some sockets that engage around 35-40 degrees. I planned on using them to fire up an electric heater for freeze protection in a small hoop house. I had a problem with the heater getting that cold though. It was a cheap one. With it that cold, starting it at that temp seemed to break them. I don't think the oil for the fans in them would function at that temp. Will try other methods this year.

Good luck.

Hoggar 10/9/2012, 10:07 am

Charles, I have a milk house style space heater that I use to heat my truck in the winter I put it on a timer set it for 5am and by 5:30 the truck is nice and toasty for the drive to work. it has never had a problem starting up on even the coldest morning.
I have even used it to heat my hoops. I paid around $20 for it

Cold frame - Page 2 6186530

GWN 10/9/2012, 10:08 am

GWN, this is SO interesting! I didn't know this was an option. I have so many peppers growing now but that are still small to medium size. Is the basement dark & cool? Is there water in the buckets? Do they ripen to a color other than green? Have you done this with bells or jalapenos?

CC

cc
My husband and I cannot eat green peppers and so HAVE to wait for them to turn red.
They are all varieties of Bell peppers.
Last year they were in the dark and I am thinking it worked better than this year. I just waited until just before the first freeze and cut them off then.
Does it freeze where you are?

I do not put water in the buckets

GWN 10/9/2012, 10:10 am

I use a small heater like Hoggar has suggested when temps drop well below freezing.
You can buy a setter so that it stays on to keep the room above freezing

CindiLou 10/9/2012, 11:25 am

I am camping right now so no picture handy. But yesterday I had to vent the cold frame. Worked awesome! It got up to 70° before I vented.

I was doing some research. Found out about "automatied foundation vent". It opens at 40° and is only $18...talked to hubby and he says it can be added to the high side of the coldframe. So payday will get one.

I will get a picture of all the greens growing on Thursday. Highs are supposed to be in the lower 70s so I am going to open up and water. When I peak in there are still lots coming up lol..

Oh I camp just outside of town. That way I can take care of garden and animals lol..

CapeCoddess 10/9/2012, 12:07 pm

GWN wrote:
Does it freeze where you are?

Yes, it freezes here in New England. But Cape Cod, where I live is one of the last places to do so. Then we have the thaw/freeze/thaw/freeze thing going on all winter so right after first hard freeze I cover my perennial gardens with leaves and sometimes evergreen branches to try to keep the ground frozen to prevent heaving.

CC

GWN 10/9/2012, 11:27 pm

"automatied foundation vent".

WOW thanks for that info Cindylou.
I think whoever invented those MUST be rich now, what a great thing.
We have them with our greenhouse and never have to worry about overheating.
Right now we are building a cold frame against south wall of greenhouse and will need something, so great to know that they are that cheap now.
thanks again

CharlesB 10/10/2012, 9:44 am

GWN wrote:
"automatied foundation vent".
WOW thanks for that info Cindylou.

This is great info. Exactly what I needed. Thanks!

CindiLou 10/11/2012, 6:35 pm

Ok went and looked at menards at the vents. I WILL be getting one for the coldframe. Box says it opens at 70° and closes at 40°. Perfect!

Cold frame is now complete and lights are caulked. Thermometer is laying on the ground for now. I have been camping for four days and too tired to deal with it now..I need a vacation from my vacation!
Cold frame - Page 2 Dscn1213

Goosegirl 10/12/2012, 6:50 am

SWEET!!!

GG

quiltbea 10/12/2012, 11:34 am

That's a great cold frame. Love the two sides.

GWN 10/12/2012, 11:45 am

cool cold frame, I wonder, do these vents work on any window? are they just something that attaches to the frame and the lid?

CindiLou 10/12/2012, 1:58 pm

GWN wrote:cool cold frame, I wonder, do these vents work on any window? are they just something that attaches to the frame and the lid?

I don't see why you couldn't put them in a window if it will support it. My hubby is going to cut a space on the tall side of the frame.

These are the ones I looked at at Menards
http://www.menards.com/main/doors-windows-millwork/mobile-manufactured-home-parts/exterior/accessories/automatic-foundation-vent/p-1697329-c-12590.htm

GWN 10/12/2012, 2:03 pm

OK now that is quite different from what I was thinking
THe ones I know about that I have in my greenhouse just open and close the windows based on the temperature
IT is the hydrolics in the lifter
Likely same technology...
http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/vent2.shtml

CindiLou 10/12/2012, 2:46 pm

I looked at some like that. $20 at harbor freight. But I was concerned about wind catching it. This way I don't have to worry.

Hoggar 10/12/2012, 4:25 pm

CindiLou wrote:I looked at some like that. $20 at harbor freight. But I was concerned about wind catching it. This way I don't have to worry.

I have the $20 harborfreight lifts on my green house and they have been just fine all summer the only window I lost didn't have one of them on it and wasn't locked in place. the 30mph wind flapped it back and forth until the aluminum gave out.

CindiLou 10/12/2012, 7:12 pm

Hoggar, when does it close? Does it have a temp that it automatically does? I don't know..it might interfere with opening the lights on the cold frame all the way. I will look at HF again before I buy the vent. I looked on the site and it said you could open at 59° not not what it closed at. Can't wait till I get it all settled

Thinking and researching is killing my brain. study

CindiLou 10/13/2012, 2:53 pm

We got bad storms last night. 2.5 inches of rain..
I had wondered about the lights on the cold frame getting blown open. They are light weight. I checked on it this morning and all was ok..just went out and one had been blown over. Not much problem..just pulled the screws out of the hinges. I will move them later and add a hook/eye to both sides. I am glad I had them over the little plants though! the rain poured down! I think it would have washed them away!

Goosegirl 10/14/2012, 7:00 am

Glad to hear no major damage and you and plants are okay!

GG

cyclonegardener 10/14/2012, 9:07 pm

I live in SE Iowa and have two cold frames. Have lettuce, radishes, carrots and peas. So far, the lowest it got in 27 degree weather was 41 degrees. Have had three cuttings of lettuce.

CindiLou 10/15/2012, 12:25 am

I am so glad to hear someone does this around Iowa! Every time I say anything around my town they think I am nuts! So far mine is not at harvest. I planted a little later than I wanted but still within the recommended dates. So I know something will grow lol..

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