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Google
coldframe
+5
quiltbea
GloriaG
pattipan
Megan
WJB
9 posters
Page 1 of 1
coldframe
I am so proud of myself...
I built an improv cold frame today while my daugher napped...for an hour...its not quite square (maybe santa will bring me a tool for that for future use). And I had to transplant the lettuce to the back row (admitted design flaw), but still, even if the lettuce doesnt survive the transplant, I can still start seeds early in the spring...in 12 weeks...maybe 10...
I wish I had enough daylight left to put the 1/2 inch styrofoam around the edges...now thats on the "to do" list for tomorrow.
I wish I had done it last week before my broccoli got frostbitten
I wish I was smart enough to know how to post the picture I took with my phone...
Nobody here will understand my joy...but ya'all will!!
Thank you for letting me share.
WJB
I built an improv cold frame today while my daugher napped...for an hour...its not quite square (maybe santa will bring me a tool for that for future use). And I had to transplant the lettuce to the back row (admitted design flaw), but still, even if the lettuce doesnt survive the transplant, I can still start seeds early in the spring...in 12 weeks...maybe 10...
I wish I had enough daylight left to put the 1/2 inch styrofoam around the edges...now thats on the "to do" list for tomorrow.
I wish I had done it last week before my broccoli got frostbitten
I wish I was smart enough to know how to post the picture I took with my phone...
Nobody here will understand my joy...but ya'all will!!
Thank you for letting me share.
WJB
WJB- Posts : 16
Join date : 2010-09-22
Age : 61
Location : Oklahoma
Re: coldframe
Wow, congrats!!! It is such a wonderful feeling to build something with your own hands and know it's going to give you a shot at more & better good eats from your garden. I doubt the plants will notice or care how square it is.... they have just discovered WARM, which I am sure they will appreciate!
And good luck on your lettuce surviving.... wish I still had some going. (That "I wish" phrase can be pervasive around here... but we all learn from it.) I haven't tried to post pictures directly to the showcase here, but I have uploaded them to Picasa and then linked to them from here; that works out pretty well.
Thanks so much for sharing with us, and let us know how it goes....
Happy Gardening!
And good luck on your lettuce surviving.... wish I still had some going. (That "I wish" phrase can be pervasive around here... but we all learn from it.) I haven't tried to post pictures directly to the showcase here, but I have uploaded them to Picasa and then linked to them from here; that works out pretty well.
Thanks so much for sharing with us, and let us know how it goes....
Happy Gardening!
Re: coldframe
Good for you, WJB! I wish I had built something sturdier for my "salad box." Right now I am just using wire hoops with plastic over them, weighted down with rebar and old tomato stakes. So far...my lettuce, oriental greens and broccolini lives. Not to sure how long it will last though, the high today got up to 32. I see teens in the forecast now.
pattipan
pattipan
Re: coldframe
Pattipan,
If you get one of those green "frost blankets" (they're about 10' x 12' and are available at HD or Lowes') you can toss it over the plants INSIDE your SFG. It makes an amazing difference. I just spread it out at night so it covers everything and take it off in the morning so the plants get some light. I've been doing that with my tomatoes and am still picking fresh from the vine.
If you get one of those green "frost blankets" (they're about 10' x 12' and are available at HD or Lowes') you can toss it over the plants INSIDE your SFG. It makes an amazing difference. I just spread it out at night so it covers everything and take it off in the morning so the plants get some light. I've been doing that with my tomatoes and am still picking fresh from the vine.
Re: coldframe
I used towels and old blankets and anything that I could find to lay over my plants when a cold snap was acomin' and it helped to extend my harvest.
Its always nice to have a little something green a little longer into late fall.
A coldframe is an ideal way to extend one's crops. I'm glad you are happy with yours. It all helps.
Its always nice to have a little something green a little longer into late fall.
A coldframe is an ideal way to extend one's crops. I'm glad you are happy with yours. It all helps.
quiltbea- Posts : 4707
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 82
Location : Southwestern Maine Zone 5A
Re: coldframe
ooh exciting on the cold frame!!
perhaps a visit to your phone's website might answer that question on posting pics? i don't 'do' cell phones really so i don't have any way to offer suggestions on that.
and i bet your plants are so much happier with a barrier around them - they don't know what square is - they just know cold/hot.
i need to tie up some loose ends in my garden, too - still some things that need to go to compost but with little kids esp when they get sick, hard to have outside time when it's in freezing temps.
do share how your lettuce fares!
perhaps a visit to your phone's website might answer that question on posting pics? i don't 'do' cell phones really so i don't have any way to offer suggestions on that.
and i bet your plants are so much happier with a barrier around them - they don't know what square is - they just know cold/hot.
i need to tie up some loose ends in my garden, too - still some things that need to go to compost but with little kids esp when they get sick, hard to have outside time when it's in freezing temps.
do share how your lettuce fares!
happyfrog- Posts : 625
Join date : 2010-03-04
Location : USA
Re: coldframe
Hey everyone...I'm not sure if the people on this thread have seen my little "winterizing experiment" topic but I thought I'd share as its along the same lines. Hope this is okay, just trying to help not hijacking the thread..lol ! I've used the old style Christmas lights (C9 larger bulb types) underneath my hoop wagons to warm my four boxes and have had gr8 success so far. Garden still producing wonderful lettuce amongst many other tasty veggies. Last night we got down to 25 and this morning both thermoms read 35. Next week will be the big test. Forecast is for 3 nights in a row down to 22. Wish me luck !
Link to pics if you are interested....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56292096@N03/5209613005/in/set-72157625349061945/
Link to pics if you are interested....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56292096@N03/5209613005/in/set-72157625349061945/
staf74- Posts : 544
Join date : 2010-11-24
Age : 50
Location : York, SC
Re: coldframe
staf74 wrote:Hey everyone...I'm not sure if the people on this thread have seen my little "winterizing experiment" topic but I thought I'd share as its along the same lines. Hope this is okay, just trying to help not hijacking the thread..lol ! I've used the old style Christmas lights (C9 larger bulb types) underneath my hoop wagons to warm my four boxes and have had gr8 success so far. Garden still producing wonderful lettuce amongst many other tasty veggies. Last night we got down to 25 and this morning both thermoms read 35. Next week will be the big test. Forecast is for 3 nights in a row down to 22. Wish me luck !
That is really neat! My SFG is very visible to everyone that drives by and I get a lot of people asking what is still growing...I can just imagine if I added lights! I retired my old colored Christmas lights this year for some energy saving LED's...I wonder how they would look under plastic?
Actually, my garden is too far from my house to think of doing the lights, but I would definitely like to hear how it works for you, staf74.
pattipan
Re: coldframe
I STILL HAVE LETTUCE!! LIVING, GREEN, FRESH, GROWING LETTUCE!! IT GOT DOWN TO 17 DEGREES LAST WEEK!!
ITS DECEMBER!!!
HOT DIGGITY DOG!!
I'M GROWING LETTUCE!!!!
I've lost just a few leaves to frost. The frame being not quite square is contributing to heat loss on the periphery where the lid overlaps my 4x4 box, but I'm not complaining!!
ITS DECEMBER!!!
HOT DIGGITY DOG!!
I'M GROWING LETTUCE!!!!
I've lost just a few leaves to frost. The frame being not quite square is contributing to heat loss on the periphery where the lid overlaps my 4x4 box, but I'm not complaining!!
WJB- Posts : 16
Join date : 2010-09-22
Age : 61
Location : Oklahoma
Re: coldframe
Good for you..it sounds like you did great! Fresh lettuce this time of year is wonderful!
Re: coldframe
WJB wrote:I STILL HAVE LETTUCE!! LIVING, GREEN, FRESH, GROWING LETTUCE!! IT GOT DOWN TO 17 DEGREES LAST WEEK!!
ITS DECEMBER!!!
HOT DIGGITY DOG!!
I'M GROWING LETTUCE!!!!
That's great! Your cold frame worked! Hope you get your tool for Christmas that helps you square up your cold frames when you build more. There will be more won't there? Everything seems to multiply around here. It seems you start with one or two 4 X 4 SFG's and next thing you know you have six or twelve.
Good Luck on keeping that lettuce going even longer.
Furbalsmom- Posts : 3138
Join date : 2010-06-10
Age : 77
Location : Coastal Oregon, Zone 9a, Heat Zone 2 :(
Re: coldframe
How terrific for you. I can't wait to build a coldframe for myself next summer.
Maybe if you put some towels over the edges where drafts can seep thru your crops will be even better and last longer.
Good luck.
Maybe if you put some towels over the edges where drafts can seep thru your crops will be even better and last longer.
Good luck.
quiltbea- Posts : 4707
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 82
Location : Southwestern Maine Zone 5A
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