Building a cold frame for plants

[mbcabinetmaker]

Ouch! Plants are expensive this year.

I have decided to build myself a cold frame before next spring. I have the basic concept and plan to build it so that I can move it in and out of the shop with my tractor in case of extreme weather so I will be using the individual potting containers.

All help and ideas would be appreciated.

[jimthej]

Ouch! Plants are expensive this year.

I have decided to build myself a cold frame before next spring. I have the basic concept and plan to build it so that I can move it in and out of the shop with my tractor in case of extreme weather so I will be using the individual potting containers.

All help and ideas would be appreciated.

Let me make sure I understand you,
Cold frame is a "glass" topped box, that sits on the ground to create a warm spot for plants planted in the ground.
Or are you wanting a moveable "planter" complete with soil, plants, "glass" top?

Do you have lifting system on your tractor, or would this be towed?

[mbcabinetmaker]

Yes Jim that is the idea. I have some forks for my front end loader. I am planning to use peat moss type cups and just fill them with potting soil. I can then lift the entire unit about 2' x 6'. I don't plan to pay $3.49 per plant next year.

[mbcabinetmaker]

[ATTACH]16797[/ATTACH]

I am planning to used treated lumber.

[reible]

Hi,

I'll just post a few thought on the subject from past experiences of mine.

I'd go with natural wood, perhaps cedar or redwood, areas where ground contact happens can be dealt with the use of treated wood. This is a major reduction of weight so you may not need a tractor to move it.

I would not put a bottom on it. Setting it in the garden or other suitable location should be fine. They make both heating cords that can be placed in the soil below the plants or light bulb(s) that will let you keep things from freezing down to pretty cold temperatures. Throwing a canvas cover over it would let you go in to almost winter conditions. The open bottom is also good for drainage, when you water the excess needs to go somewhere. Too damp and you will have fogged glass and other issues to deal with.

They make a venting system that opens the "glass" top for ventilation and temperature regulation. The ones I am familiar with use an adjustable spring for counterbalance and bi-metal for the thermal regulation. If you don't do this then plan to spend part of your day manually open and closing it. It can get too hot and you need to have some breeze to strengthen the plants or they get spindly and will not be able to survive in the garden with the normal winds.

The glass needs to be tempered, I used a glass insert from a storm door for my last box. If you have kids and baseballs and soccer balls flying around I even add some chicken wire protection. You might want to make the top as an easy on easy off system so the glass can be stored in a safe location.

Think about what uses it can have in the other seasons, two months as a green house and 10 as a??? Might help you size it as well.

I'd like to find the time to make a new one, haven't had one to use in the last 8 years and miss it. Oh yes one more thing, you need to secure them. The last one was damaged by a micro-burst that also blew the air conditioners sound and shade box over. Several other things damaged in a very narrow area by the back of the house and yet did not effect things only 20 feet away from the house... odd but true. The frame was also 20 or so years old so it was about due for replacement.

OK, that's all I've got.

Ed

[Ron309753]

Here are the plans from Hands-On, Sept-Oct, 2002:

http://www.shopsmithhandson.com/archive ... roject.htm

Sincerely,

Ron309753

[rlkeeney]

I have a cold frame. It's pretty simple because I had to get it put together quickly. I use plastic for the top because that was what the plans I used called for. The plastic only lasts a short time and must be replaced several times a year. I want build another one and I'm looking for a suitable glass top.

I start most of my plants indoors under lights and use the cold frame for hardening off.

My primary motivation for starting my own plants is to be able to grow the varieties I want and have plants when I need them. Where I live all of the plants come from Bonnie Plants. No matter where you go they get their plant from the same place. Their varieties are very limited and many are only available in large pots that cost $5 each. In my garden large plants don't produce any better or faster than little ones that cost $0.50 each or less. If I need 100 plants fifty cents is expensive. With my current setup using soil blocks I can start 300 plants. More if I transplant seedlings directly into the garden. I have room to expand to 500 plants.

I'm real interested in seeing what you come up with.

[mbcabinetmaker]

Dido on the Bonnie Plants. They are everywhere here also. I went to a local nursery thinking I could save some money. There plants were actually more and looked sick.

[cincinnati]

I ran a retail garden center for over 20 years. We sold vegetable plants in 6 packs for $1.67. Customers complained to no end about having to buy 6 of the same type tomato plants etc... I think they had it in their head ,if we offered single plants, they would be $0.25 each. The single plants (Basic variety) were $1.29. we ended up discontinuing the 6 packs.

Often plants are sold in different size pots to separate them by price point. Patent varieties are more expensive to grow so you will never see them sold in 4 packs or the like. Also some variety's are more disease resistant. You may see Early girl tomato's in 4 packs cheap but the ones sold in 4inch pots SHOULD be the disease resistant. You can tell by looking at the tag. they will have letters like V F N etc..........

The younger generation does not put out huge gardens like we use to in the past. The larger plants are by far more popular to sell than the little ones. Also the smaller pots are just too hard for a garden center to keep watered. On a hot day you had to water them once an hour.

[cincinnati]

Just FYI- Home Depot is advertising (Cincinnati) this weekend 50% off Bonnie plants and 9 Pack Bonnie early Veg plants for $1.74.