- Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:54 pm
#281621
Finally got around to sharing the cold frame I scrapped together this fall. Temps here get down into the low teens sometimes single digits (Fahrenheit) and wanted to give my plants some added protection.
This was constructed mostly from 2x2 pine and cedar fence boards, the seams between boards were filled using silicone caulking. The ground was also dug out about 8-10 inches and reinforced with cinder blocks to allow for some additional protection, initially intended to go down 24 inches but didn't feel it was nessecary in the end.
The glass on top and front are actually 2 wooden sliding glass doors I found at a thrift shop for about $5 each and are extremely heavy. The top swings up and the front also swings fully open to lay on the ground. During the early winter I was leaving the top and front open to allow my plants a few nice frosts before stowing them away for the winter.
Once the cold cold weather arrived I intended to mulch the plants with leaves and pine needles but I ran short on time and settled with straw. I placed a couple large pieces of breathable weed barrier over the plants directly then layered about 5-7 inches of straw on top and around the sides of the plants.
I added a cheap thermometer with a probe to measure the soil temps and have been very surprised by how well the straw insulates. The other morning it was a balmy 18f and the soil temps were showing 34f.
The plants shown in these pictures have been dormant for about 2-3 months.
Anyways here it is...
This was constructed mostly from 2x2 pine and cedar fence boards, the seams between boards were filled using silicone caulking. The ground was also dug out about 8-10 inches and reinforced with cinder blocks to allow for some additional protection, initially intended to go down 24 inches but didn't feel it was nessecary in the end.
The glass on top and front are actually 2 wooden sliding glass doors I found at a thrift shop for about $5 each and are extremely heavy. The top swings up and the front also swings fully open to lay on the ground. During the early winter I was leaving the top and front open to allow my plants a few nice frosts before stowing them away for the winter.
Once the cold cold weather arrived I intended to mulch the plants with leaves and pine needles but I ran short on time and settled with straw. I placed a couple large pieces of breathable weed barrier over the plants directly then layered about 5-7 inches of straw on top and around the sides of the plants.
I added a cheap thermometer with a probe to measure the soil temps and have been very surprised by how well the straw insulates. The other morning it was a balmy 18f and the soil temps were showing 34f.
The plants shown in these pictures have been dormant for about 2-3 months.
Anyways here it is...
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