Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: mambrino on September 09, 2014, 09:46:43 PM

Title: new starter/cold frames
Post by: mambrino on September 09, 2014, 09:46:43 PM

Just starting to get into alpines as a hobby.I have made some rockeries over the years and got a few flowers & conifers on them but nothing much.
 I don't intend getting a greenhouse in the near future but I have got two used patio doors that I could use as a cold frame to keep the wet weather off a few planters and containers.They will be propped up along a south facing brick wall until the wet weather has gone.
 Will they be of any use with alpines?any ideas are welcome.
I do like semperviviums but is there anything else  suitable and am I correct in thinking that a cold frame during the wet weather only would be no good for any of the Gentians which I would like to grow if possible.
            Rod (location South.Yorks)   

Title: Re: new starter/cold frames
Post by: Maggi Young on September 10, 2014, 10:57:01 AM

Hello Rod and welcome!

You will be able to grow just about all the alpine plants you might wish to grow in a glasshouse/alpine house in a frame with a cover such as you suggest.  It is winter wet ( or in some cases, summer wet!)  that is the death of more alpines than cold and frost so a lid of  glass is often all they need to thrive. Good air movement is useful in all situations to keep moulds at bay.

If you have a look around the forum at the threads about troughs you will see that the range of plants you can grow in containers is huge.
Here are a few threads to get you started reading:
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=3537.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=3537.0)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1855.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1855.0)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1614.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1614.0)

( use the forum search button fourth from the left in the line of options at the top left of the page to make any new search)

Hope this helps......

Title: Re: new starter/cold frames
Post by: mambrino on October 22, 2014, 05:41:08 PM

Thanks Maggi for the reply.
 Its just what I was hoping to hear but was not sure.
Looking forward to reading the threads you have mentioned this evening.
                                Rod....

Title: Re: new starter/cold frames
Post by: Maggi Young on October 22, 2014, 06:12:54 PM

I think you'll have  lots of fun with your alpines, Rod - we all do!