Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: big_al55 on June 15, 2016, 10:05:22 PM
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Hi all
im new to both the forum and alpines, with limited garden knowledge. I am looking for some decent plans for a cold frame, the ones i find on the web are not that good. Plus if anyone has any advice for a newcomer on any subject you feel useful to me it would be most welcome.
Thanks in advance Alan
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Hello Al, and welcome! The subject of how useful cold frames / bulb frames (Basically the same thing) arte is one that crops up quite often - here are a list of threads in the forum where these are discussed - you'll find advice in them about what "off the peg" types are any use and various descriptions of how members have constructed their own - from all sorts of materials and sizes ...... have a rootle through these and see how that helps..... I'm sure you'll get a good start - then just ask away.... Cheers, Maggi
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8605.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8605.0)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=11361.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=11361.0)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10750.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10750.0)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12264.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12264.0)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12496.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12496.0)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8278.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8278.0)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=3382.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=3382.0)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=7929.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=7929.0)
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:) Thanks Maggi thats very helpful
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Hi all
im new to both the forum and alpines, with limited garden knowledge. I am looking for some decent plans for a cold frame, the ones i find on the web are not that good. Plus if anyone has any advice for a newcomer on any subject you feel useful to me it would be most welcome.
Thanks in advance Alan
We have got 5 6' elite frames - I have 3 down the back of one of the alpine houses - they have gone up in price a bit since we bought them - they are basically a 2'x2' window on top of a frame
The access ones are very nice but come at a price - have you had a look at the two wests and elliott ones
http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o449/RowanCottage/BENCHING/S1050463.jpg (http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o449/RowanCottage/BENCHING/S1050463.jpg)
thats 3 of them in a line some time ago
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I doubt you'll find any of us who don't have scold frames - or who don't want them if they don't already! You'll get great ideas, I'm sure. :)
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Thanks for both those, no doubt there are good reasons for and against the use of frames. I do have an un-heated green house which is full of tomatoes and cucumbers, therefore i was looking for somewhere to put the more tender plants and seeds i have just planted.
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My solution to cold frames was somewhat different. Due to severe back problems, I could not get down to ground level, so I decided to build them upwards. I would really call them raise beds.
The first one was made from a breeze block structure using 3 pillars as the base. Across these I put reinforced concrete lintels to support the base made of 3 x 2 concrete slabs.
The height was made at 30" plus whatever frame height you wish after this. It has been up for over 20 years and is as solid today as it was when it was made. However, it is advisable to have help moving the lintels and slabs as the weight is considerable. I had to do it on my own and it hurt !
As I was running out of space, I then built another raised frame from 3' x 3' fence posts and fence rails - all rot proofed. The bottom was made from 21 mm thick rails and covered with a waterproof membrane. I have not bothered with any frame on top as more tender plants are brought into the glasshouse for Winter.
I am glad that I did this years ago as it is beyond my physical capabilities now. It makes a huge difference being able to "garden" at waist height without the bending.
Another advantage of these raised structures is the space for storage underneath especially for Spring crocus and narcissus in pots which are perfectly hardy and can be brought in for flowering.
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Verny nice Tom thanks a lot