Cold Frame construction

jollyanna

I'm planning to cobble together a cold frame using various bricks, blocks and wood lying around my garden. I've got some framed acrylic panels to use as a lid.
I'm hoping to make it roughly 60cms by 40 but not sure about height needed. Does it need to be in full sun and does it stand on earth/turf or a stone base ? Hope someone can advise, thanks.

Linda32

Hi, I'd got for about 30 cm high. As for positioning, you want it on hard standing and if possible with the open back against a sunny brick wall.

You need to make sure you can lift the lid on sunny days as well.

jollyanna

Thanks Linda, I can manage open back on a sunny brick wall. What are the chances of making it slug and snail proof ? Do I try and seal the edges and base or just be vigilant on pest patrol.

Linda32

jollyanna wrote: »

What are the chances of making it slug and snail proof ?

Not a chance in hell the little barstewards !!!!! frighten me to death they do

jollyanna wrote: »

Do I try and seal the edges and base or just be vigilant on pest patrol.

Both, if you can, you can try barrier methods, those spike things that you put onto of fences to stop burgulars spring to mind. Can you tell that I don't like them???
Gravel around the edges could work, pile it up so they can't crawl over it. Bark chippings dosn't work

Copper tape apparently does, they get a shock from it :rotfl:

savemoney

I have a shop bought cold frame and slugs still get in they can crawl up the wood and get in when you have top open or crawl underneath they squeeze under smallest gaps

Davesnave

Positioning depends on what you want the cold frame for.;)

My cold frame sat for ten years in the shade of a fence and stood on soil which had large amounts of grit added to it. That was because, during winter months, I'd be putting hard and semi-hardwood cuttings into it. I'd also stick softwood cuttings in it at other times, sometimes with more success than when using heat.

Over the years, that cold frame produced many hundreds of plants, but it never saw any seedlings, being too shaded.

realfood

My cold frame slopes from 45 cm at the front to 75 cm at the back. That way you can grow a huge range of plants, from seedlings to large cuttings. Also used to overwinter a range of pot plants from the ravages of Winter.

tiredwithtwins

Dont broken eggshells make an effective slug/snail barrier?

Linda32

tiredwithtwins wrote: »

Dont broken eggshells make an effective slug/snail barrier?

Yes indeed they do, forgot about those. :T

soupdragon10

Can you use soot? Or is it ash from the fire. I seem to remember my father using the remains from an open fire for detering slugs.

jollyanna

I began constructing my money -saving frame today (especially after seeing the T and Morgan one for 90 quid! ). I'm going to do as Linda32 suggested and save dried crushed egg shells as slug deterrent.