Cold frame on patio

SternMusik

I am having the windows in my house replaced in the summer, and was thinking of keeping one of the old timber windows to build a cold frame with. I intend to get hold of an old pallet for the timber.

The south west facing patio is the only place the cold frame can go in my garden. I have never had a cold frame (or greenhouse) before so I'm wondering how it will work on the patio. I imagine the plants will need insulation from the cold concrete patio slabs? What do I put in the bottom of the frame? Polystyrene? Straw? Something else? Or just top soil straight on top of the patio slabs?

Also I was wondering about drainage. Is it best to keep the plants in pots inside the cold frame, or does it work like a raised vegetable bed?

I mainly want to use the cold frame for growing winter salads and herbs in, and for seedlings in spring.

Any help is much appreciated; I am a newbie to all this gardening stuff.

A._Badger

I have two large coldframes, both standing on hard surfaces. I insulate the sides but it has never occurred to me that the bases would present a problem and, indeed, they don't. In fact I suspect solid bases store heat during the daylight hours quite well.

Depending on where you live, you will not find a coldframe offers protection against serious frosts if it houses even moderately sensitive plants so you may need to consider a small heater - and that's regardless of whether it's standing on a solid surface or soil.

scottishblondie

SternMusik wrote: »

Also I was wondering about drainage. Is it best to keep the plants in pots inside the cold frame, or does it work like a raised vegetable bed?

Keep the plants in pots. Much less messy, easier to manage, and avoids any damage to the cold frame's timbers from being in contact with wet soil.