cold frame pictures

Jane McGary janemcgary@earthlink.net
Wed, 05 Jan 2011 09:15:39 PST
Kathleen wrote
>We used 2 inch thick styrofoam insulation, pressure treated wood
>outside, exterior marine plywood inside for the box. I will paint it,
>inside and out, in warmer, drier weather later this year, and primed
>only the top sections before they went into use this week.  Tie downs
>for the sections to keep them on in heavy winds were installed
>yesterday.  Still to come: another 6 inches of gravel inside, to
>ensure good drainage, and wedges to hold sections open during warmer
>weather, i.e. above 40 F, and a thermometer. At temps above 50 F, the
>tops will come off and be stored, unless I am using this frame to
>keep pots dry.

One suggestion I would add to this is, before you put down the gravel 
(round, not crushed rock), line the bottom and partway up the sides 
with heavy-duty woven groundcloth. Kathleen, if you can't get hold of 
it, I can send you some as I have plenty. This will keep out moles, 
whereas the gravel will not. I learned that the hard way. Chicken 
wire will also work, but it's a mess to remove after several years 
should you want to do so, and if (when) your bulbs seed into the 
plunge material, they can work themselves down under the chicken 
wire, but not through the groundcloth.

The big beds in my new bulb house are lined with this type of 
groundcloth. It's the product used in commercial nurseries in the 
greenhouses and "pot yards" and it lasts at least ten years even 
where exposed to sun. It's also excellent for the bottom of garden 
paths. The only problem is that it comes in very heavy large rolls -- 
I can barely lift a full one.

Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA


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