Cold frame outside again

Anticipating an overflow of plants from the house, I set up the plastic coldframe that I got from Wilkinsons last year. You can see there's not much to it.


I've used milk jugs filled with water as thermal mass, attempting to moderate temperature changes a bit. I know clear jugs aren't very effective, but they are readily available and seem to help.

The water jugs also serve to weigh the cold frame down, since it's very prone to blow away in the strong winds we have here in the Peak District.


I learned last year that the frame is best secured in place by wrapping a grid of strapping tape across the bottom, doubling back to stick on itself. (I should have photographed that before I put everything in it! You can see a bit of the tape on the lower left, to the right of the jugs.) Once the tape is on, then place cardboard over the tape to distribute the weight and secure against the wind.

There are three tall pots of carrots, which have been growing for about six weeks. The blue LED light really wasn't suitable for them, and it didn't seem to work splitting the light across six pots. Below the carrots are a pot of parsley and one of chives that have been sitting in rather low light on the back porch.