RE: Cold frames
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: RE: Cold frames
- From: "* H* <h*@povn.com>
- Date: Sat, 29 Nov 1997 08:00:09 -0700 (MST)
Hi Everyone,
Sorry it took so long to find this info...a last minute call from one of =
the galleries had me scrambling to get some of the new polymer jewelry =
put together and in the mail (another iris design of course!).
Anyway......Charlie's Greenhouse Supply, 1569 Memorial Hwy., Mount =
Vernon, WA 98273. 1(800)322-4707 for orders. I believe they've also got =
a web page now.
The item I told Marte about...the one that I use in my greenhouses is =
#3236 and is listed as Thermatic-Vent for coldframes. Spring mechanism, =
plastic and steel construction with rodent screen, 8" x 15 1/2". Very =
easy to insall!
The only catalog I could find in the stack is from 94 (the new copy went =
home with a friend who's building a greenhouse), but doubt that the =
price has gone up much. It's listed here as $17.95 each or two for =
$34.00. It's not an arm, but an entire little box shaped contraption =
that just slides into a precut hole in the building.
The PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) material that I used as siding comes from =
Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, P.O. Box 2209, Grass Valley, CA 95945. =
1(916)0272-4769. Wonderful stuff! All sorts of row covers. The original =
writeup on the PVA said that it was tested in Florida year round and =
should last about 20 years (barring hurricanes). Ours has only been up =
about 4 years and still looks new. Translucent, woven, with reinforcing =
strips woven in, and pricey. If my memory is right it's about 95% light =
transmittable. UV protected of course. It's secured to the wood frames =
of the greenhouses with thin wood strips but I think Charlies carries =
plastic strip by the roll for this same purpose. Will have to double =
check that. If I were doing a coldframe, I'd go with the Tufbell =
rowcover. Same type of stuff but more flexible and a bit cheaper.
The upper greenhouse where the plants go when they're ready for sale is =
single wall PVA with a VERY high ceiling. It's designed for minimal =
protection from frost and is meant to protect things mostly from the =
wind while they harden off a bit. The lower greenhouse is more compact =
and has an additional liner of polypropelene row cover (needs to be =
replaced every 2 to 3 years). This one is used early in the season with =
a couple of "milkhouse" heaters to get things off to an early start. =
Lowest outside temp has been 11 degrees in Feb. and I keep the =
thermostats on the heaters set fairly low...just enough to keep the =
inside temps around 40 at the lowest. Produces some of the stockiest =
little plants I've ever seen!=20
Did I leave anything out?=20
Christy Hensler
Newport, WA, zone 4
Strong winds! Don't know......strongest we usually get here are about =
40mph.
