Re: coldframe
- Subject: Re: [SG] coldframe
- From: C* P*
- Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 23:56:42 EDT
In a message dated 7/12/01 10:45:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
kmm@CADVISION.COM writes:
<< Rachel - are you using that cold frame for vegetables? railroad ties are
soaked in cresote to preserve them and it is toxic. >>
Pressure treated lumber is soaked in copper sulphate and arsenic and both are
not merely toxic, they are poison to plants and questionable to use around
children.
According to my husband the most virulent load of the chemicals drains out in
the first years, still we do not use this wood for anything. Sawing and and
sanding this wood requires ventilation and masking. The railroad ties
obtained are often very old and drained of most the chemical load. Old
beams are often used but rot too quickly when put in contact with the soil.
Lately we have built raised beds and frames using corrugated metal sheets cut
to size and framed by rocks as we have a plentiful supply of rocks. The
corner posts of the frames are pressure treated wood left out side the frame,
not inside. They have hinged window type lids. We have smashed so much
glass in cold frames that it is all now fibreglass roofing (corrugated and
opaque) or some form of ridge plastic. We are high altitude and have a lot
of wind. Plexiglass is way too expensive for this purpose.
I have three frames. All have around 20 inches of high drainage material in
the frame. That is all soil, clay and rocks are removed around twenty inches
down and the soil is a light sandy, humusy mix.
One frame overwinters the multitude of plants that cannot live here in zone
4. Examples are artemesia 'Powis Castle', huge rosularias, delospermas,
helianthemums, any container plant I fancy might make it through in a frame
and my current favorite plant agastache aurantiaca or perhaps sold as
'Apricot Sunrise'. Bletilla makes it in a good drainage frame here in zone 4.
Sick plants or finicky plants go into the frame and often recover as we pay
attention to the frames on a daily basis. I used to remove the covers in the
summer but no long do as rains last year and early this year rotted and
washed out seedlings. Seedling pots are in the frames and when they sprout
they are lined out if they are a two year perennial. One frame now has a
million assorted dianthus needing homes.
A second frame is shaded for nearly half the day and this is best for many
things in the hot months. A third large frame winters over all the troughs
as planted.
We wait until there is a crusting of frost on the soil, fill the frames with
oak leaves and close up until late March. If lettuce is planted and sprouts
in the fall, edible plants will be ready in late April.
If you are forced to receive ordered plants early or buy somethings you think
may be gone later, the frame covered in early spring will keep almost
anything. Our warmest frame is built against a barn and that barn wall warms
the entire frame and garden around it.
I do not hide the frames, I have them where I need them and often they are
full of flowers so it does not present an esthetic problem to me. I also
have a compost heap in nearly every garden near the tallest plants. I have
wheeled around more debris than I shall ever do again. Keeping the compost
where you want is saves a huge amount of labor.
Summing up, the cold frame is used for so many useful things one has to make
his choices. Best thing in the beginning is to change the soil to free
draining mix and remember that closing a frame on a sunny day in April will
cook your plants. There is no work-free garden job. If you use frames, you
must keep an eye on them. If I have to be away I will leave them an inch or
so open rather than closed in spring. I also plant all kinds of randomly
acquired seeds in the frames and there are always surprises coming up.
Nancy spoke of tiarella seed. I do not know if it is ephemeral and needs to
go in right away or needs some cold treatment. Either way, I would plant the
seed in a shallow pot, cover with grit (keeps water from washing seed)and
place outdoors in a frame. If you have no patience with seeds it is better
to buy plants. Some take a year to germinate, some longer.
Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
