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new cold frame question

sanjy67sanjy67 Posts: 1,007

my husband made me a lovely sturdy cold frame today from ply on wheels with a well fitting hinged wooden double glazed window sloping down the front on a slant, i have given it two coats of garden shades already and plan to put in a layer of gravel in the bottom and then of course my plants but should i drill in air holes for when the window is fully closed, i will be drilling some drainage holes in the bottom but should i drill some in the sides & back and if so how big and how many would be enough? should i also line the bottom under the gravel with plastic with drainage holes too?

thank you in advance

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  • sanjy67sanjy67 Posts: 1,007

    thank you holly hock i'll post a pic later when it's finished. Do you ever have the window fully closed? that's when i was thinking it may need air holes? 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,221

    Yeh - no need for holes - opening your lid as and when the weather suits is the norm.

    As you thought, you'll need the base lined and with holes as you plan on moving it around. Don't want it all falling out the bottom on the path behind you....image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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  • sanjy67sanjy67 Posts: 1,007

    sorry guys rain stopped play yesterday just as i'd finished putting the last coat on !! i'm going to put in the drainage holes this morning then i'll post a pic, i might have to add a bit of other colour as it's a bit 'blue' haha

  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    It sounds lovely sanjy. Looking forward to seeing a photo (for ideas to pinchimage)

    I'm hoping to build one myself to put by the back door, just need some inspiration. I've seen pics of your other projects like the bench on other threads, everything you make is fab. Look forward to seeing the finished greenhouse too.image 

  • sanjy67sanjy67 Posts: 1,007

    Thank you kitty, that's nice of you to say, i keep putting off the greenhouse project as it's going to be such a mission to paint both sides of all those 15 pane of glass doors probably three times each side image, i've masked up 3 doors both sides and it took so long haha and i've still got 7 more to do before i even start painting it!

    My husband actually made this one under my direction of course lol but i painted it image

    i'm really pleased with the cold frame, i can fit all my plants in i wanted to plus the ones that were in the makeshift cold frame too.

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    i used an old double glazed window from a skip, the sides, back, bottom were made from ply & i bought the casters 50mm x 4 from screwfix that i had over from another project, and hinges i had in the garage, the window is quite heavy which made the cold frame tip when window was fully open but now the gravel and plants are in it has sorted this out, it has four posts in the corners which the ply was fixed too and we put two posts on the outside between the two internal posts to stiffen the whole thing up, we put it on the outside so as not to take up space internally, it measures 52cm depth x 58 cm high not inc wheels & 111cm wide which is roughly 20 d x 23 w x 44 inches, i painted it in cuprinol garden shades, river mist) two coats on ply and four on window as it was dark brown.

    Last edited: 11 October 2016 12:28:57

  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 6,959

    Looks good Sanjay.  I bought a cheap one last year which still needs painting.  I find it really useful.

    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,221

    Looking good sanjy - did you nick my friend's windows? I got two the same when she upgraded her windows! image

    Cold frame to be constructed here too. I haven't had the time yet. I should have enough timber left from all my other building projects though. We can compare notes....image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • sanjy67sanjy67 Posts: 1,007

    excellent stuff FG, i do like a bit of recycling image

    thx YS sorry i missed your post first time around image

    Last edited: 11 October 2016 13:32:54

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