MAKING A COLD FRAME/SEED PERRENIALS

5 years ago

I USE TO BE IN THE WINTER SOWING FORUM. I KNOW HOW EASY IT IS TO START PERRENIALS IN MILK JUGS. I'M THINKING TO COVER PART OF MY RAISED BED WITH PLASTIC: TO KEEP GROUND FROM FLOODING AND WARMTH ON COLD NIGHTS (IT'S APRIL 11TH, 2021, IN SW PA.) LATER I WILL USE THE FRAME I'M MAKING TO SHADE SEEDLINGS. SOIL IS DEEP AND I THINK THEY SHOULD DO WELL. ANY SUGGESTIONS? GLAD TO BE BACK. I WAS ON GARDEN WEB AS MICKI777

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Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
how does a plastic sheet prevent flooding????

does your raised bed not drain properly??? .. if so.. and presuming you mean spring rains ... then i dont know why you would want to cover it ...

then i think.. hey.. peeps cover soil with plastic to solarize and kill weeds ... and i think.. that aint any good .. lol ...

btw.. there a button associated with your left little finger ... lol ..

and finally i think ... i would NOT be experimenting with new methods this time of year ... grow your seeds with a proven method you know will succeed.. and if you want to fool around with building a new method.. work on it during the summer.. and be ready to plant some perennial seed in fall.. and be ready for annual seed next spring ...

welcome back....

ken
micki thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
micki
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you Ken,

Well it was an introductory statement.

I don't want pouring rains on the bed, I will poke holes in the plastic to irrigate gently. The top will be slopped so to run off. The plastic keeps the bed warm during cold nights. The plastic will be changed out with landscape fabric to provide shade.

What I've decided to do was to create a 10 degree grade in the side walls.

The bed will be 6 by 5'. I will use 1 by 2's for the top frame that will open and shut allowing for ventilation and sun and closed to keep out pouring rains. The side walls will start at 5'5" inches and angle up to 18", made from 1" by 5'5". There will be a gap due to the shortage of the 1 by 5'5".

The side walls will be attached to long stakes that will be pounded into the ground.

Thanks for responding. Are you a carpenter Ken? I have been in gardening for 30 years and carpentry just a few. I love working with wood and usually work on something everyday. Its my new hobby. Hey please write back.

Micki

I'll take a picture latter.
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diggerdee zone 6 CT
5 years ago
Micki I was going to ask why you were going to so much trouble instead of just wintersowing, but you answered my question - you love working with wood. I am terrified of even trying to make a basic square wooden raised bed lol.

Perhaps you could use it as a cold frame later in the season to extend some veggies as well. Please do post a picture when you're done!

:)

Dee