2006 seedlings - spring is coming!

[Sherry_AK]

We use that shared-space concept around here too! Sometimes there's more room for plants than for people. Thanks for the dimensions of your cold frames.

[Tania]

sorry folks - I didn't manage to get a sketch of the cold frame from my father-in-law...

here is a better picture of the cold frame - we can lift the cover from either side, when necessary, for ventilation -



the cold frame plactic looks 'foggy', but this is supposed to be good - it diffuses the light in all directions, which should be good for the plants, and also this particular plastic is anti-condensate and has 4 years warranty. I am very hopeful it'll last!

When it'll warm up (late April/early May), I am planning to lift the cold frame from the lettuce/cabbage bed and move it to another bed where I'll be growing melons. And in the fall I'll move it back to the lettuce bed - I am hoping I can get the lettuce survive through the winter this way...

[Tania]

here is another cold frame, on the deck - this one is 1' higher, and it will go to the eggplants and pepper beds in May:



for now, I have tomato seedlings and more lettuce and kohlrabi in there - the picture is taken on March 11, 2006

[Sherry_AK]

Tania -- Thanks for the pictures. Your plants look excellent!

Sherry

[Tania]

Keith,

we checked the marine paint, and the label says it is safe for agricultural use; no, it doesn't contain mercury or lead

Thank you for your comment - this is something we need to watch for!

[clay199]

Tania,
Where did you get the plastic?

[Tania]

The plastic is the Dura-film(R) 4 Thermal AC Plus, and we bought it from False Creek Industries in Vancouver (604-324-4311).

I called A.T. Plastic last year (800-661-3606), and they suggested I contact False Creek Industries, their distributor in Vancouver, although you might be able to find another distributor closer to where you are.

The cost is ~$240 per 24'x100' roll, 4 years warranty. It was the best GH plastic I could find last year, and the cost is quite reasonable. This year we bought a 2nd roll to build a couple of small greenhouses, for tomatoes...

[clay199]

Thank you!!

Exactly what I was looking for, and now with your information I can start to find out where to get it.

[MsCowpea]

Tania, you inspired me to grow lettuces in small containers for a salad or two.

Here are the results. The pot with the label is a cheap (2.99) self-watering one from Big Lots.

Thanks!!!

[Tania]

MsCowpea - these looks awesome! This is an inexpensive way of growing salad greens indeed.

Yummy.

I think our lettuce season is coming to the end - it will be too warm for it, which negatively affects the taste. I'll resume planting lettuce in August/Sept, and will try to overwinter some in a cold frame.