winter garden

[cutenirish]

i just learned last nite that you can grow stuff in winter-- lettuce. onions ect! as long as it's covered with clear glass/plastic top :) planted onions and carrots today to see what happenes :)

[kurlisola]

Make yourself a cold frame. That will hold up better than plastic, plus you can slant it to attract more sunlight.

We are putting bricks on the bottom or ours, so that if a really bad cold spell hits, we can heat a couple bricks in the oven (while making dinner) & put them at the bottom of the cold frame, for a bit more heat. Never tried it, but sounds like a good idea to me:-)

[cutenirish]

COOL acutally i'm using buckets and glass covers :)
DH wants to build me a reg garden next summer so i'mm probably turn that one into a better winter garden next year. Have you ever done a winter garden before? What area are you in? I'm in buffalo ny

[kurlisola]

I'm in Virginia. But am familiar with NY winters (lived in Plattsburgh for 4 years). I don't think you'll have much luck (without a heated greenhouse) from mid-Dec to mid February. But, in the future, if you start your cold crops around August 1st, and do successive planting through, say mid September. I bet you could get stuff up through December.

Then start seeds indoors around beginning of January & set out again in your coldframe from beginning of February-April.

A problem you will encounter will be the snow. If you do this, then you should set up some sort of insulation under the frame. Maybe something like this:

1) 12 bales of hay (2 deep; so you have 6 on the bottom, 6 on the top). Something to hold them securely in place...maybe a wood frame of 2x4's.

2) On top of that place a flat board

3) Build a removeable/adjustable cold frame (I got my design from Square Foot Gardening). Very easy.

4) Build something to hold the soil (that sits in the cold frame). Wood, 6-8 inches deep, maybe 3x6ft wide and long...depending on measurements of your bales of hay.

5) Fill with good quality soil

6) Leave space on inside (between cold frame and planting bed, to put heated bricks...to give yourself a few extra weeks when the evening temps really plunge).

7) You'll also want to put some sort of insulating material around the sides of the coldframe (I wouldn't do this in my area, but definately in New York).

I think if you try this (seems overwhelming, but really could do this in just a couple hours if your dh can use a drill and hammer), you'll get some success & some fresh cool crops during the winter.

Things you could try are: lettuce, spinich, radishes, chinese cabbage, possible regular cabbage, specialty greens, some spices/herbs, maybe scallions.

You can also start your seedling for next summer. You'd probably want to start planting those around February 15th, for early summer planting. Of course you would do these in individual pots (things like tomatoes, eggplant, peppers).

In answer to your specific question, no, I've never done one before. I could never figure out how to make a cold frame-lol! Until I saw the design in Sq Ft Gardening. But I have wanted to for years. Was planning on doing it this winter, but too sick and tired from the pregnancy. But, I will start all of my own crops in February (from seed)...and I might even start some cold crops right after the baby comes (since I already have the cold frame and seeds).

[cutenirish]

TY TY TY I think i'll just try it in buckets and see how it goes! I'd like a mini greenhouse but that's not an option! I just planted carrots and scallons today maybe i'll do another tomoate and pepper plant. It's not a huge deal to have veggies in the winter we don't eat LOADS of them but if they are here we'll eat them :)

DH is working way to much to even think of building me a cold frame.

I've got plastic shelfs that come apart i was thinking of putting them in a row and put my buckets of plants on them and cover with plexiglass or plastic to keep snow off them on my front porch (south facing). I could plant now and maybe have some stuff be mid Dec (that would be about 12 weeks or so from now) then just keep planting stuff as pot come empty :) What do you think?

[kurlisola]

The problem with buckets will be the lighting. Coldframes have a glass/plastic cover that is slanted, so that it can be directed at the sun. The front of the frame is shorter than the back of the frame, to aid in this. With a bucket, you will only get direct sunlight when the sun is directly overhead...which won't happen because during the winter, the sun sets and rises lower & doesn't go across the center of the sky.

Now, if you have soil to the top of the bucket, then yes, you will have enough sunlight...but how will you secure the glass or plastic on top, without crushing the foliage?

It might work though. Maybe I'm just missing something. Let us know.

As for our coldframe, I think it took my dh about an hour to make. He took 2x4's and (rough measurments here), made several frames that were each 3ft long by 2 feet wide (by 4 inches high). He made 4 I believe. Then he set the first one on the ground at a slant (front dug into the ground about 3 inches). Then he hammered in 2 stakes directly in front of the frame on each side. then he just sat the remaining 2-3 frames on top of the first one. The stakes held them in place. The glass top was just a replacement window from Lowes for about $30. Just sat that on top as well. When I needed to vent, just pushed back the top a couple inches and place a small wedge of wood between the top & the front of the top frame.

It truly was a snap to make.

[cutenirish]

Oh that's not to bad DH can do that how high to you fill the dirt since its about a foot high? Thanks :) Someone told me about using tractor tires :) but the wood will be easier to come by (we've probably got enough in our garage).

Thanks great info :)

[kurlisola]

Well, the one I built, I just put bricks on the bottom, to retain the warmth during the day. Then I put potted, germinated seedlings. With what you are trying to do, it would probably be better, after you build the frame, to take an inside measurement & build a box about 6 inches high& fill with soil. Your lettuce, baby carrots, greens ect... shouldn't get too tall & you can continually thin them for fresh salads as needed. HTH.

[cutenirish]

TY TY TY! I'll get to bugging DH or my brother :) I could probably use 2x6's and just buy two or three I think i'd like a box that size of a glass shower door (providing it's clear). I'm guessing frosted wouldn't work or would it?

TY for all your great info!

[kurlisola]

I'd honestly start out smaller, for a variety of reasons. First, the genius of this particular cold frame design, is that it is light and easily moveable. If you build it too big, you'll have to wait til dh is in the mood to lug it into storage. Plus, because we stored ours in the garage when not in use, it will last longer. Also, whenever trying something new (like winter gardening), I would think being a little conservative might be better. And to be honest, you'll get tons of stuff from a 3x2 or 4x2 frame...alot more than youd normally expect.

I'm not sure if the frosted glass would work. If you have one laying around, I say try it. But if you have to buy one, I'd go for the tried and true, clear glass. HTH.

[cutenirish]

TY :) yeah i have to ask my brother if it's abelt o be cut :) If it can be cut we'll take it (dh says just buy plexi but if i can try it free first I will). you are probably right a 4x3 would be fine since the stuff doesn't get to tall. So basically we're just building a frame to set the front into the ground toss in some topsoil (after we dig up the area) and plant :) WOO HOO

[kurlisola]

Thats all for the coldframe Jill. The reason I suggested putting it on top of a couple bales of hay, was because you get what...6-8 feet of snow a year? Definately something you need to consider.

You've really got my green thumb thinking again-lol! Think I'll go read a gardening book:-)

[cutenirish]

yes we can get that much snow and it's usually over two days LOL! Okay this is going to sound DUMB where can i get HAY and not pay the "halloween price"! I'm going back to reread all your posts of great info :)

[cutenirish]

okay i reread and your right the platform cold frame is a better idea for this area :) We have table that DH built that has a linolium (sp) top that would probably work to set up a coldframe :) I'll have to see if it's sturdy enough 1st of course!

[kurlisola]

okay i reread and your right the platform cold frame is a better idea for this area :) We have table that DH built that has a linolium (sp) top that would probably work to set up a coldframe :) I'll have to see if it's sturdy enough 1st of course!

Okay, the table would work. But you definately need some sort of insulating material underneath it. Thats why I suggested bales of hay. I used that on the sides of my coldframe. Lowes should sell it for about $2-$3 a bale. Now is a good time of year because alot of people use it when they plant new lawns in the late summer (though I don't recommend doing that-lol).

Also, location will be key. You want the slanted glass facing a southern exposure. The backside of the coldframe should be up against a building/garage/wood fence. You'll also want it close enough to the house so that you can easily check it and pick your fresh greens & lettuces.

[cutenirish]

I was going to put it up against our stockage fence. But it's about 65 feet from my back door ( but it's south exposure) :) WOO HOO! Just gotta get the hay and see what DH thinks of my plan. And some topsoil too would 6-8 inches bee deep enough for lettuce and scallons?? Thanks you've got wonderful advice!

[kurlisola]

Six inches should be good for just about anything. Even carrots...so long as you pick them when they are about 3-4 inches long.

Check out the website www.squarefootgardening.com There should be an example of a square planter on a table. People tend to use them for patios or for elderly people who can't bend over to the ground. Should give you dimensions.

Top soil alone is not good enough, need to mix it with vermiculite and peat/humus/compost or some sort of other organic matter.

Glad to have been of help.

[cutenirish]

Great thanks! Well potting soil is what i buy for my container garden and i toss in some peat moss would that be fine :) Thanks for the link.

[cutenirish]

I found a great picture of a cold frame- so now DH knows what i'm talking about :) Yippie! I'll post pictures once it's done it might be afew weeks though. We've gotta paint our front porch 1st.

I think i'll use plastic and chicken wire for the top as plexiglass isn't cheap and we can't use a piece of glass because if it breaks the dogs would get hurt :(

[brkrs]

I have a couple of potatoes that has sprouted. I was wondering if I could plant them to grow potatoes? Anyone has any idea of growing carrots & potatoes ?

[kurlisola]

I doubt potatoes would grow in the winter time. Now, you can grow them in the summer & leave them in the ground & harvest as needed through the winter.

[cutenirish]

I've heard the potatoes might make it inthe winter butin the cold cold months Jan-Feb here in NY i don't plan to have much planted but I'm hoping to plant stuff in afew weeks (if not sooner) to harvest in Dec and have stuff growing in the house to transplant out there come March :) YIPPIE a winter project!