The Potting Shed

[fred]

Whats a cold frame?

something like

http://www.easy-garden.com/deluxecf.htm


gives seedlings some protection from the weather

[Taf]

Cold frames are fun... until you forget to ventillate them during periods of hot sun...

I have bought an 8 watt 12" gro-lamp for the unused aquarium in the living room. Once installed, it will mean I can start seedlings indoors at last.

I got all the seeds out yesterday so that I can finally plan where they all will be raised and finally grow. Shall try aubergine this year as I was given free seeds.

[Taf]

My living room aquarium is now a terrarium with 4 types of tomatoes sown (Marmande, Sweetie, Roma and Ferline). Once they are ready to transplant into the greenhouse, I can start my chillis in the living room too 

[fred]

leeks down

[Taf]

Mine too, bucket method as per Gardeners World...

[fred]

seed tray in cold frame  don't want to start the propogator just in case I go to the Corswolds over Easter

[Spite]

just in case I go to the Corswolds over Easter

  Bloody tourists!

[fred]

that's what I say.   

I make a point of driving at normal speeds on the roads though.  Drive OR look around  plenty of places to stop and look around.

[Taf]

3 large troughs of miniature gladioli are now transplanted direct into the flower beds before they sprouted too much. They tend not to fall over like the big ones, but multiply like mad!

[Taf]

42c in the greenhouse again... but had to start sowing...

Courgette
Aubergine
Chillis (4 types)
Cowslips
Clematis
Ornamental grasses (5 types)
Climbing French beans
Metre-long beans

Sweet peppers next....

All the onion sets are up, the leeks are thriving after transplant, and I have strawberry flowers!! Both Kiwi plants are past bud-break too!

[fred]

I've got wrod of some wood going begging so I'll try and make some boxes to plant in.  Bearing in mind that they're on concrete is eight or nine inches depth of soil enough?

[Taf]

That should be enough, but don't forget drainage (around your way I wouldn't reccomend polystyrene in the bottom, but large rocks  ). Large volume means less frequent watering... if you have a B&Q about, try to get some of their compressed coir blocks to mix with the soil as it really helps keep it wet...

[fred]

ta I usually put a couple of inches of gravel in the bottom.  the idea is to build without a base si it sits on the concrete.  There should be plenty of drainage as the concrete is rough and uneven so plenty of gaps between the wood and concrete

[Taf]

Is it pressure-treated timber Fred?

If not a couple of coats of wood preserver won't go amiss... plus if they're bottomless on concrete try laying them on a sheet of polythene (with a few holes) or the cement will suck them dry.

[fred]

Not seen it yet but I'd rather have to re build in a couple of years than have those chemicals too close to my food.

planning on starting beet spinach, broccoli, kale and some spring onions and cut andcome again greens in the borrowed greenhouse later today.  Not told them yet but it's half empty so might as well use it.  a small number of widely scattered seeds in each tray to start with.