Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: IanG on May 13, 2012, 11:19
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I'm starting to build a big cold frame on a West facing wall. It will be about 20' long 5' high 2' deep with a couple of auto opening roof vents & the whole frontage will be removeable/slideable. I'm growing tomatoes, chillis, peppers & salad leaves in it.
The question is; should I build a soil base into it & plant directly into soil OR plant in pots on a gravel base? What automatic watering system would you recommend? [I have just bought a soaker hose & timer]
My preferred method would be to use pots [so I can rotate & move them] on gravel & water from underneath using the soaker hose.
p.s. I live in a terrace property with a totally decked back garden so I don't currently have any earth borders. This also means that when I have to change soil I need to take it through the house & off to the dump.
I can easily add water & electric to the cold-frame, although I prefer to look at it as a greenhouse that you work from outside. I could even build a 'heated section' into it for the winter months.
Any help/criticism would be appreciated
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20 feet long :ohmy: my that's a long one!
Plumbers have a 240V solenoid operated valve, I've fitted one into the (say it quietly - hose pipe system) and operated by a standard 24 hour electrical timer. Works a treat.
I would go for the soil base, oops, just read about the terrace. Looks like pots.
Cheers, Tony.
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For ease of disposal I would grow bags. You can just make holes for plants and carry them thru the house easily when finished
I use them in my greenhouse at the plot and just use 2 planks to hold them on their side - that way you get nice deep roots. When I've finished with them I empty the bags on the plot.
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Thanks for the feedback I'll post feedback as to how it all works out...