[supervegman]

Hi all i have been lucky enough to be given a few double glazed panes i have built a cold fram with loose bricks then placed the pane on top will this be suffice to start to harden off plants... do i need to put a lit candle inside this to keep off the frost...as i have rread some wheres that helps.

[JayG]

Very posh! (Don't suppose many folk have double-glazed coldframes!)

Seriously though, if your main use is for hardening off plants prior to planting out then frost shouldn't be as big a problem at that time as it is at this time of year.

As to the candle I would doubt whether it would make much difference given the trouble you would have to go to to keep one going.

Not tried it though; this could be one of those issues where I have to get ready to duck!

[Trillium]

Duck, JayG 

If anything, SVM, you'll find the frames can become excessively hot during sunny days and you'll need to vent the heat or cook the plants. If nights are very cool and you're worried, then simply throw an old blanket over the frame tops and this should help a lot. The idea is to adjust the plants to cooler temps rather than try to keep the frame warm inside.

[monsta]

i use a lightbulb in a tin can! about a 100Watter 

[supervegman]

i have some leek seedlings about 5 per 9cm pot about 12 cm high i need to thin them and put them and then put them into the cold frame. I also have some stury little fruego red cabbages plants that have their first rrela leaves been ina warm shed for past few months is it ready to put them into cold frame do you think.

Thanks for everyones advise

Grahame

[lacewing]

I lined the inside of my brick built cold frame with polystyrene, keeps it a few degree's warmer and also reflects more light.

[arugula]

I lined the inside of my brick built cold frame with polystyrene, keeps it a few degree's warmer and also reflects more light.

We have lined our wooden built frame like this but with the addition of plastic 2 litre bottles filled with water lying on the floor/ground. These soak up the sunshine during the day (yes we've had lots this week) and work as a heat sink.