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Greenhouse, cold frame or lean-to for veg plants?

Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
in Fruit & veg
Hello
Up here in Aberdeenshire it's been too cold and frosty to think about planting out the veg seedlings, plus they are still too small to fend off the slugs. At the moment I've got mixed kale, sweetcorn, broccoli and caulis sitting in the greenhouse and I'm conscious they will need hardening off soon.
In the interim are they better off in the greenhouse, my cold frame, or the little wooden lean-to, where I already have some leeks?
The greenhouse will get very warm when the sun is out, which for me is the main downside. I've never fully understood the difference in conditions between a greenhouse and a cold frame, partly because my cold frame is mainly glass, with some polycarbonate, so I've worked on the basis that if the plants will get too warm in the greenhouse they'll get too warm in a glass cold frame.
The lean-to is cooler because of its position, but lets in less light.
So what does the combined forum wisdom think please? Plus, any tips to make better use of the sadly neglected cold frame?



No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

Posts

  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    The advantage for me of the cold frame is that I can prop the lid up with wooden blocks on the front corners and this keeps it cooler, and of course on really warm days I can lift the lid up fully. 
    My greenhouse can get scorching hot which suits my cacti and pelargoniums but isn't such a hit with seedlings. 
  • vanessajanenorrisvanessajanenorris Posts: 20
    Hi Stephanie, l’m afraid l don’t have any useful advice, but could l ask where you got the wooden lean-to from?  It looks great! 👍
  • Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
    @vanessajanenorris it was an Aldi purchase, quite reasonable price as I recall, certainly less than the same thing in B&Q. I've had it 3 years now and the side panels at the top are starting to delaminate, and ideally I need to treat it, but I still feel it's been a good buy.
    The doors open at the front and the shelves aren't fixed in so you could take out the top shelf to put something taller in if you needed to. 
    I've sat it on paving blocks and I stapled some black fabric membrane to the underside of the bottom shelf, partly for draft proofing and partly to deter slugs. Never had slugs in it but I don't know if I would have anyway. It goes into the greenhouse over winter. 
    No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

  • vanessajanenorrisvanessajanenorris Posts: 20
    Thanks, Stephanie- lm going to do some online hunting. Good luck with all your veg this year!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I have one of those @vanessajanenorris. I use it for tomatoes, and for starting off seeds or overwintering young plants/cuttings.
    I think I got it from Greenfingers, who are based in the east side of Scotland.
    https://greenfingers.com/d1148/arches_and_structures
    Mine is fixed to the wall behind - things tend to take off in the wind here. Two vine eyes in the wall, two screw eyes on the growhouse, and some old washing line round the top and tied securely. Same at the bottom. Mine is on gravel. 
    Sorry - I don't have any photos. I gave mine a coat of outdoor varnish as it gets a lot of 'weather'. 

    @Stephanie newish gardener - they all provide a similar purpose, but the thing to remember is, the smaller the 'house' the more difficult it is to maintain temperatures.
    A bigger greenhouse provides more room,and is therefore easier to keep things steady.
    Cold frames are ideal for protecting small plants from rough weather, or just keeping things ticking over. They're good for things like cuttings, and sweet peas if you sow in autumn, as they only require a minimum of protection, as opposed to something like a Canna or Banana, which need some real protection from the elements, and more warmth.
    You can also heat a greenhouse. Can't do that with a cold frame  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I just had a look - it's this one I have. Much dearer now though!

    https://greenfingers.com/p33347/rowlinson_hardwood_mini_greenhouse.aspx
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
    Fairygirl said:
    I just had a look - it's this one I have. Much dearer now though!

    https://greenfingers.com/p33347/rowlinson_hardwood_mini_greenhouse.aspx
    That one is pricey but it is also hardwood so should last. I think mine might have been about £50 or £60 when the B&Q ones were £99-£129

    Your explanation above is really helpful FG, thanks 😊 I aspire to start some stuff to overwinter this year so the cold frame might get used for more than storing pots! And if I manage to start sweet peas in the autumn, I might actually have sorted out a place with suitable support by the time they are ready to plant out! 😂😂
    No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's size too @Stephanie newish gardener. If you have plants that need overwintering, but they're going to be sizeable before they go out, a cold frame is of no use.  :)

    I know what you mean about sweet peas. I rarely do them in autumn, as it's hardly worth it. The spring sown ones catch up, because April is usually manky, cold, wet etc, so the early grown ones just sit there doing nothing. I did some last autumn though, and because we've had no winter, and April was ridiculously hot, they've been growing away! They're usually only about 6 inches at this time of year  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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