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Old compost bins to new coldframes

seakaleseakale Posts: 142
in Problem solving
I have a couple of timber planked compost bins which are surplus and wondered if I could lay a sheet of Perspex over the top, to make a cold frame.   The bins are planked on three sides.  I think it’s safer to use Perspex sheets and wonder what depth I should allow for light etc?  I will have to cobble a ‘door’ to stop Mr and Mrs Muntjac calling in for their dinner, using much of the same.  A good sharp gravel base to deter slugs.  If anyone has any helpful hints and or suggestions please reply.

I only want to use the cold frame for hardening off purposes

Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    What kind of compost bins are you thinking of? They need to be shallow enough to get lots of light in.
  • hatty123hatty123 Posts: 125
    I made my cold frame from scaffolding boards with a polycarbonate top tied on with cable ties. Everything recycled 😁 Seems to work fine, it's keeping a few extra degrees heat in over night and my seedings are surviving (so far!). Don't see why you couldn't do similar with your compost bin. Has it been built so it's fully enclosed on the planked sides? If not then you'd need to put more boards on to fill the gaps and make it as draft-proof as you can or it won't do the job overnight.
  • seakaleseakale Posts: 142
    Yes the planks are on top of each other, I will only use it for nighttime hardening off

    last year I grew courgettes and dahlias in the old bins, there was a bit of compost still there, both thrived.



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