tips for hay bale 'cold frame'?????

16 years ago

Need to overwinter approx 200 potted plants that were planted late in the season. Can't set up my large greenhouse where I moved. Looked around and came across using hay/straw bales as walls and poly over the top as a cold frame. Like the idea as the hay would provide some heat as it degrades and I can use it as organic matter tilled in the spring (new house is on sand). does anyone have experience with this type of cold frame that they could share? I'm also going to post this in the greenhouse forum. Thanks---Jeff

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Comments (2)

kydaylilylady
16 years ago
Don't know why it wouldn't work and I'm sorry I didn't think of it first! I have a bunch of oriental lilies in one gallon pots and several daylilies . The bales would serve as a windbreak and also keep the pots from falling over. I think you'd have to check the moisture in the pots from time to time. Would you want to sit the pots straight on the ground, gravel or something like that?

Janet
MaxBaerHems
16 years ago
Jeff...I used to do the Straw Bale Winter House at the Nursery , every Winter. Make sure you use Straw Bales that are tied in nylon, the twine rots to fast and the bales will fall apart, before Spring. You will find it easiest to make it a lean-too type structure. Stack 2 bales high on the North/ North-West side. You can use pressure treated timbers or PVC Pipe to stretch over. A decent white 6 Mil plastic for a cover. Don't cover till it gets real cold. Allow Mother Nature to take care of Moisture needs till then. You may need to roll back the cover every 3-4 weeks to add a little moisture, but not much, if at all. The area will get warm enough to keep condensation in and things will be damp, but not Wet. Perfect for Winter storage.... You can anchor the plastic between bales after you pull it tight. When it starts to warm (Daytime Temps) you can cut holes in the plastic to allow for air circulation. Once the plants start to push new growth remove the plastic, but leave the Bales till they are hardened off and strong. Then you can remove the Bales. The Bales will have started to decompose on the inside, thus releasing heat. The key thing is to keep temps as constant as possible and check to insure the plants don't totally dry out. You can run a row of Bales in a grid pattern if you expect extreme cold. This gives even more air pockets that insulate the plants. This system works best if over a stone base (Like 2B chrushed stone) But will work on top of a good base of Mulch or concrete. That allows for drainage prior too and after you place and remove the plastic. I'm not very good at explaining these things...but I hope this will help you Jeff. Oh...you can use the white 6 mil plastic in the rolls, just like you used for your Cold Frame or Greenhouse/Hoop House. Use Straw, not Hay bales...no reason to add weed seeds to your pots...:)

Good Luck, Rick

Rick
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Hi Daryl. I "make" a cheap cold frame every spring. 4 bales of straw topped with an old shower door. I use a 5th bale, loose, to raise the plants up to the door, as needed and throw the excess on top as a little extra protection at night. We are not near so warm yet that I can count on 20's at night. but it that is where you are, it should be safe for your perenniels and some of the annuals...you don't say what they are. I do sprout mine indoors and put them outside later, but they are usually quite large by then. I grow under lights and my cold frame is for when the plants outgrow my lighting shelves. Just last week somebody suggested I put Christmas lights in the cold frame to keep it from freezing...not really for heat so much as extra protection from the cold. I should go to that old thread and find out who suggested that to give credit where credit is due. Kay.
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tips for hay bale 'cold frame'?????

Comments (2)

kydaylilylady

MaxBaerHems

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