Cold frames made of wood and double-walled sheets are a common sight in the home garden. An alternative made of stone has proven to be more durable and stable. These instructions explain how to build your own cold frame from decorative plant stones.
A brick cold frame lasts longer than a wooden one
Material and tool list
To build a stone cold frame measuring 1.50 x 3.50 m, the following materials and tools are required:
- 28 plant stones (60 x 40 x 25 cm)
- Filling material such as gravel, grit, earth or a mix of these
- Cord and wooden stakes for marking out
- shovel
- folding rule, spirit level
The choice of plant stones as a building material offers several advantages at the same time. Due to the cavity, these stones have significantly less weight. The space in between is also perfect as an additional planting area.
Building instructions
Since a cold frame made of plant stones is lightweight compared to a mighty natural stone wall, you can do without a foundation. In a sunny, sheltered location, measure the area and mark the course with string. Then level the surface with the shovel. How to proceed:
- Place half of the stones next to each other along the marking as the lower level
- Lay out the interior of the bed with vole wire and a 5-10 cm layer of leaves
- Fill the first level planting stones with gravel or soil
- Put the remaining 14 stones on it in the offset
- The planting stones of the upper level fill with compost soil
There are several options for the cover. A tunnel made of round rods and weatherproof greenhouse film is cheap and practical. (15.90 €) This has the advantage that you can exchange the film for an insect net during the summer time to use the cold frame as a raised bed.
Fill the stone cold frame correctly - this is how it works
A week before planting, fill the stone cold frame in layers with horse or cow manure and compost. First put the manure about 20 cm high on the layer of leaves. This is followed by a mix of garden soil, compost and horn shavings. (32.93€) The decomposition of the organic material generates growth-promoting heat, which allows the cold frame to be used from February/March to November/December.
tips
A cold frame made of pallets is more mobile and much cheaper. Just 4 Euro pallets (€29.99) are enough to construct the right frame. Disused wooden windows with old leather straps as hinges act as covers.