Hi,
I am thinking about extending my lily seedling growing season by building a cheap cold/hot frame. I am wondering if any of you know what temperature lily bulbs start to grow at? Trying to figure out how early I can get my bulbs going with the least amount of electricity :*) What I am considering using are some cheap heating pads at night to keep things warm in the frame.
Please chime in with your thoughts!
Andrew
Cold/Hot frames
Hi Andrew,
Are you growing some in containers that you'd like to get blooms from early? They start growing when its still quite cool, so just an unheated cold frame may do the trick. If lined with something black (landscape fabric perhaps) heat is absorbed during the day and released at night. Last year I got a 2 month head start on seedlings with an unheated cold frame made of bales of straw and old windows; the tender coleus were fine when it was in the 20s. And if you would like to provide some heat without electricity, perhaps what I remember my father referring to as a hot bed would work. It was basically a cold frame with several inches of fresh manure in the bottom. We used it to raise sweet potato plants for the garden, so soil was put over the manure and planted in directly. The fresh manure provided the heat. Landscape fabric over the manure would provide a surface that containers could set on.
On the other hand, I just thought of why that could be a bad idea; I've read that manure, especially if not composted, can carry a lily disease. I've only heard that in reference to composting, but close proximity could be risky.
Hmmm, curious what others have to say. Interesting idea!
Neal
I have some seedlings and tiny bulbs that I started in Oct. and end of Dec. What I am thinking of doing is transplanting these into large plastic pots or tubs. I would then put these into the cold/hot frame to get a good month or two ahead on sunshine. When the ground warms up I would then put the pots/tubs in the ground, for easier removal depending on when they bloom and the appearance.
I found out why 6 inches of dirt depth is recommended for lily seedlings, wow do they have long, abundant roots!
This message was edited Jan 30, 2007 5:04 PM
Duh...I saw that in your first post and immediately forgot- middle age is such fun, lol. I think an unheated frame would give you at least a month or 2 head start, and I don't think light frost would hurt them. Good luck!
Neal
Here are some thoughts I hope are helpful.
I have made many hot beds with manure. It will heat the bed for about 6 weeks. The manure should be about 2 feet deep and well drained so that rain doesnt flood it out. You might want to put 6 inches of gravel underneath the manure for drainage. Over the manure you want to put a little dirt maybe 3 inches and then your containers on top of that.
Be sure to open the lid on the frame on sunny days or you will burn up your plants.
Here in zone 6 I have also made cold frames and started them about March 15th. I do not plant seeds in them but bring them from the lights in the basement. On nights when the temp is forecast to go below frost, I put a couple of 150 watt lights run on an extension cord from the house and then cover the frame with a tarp.
I have never mastered the art of covering the frame with plastic. Everytime I try the plastic sags and when it rains I am out in the middle of it dumping the collected water off the plastic to keep it from breaking.
I use old glass windows. Finding them can sometimes be a problem.
I use a mixture of hydrated lime and water to cover the glass as the season progresses and temperatures soar.
I hope this is helpful.
Cow manure,hmmmm. Not sure where I would get that. Does it stink?