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#1 01/30/2012 10:53 am

bittibuddha
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Registered: 12/22/2011
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Old clear plastic storage bins as cold frames in the garden

I discovered last season that upended clear and opaque plastic bins make exemplary cold frames for growing things in the garden in cool weather. 

Because I have lead a craft-centric life for many years, I have close to two dozen large stackable clear plastic tote bins that have been used to store fabric and crafting supplies. The lids tend to wander off and crack more quickly than the bins themselves, however, so they were no longer suitable for their original purpose.

I brought them out to the garden, and rather than use them as containers for plants, I propped them over some seedling lettuces, letting just a crack of space show through at the bottom. I anchored the bins down from blowing away with the wind with a few large flat rocks on the sides, and voila! in just a few days, the lettuce had grown much hardier with the protection from the cold. 

Hope this is helpful to any of you gardeners!

Karen

Last edited by bittibuddha (01/30/2012 1:05 pm)

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#2 01/30/2012 12:59 pm

Beekissed
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From: Mountains of WV
Registered: 07/11/2008
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Re: Old clear plastic storage bins as cold frames in the garden

That is an excellent and useful repurposing!!!!  Kudos for the great idea....am storing that one for later use.  Reusable and can be used for other things when not being used as a cold frame....LOVE those kind of ideas.  Just might make it in my book......  big_smile


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#3 01/30/2012 7:48 pm

hqueen13
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From: Glen Arm, MD
Registered: 11/23/2011
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Re: Old clear plastic storage bins as cold frames in the garden

OohHHHHHH... I like it!


We get weirder ever year....

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#4 01/30/2012 8:15 pm

hwillm1977
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From: New Brunswick, Canada
Registered: 11/22/2009
Posts: 901
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Re: Old clear plastic storage bins as cold frames in the garden

I think I'm going to try this one  smile  Great idea!


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#5 04/08/2012 9:15 am

mhseesk
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Registered: 04/08/2012
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Re: Old clear plastic storage bins as cold frames in the garden

I think its a great topic. I like it very much. Its so interesting.So i want some information for sharing this side with some of my friend. Thanks.

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#6 04/08/2012 9:16 am

mhseesk
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Registered: 04/08/2012
Posts: 3

Re: Old clear plastic storage bins as cold frames in the garden

Good post. It is really help to us. Its give us lots of interest and pleasure. Its opportunity are so fantastic and working style so speedy. Its really a good article. It gives me lots of pleasure and interest.

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#7 04/22/2012 12:36 pm

peteyfoozer
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From: SE Oregon
Registered: 12/18/2011
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Re: Old clear plastic storage bins as cold frames in the garden

Love it! I used mine, with a top, for a mini green house this year!


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#8 06/14/2012 5:49 am

liudaolunhui
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Registered: 06/14/2012
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Re: Old clear plastic storage bins as cold frames in the garden

That was a great piece of information.Thanks for sharing.

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#9 06/14/2012 11:04 am

elijahboy
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Registered: 07/26/2009
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Re: Old clear plastic storage bins as cold frames in the garden

AND im going to steal your idea because im going to plant pineapples and that would work well in winter to keep them safe


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#10 06/14/2012 3:28 pm

~gd
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Registered: 05/29/2010
Posts: 1534

Re: Old clear plastic storage bins as cold frames in the garden

elijahboy wrote:

AND im going to steal your idea because im going to plant pineapples and that would work well in winter to keep them safe

I am going to throw stones! CLEAR plastic is usually strynene (spelled wrong) it tends to get brittle when exposed to sunlight. The stuff that replaces glass is polycarbonate but expensive for totes. clear plastic soda bottles are PET but that only works well for blow molding. Yep I use stryene for SHORT TERM cold protection but not fpr long.~gd

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