cold frame recommendations

[BroadRipple]

The world's most expensive and least efficient home-made cold frame died over the winter. Now I need to buy a replacement - needs to be reasonably OK looking (in full view in tiny garden) and good enough quality to be worth investment. Am also thinking about one of those small coldframe/plant house combos but they ain't purty. Grapes, tell me:
a)any brands you recommend/warn against
b) anything else to bear in mind? Have looked online but would really value your help. I trust you. Maybe too much.

[Bigmallly]

If you are useful at DIY, make one to your own spec, I picked up some windows from a local company and made a couple to match the window size.

[redser]

If you have the money 'super cloches' are great, but very expensive. Happened to pick 3 up second hand for 15 euro

[hamesy]

If you are useful at DIY, make one to your own spec, I picked up some windows from a local company and made a couple to match the window size.

I agree, DIY is the way forward. Plus it will save you a few pence.

[BroadRipple]

No! No no no no no I am not good at DIY. I need to buy one. Anyone, can you recommend personally a company who sells this kind of thing, even if not an actual model of cold-frame/growhouse? please?

[veggiechicken]

Somehow, I knew you were going to say that, BR! I'd think the same way unless I could find a tame DIYer to build it for me. I rather like the look of those tall growhouses but I can't remember at the mo who makes them.... give me time!

[BroadRipple]

Thank you for understanding...DIY is definitely not one of my talents...

[veggiechicken]

Nor mine !! I have lots of ideas (most of them totally impractical) but haven't a clue how to actually make them - but I do like delegating

[BroadRipple]

oh me too. if you could see me actually trying to act on one of my ideas - the netting tied to the trellis, the diy fruit cage - you would laugh until you, er, created nitrogenous accelerant for your compost.

[Tripmeup]

I got one that you put together ( fairly straightforward) from these Selections - Picking the best

Gardman Wood and Polycarbonate Growhouse

[Bigmallly]

Ok BR, I get the message, you don't do DIY so I found you this little helper in the sale.

Keter Cold Frame from Homebase.co.uk

[redser]

Ok BR, I get the message, you don't do DIY so I found you this little helper in the sale.

Keter Cold Frame from Homebase.co.uk

I actually have one of those. Picked it up for 5 euro second hand and for that money it's great. BUt like the reviews on that page say they are a bit of a fiddle because the doors come off sometimes when you open them and the clips to hold the doors closed also sometimes come off when you open them. But it does the job and is very sturdy in wind once you have it set up.

Here's a link to the super cloches I mentioned ...
Longrow Super Cloche - Harrod Horticultural (UK)

They are brilliant. But they are a cloche not a cold frame so the height isnt great. But I raised alot of seedlings under them and the difference compared to stuff sown outside was amazing. Great for covering salad and carrots.

[BroadRipple]

Thank you for all your help, grapes...I have spent pathetic amounts of time browsing online, imagining the fun I could have with a growhouse, facing the fact that, because it's going to be about the most visible thing in my garden, I can't buy cheap and horrible-looking...and have come down to a choice of 2favourites, i.e. either:Buy Double lid cold frame: Delivery by Crocus.co.uk
or, controversially, poshly and fairly unaffordably, Buy Set of two cold frames: Delivery by Crocus.co.uk
Any thoughts?
By the way, DIY grapes, I humbly tried to find a big sheet o'polycarbonate/whatever to put on top of my existing cold-frame shell, and you wouldn't believe how hard it is to buy nearish where I live. And to buy online, plus delivery, I could get half a new cold frame. So there we go. Make do and mend ain't working.

[Bigmallly]

If your thinking of spending that sort of cash BR, I would be tempted to go for something more substantial.

Haxnicks Acacia Hardwood Plant House, Cold frame: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

[redser]

Are you close to a B&Q? I know they stock sheets