Cold Frame and hardening off question

[Scottishnewbie]

My husband built me a wooden coldframe with an old double glazed window as it's roof.

I'm just starting to harden off courgettes and pumkins from the greenhouse and am putting them on the patio in the daytime and back in the (heated) greenhouse at night.

My question is, rather than all this lifting in an out every day, can I just pop them in the cold frame as long as I close the lid at night for the first 7-10 days? I'm not sure if that'll keep them warm enough.

Thanks folks

Laura

[emilymup]

Hi Scottishnewbie! I moved my squashes and courgettes into the coldframe today as it was lovely and sunny and closed the coldframes tonight. We are not in danger of a frost down here at the moment so will keep them in there until planted out - but I am aware that you are alot further north. If it does turn much colder I will probably cover the coldframes to insulate them a little more at night.

[Scottishnewbie]

Thanks emilymup. I'm not sure if we are finished our night frosts yet, i know it's to go to 3 or 4 degrees over the next few night, so maybe it is still toocold. Can i ask, how do you insulate - just fleece or something else?

[amandaandherveg]

Hey SN

I'm just a bit further up the road from you in the Mearns and all of my courgettes, cucumbers, pumpkins, etc have been in the unheated GH for quite some time now and don't appear to be sulking with me. I watch the weather forecast like a hawk though.

[emilymup]

You could just put fleece over the plants themselves or cover the glass with something a bit more substantial like an old blanket etc!

[Scottishnewbie]

Never thought of an old blanket - great idea! Having horses there are always old horse rugs that should be chucked out but that I'm sure "will come in handy" .....so at last a job for them! Brilliant - many thanks