Heating My Coldframe with a SlowCooker & Planting My Front Pots

[@DavidMFChapman]

The slow cooker is a brilliant idea! Do you put any liquid in? It might stabilize the temperature better. Necessity is the mother of invention!

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

I can’t believe I didn’t make that clear! It was full of water. Thanks for asking.

[@DavidMFChapman]

@@PrairiePlantgirl my wife says I don’t listen-at least I think that’s what she said ;)

[@rieriec.36]

I mean..who would run a Slow cooker dry?.. I'm just saying

[@alibali672]

​@@rieriec.36It creates a lot of steam and so if using it as an indoor heater, it makes the room steamy and prone to mold. It would be great to use it without anything in it as a cheap way of heating, but could it damage the crock pot?

[@alidolloso1704]

Great figures for a slow cooker, thanks for carrying out experiments and sharing. I'm in UK, energy crisis and heating is pricey. I've been recently making chillies and curries, bread and cakes in my slow cooker. Just now had the idea of using the slow cooker to heat up my small bedroom as we are heading for a cold spell. Typed this in and found your chanmel, you were the only one doing it. Then I had another idea, I can use the hot water from it to fill up my hot water bottles as the electric kettle is also expensive. For those really struggling they could boil eggs, cook oatmeal or beans in little tins with lids, while heating a tiny room and having a supply of hot water. Your pansies are lovely.

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Cooking and heating at the same time is a great use of your energy supply.

[@Pixieworksstudio]

what an absolutely brill idea!

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

I was skeptic all, but it worked

[@daleslater6999]

Use swimming pool filter sand. It holds the heat better than water, and doesn't evaporate.

[@johnjude2685]

You dress your door way so beautiful. The slow cooker sounds like a great heating aid. I'm zone 6 Ohio and after Sunday daytime or weather looks like tomatoes time, But I'll only plant 5-7 and hold most inside another week plus. Thanks for showing us Lady Thanks

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Our weather looks like it is taking a turn in the right direction finally. I like your plan to just put out a few plants at a time until you are sure the weather is safe.

[@mauricebrown9094]

You really are having a horrid spring girl. The crock pot idea is a good one. Well done. I hope this means your summer will be longer than normal.. The leaves of the old Oak tree where I live are just starting to fall off in the breeze, soon be fire lighting season.

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

It has warmed up the last two days and the long range forecast is looking to stay above freezing. I’m hoping we are finally leaving winter behind here. I washed out the crock pot and put the frost blanket back in the shed. Hopefully I can finally get some cabbage and onions in the ground.

[@ScottHebert604]

the slow cooker hahah too funny, grate idea

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

It worked surprisingly well.

[@lrrerh8090]

Good stuff! Interesting experiment that worked well. Good to know. Thanks PPG!

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

I was not too sure about this, but it seemed to work.

[@thisismelonville9147]

a related method that I saw on another video was using a fish tank heater in a 5 gal. pail. I meant to try that in my own hoop house but discovered my husband had gotten rid of all his aquarium equipment from storage. Doh! :D

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

I have seen that as well. I just don’t have an aquarium heater. I’ve also heard a heated bird bath. The one I have wasn’t cutting it. Another one is a heated dog bowl. We have a large one of those , but the dog prefers using it to the one inside, so I didn’t feel I could borrow it.

[@Trendlespin]

I wonder how big of an area is your cold frame? Thanks for the tips.

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

That coldframe was 6 feet wide by 8 feet long and 6 feet tall I believe. It may have been 9 feet long. I have built a greenhouse now so I don’t have the coldframe up.

[@leighbruce3661]

Your dog is so cute and i see helps in the gatden lol Does your partner also garden too?

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Buster dog loves to be out helping in the garden and is such a good dog. He doesn’t dig or harm the plants. My husband is more of an indoors guy 😀.

[@kuiperbeltdropout8791]

This is a good idea, why didn't you cook a meal?

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Maybe next time

[@kuiperbeltdropout8791]

Nothing better than walking into a greenhouse that smells like pulled pork

[@valoriegriego5212]

It's nice to see you were able to put some of you babies in their planters. 🙂 Those pansies are beautiful!👍 Can't wait to see it all grown out.🙂 I think I will try growing grasses next year...like your Bunny Tail grass.🙂 Wow, the slow cooker heater works. Good idea to search yard sales for one. I really need to learn how to use frost blankets, cold frames, etc. Do you already have a video on when and how to use them? It's always nice to get a glimpse of Mr. Buster. I think I heard him at the door wanting to join his mom on planting out those planters.😄 Wishing you spring weather so we can see you having even more fun planting in the garden.🙂❤

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

I have a couple of videos going over some of my ways of protecting my garden from cold and pests. This kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJa3pGeVi6ufhqc is one from a few years ago. You have good ears. Buster was outside with me when I was planting and was whining a bit in the background. He wanted to explore further 😀.

[@SimplyGarden]

I'm so glad that it worked for you. I too have gotten up at three in morning to check temperature outside. And yes, I've had to run out to throw some old blankets and tarps over plants because the weather suddenly got colder than told. The crazy life of us dedicated gardeners. Thank you for sharing

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

After all these years I am still surprised about how weather dominates my thoughts in spring and autumn.

[@SimplyGarden]

@@PrairiePlantgirl hah! I totally get it 😳😊

[@chezgiardino]

Great idea! Now you have to just research " best breakfasts to make with a slow cooker" and you're set 😉 Your flowers seedlings looks great

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

That would be a lot of breakfast in that slow cooker 😀. Hopefully I’m past needing it now, but it sure worked well.

[@trollforge]

But is it really still a cold frame once you put a heater in it? ;)

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Well, it is heated now….🤔