Growing In A Cold Frame

A transparent outdoor frame that protects plants from cold weather while still letting sunlight in.

Growing in a cold frame.

Most seeds germinate in soil that is around 70 degrees f. Cold frames are also used to harden off seedlings that were started indoors. Gardeners use cold frames to extend their gardening season both in the autumn to protect plants for a few more weeks and in the spring to get a jumpstart on sowing seeds. Cold frames shelter plants from ice snow and treacherous winter winds and heat up the soil whenever the sun shines.

While many people use it to extend the growing season or harden off seedlings started indoors you can also use a cold frame to start germinating and sprouting your spring seeds. This means your plants get natural sunlight and extra warmth. The soil inside a frame will warm up much faster than open ground and because. In most regions a cold frame can be used effectively to grow winter seedlings and crops though if you live in a climate zone below usda zone 6 you may need a more.

Direct sow your lettuce when temperatures inside your cold frame are between 45 f and 65 f. Click here to get the exact variety pack i love. Some crops like it a little warmer or cooler but 70 is a good compromise. It harnesses sunlight to provide a warmer environment than the surrounding garden.

Growing plants in a cold frame requires the constant monitoring of temperature moisture and ventilation. Why use a cold frame. Second the type of cold frame you use dictates how much protection you can offer your plants. However if you re going to grow greens in a cold frame you re meant to harvest them when the leaves are only 3 or so high so you won t be waiting around for the plant to get to full mature size.

A cold frame is a simple box structure with a clear lid that you can open and close. A cold frame is exactly what it sounds like. What is a cold frame. Anything you plant in a cold frame for fall growth takes much longer to grow because the conditions are cooler and there isn t as much sun.

For whatever purpose you want to use a cold frame you need to keep in mind a few basic factors. The bottles are used as the side and the top for the cold frame. First some plants fare better in cold frames than others with low growing cool season plants being the best suited. Here s an answer to the question what vegetables can be started in cold frames as well as tips to successfully grow them.

This will help hold in heat and should extend your growing season without overextending your budget.