A cold frame—a low, bottomless box with a clear glass or plastic absolute best, that is set on the floor or over a sunken bed—can lengthen the expanding season by way of 1 to a couple of months.
Cold frames can be used for year-round gardening:
• Spring: Use the frame to start out seeds early and harden off seedlings.
• Summer season: Use the frame as a nursery bed to start out fall crops from seed: simply remove the lid.
• Autumn: Prolong the summer season harvest by way of protecting low-growing warm-weather crops or expanding compact cool-weather crops.
• Wintry climate: Prolong the harvest of autumn crops and broaden cool-weather crops in cold local weather.
Making a Cold Frame
A cold frame consists of a bottomless wood, masonry, or plastic box—the sides can be wood, cinder block, or brick with a clear plastic or glass absolute best. Compile a wood-sided cold frame with 2-by-8- or 2-by-10-inch boards forming a box. The sphere can sit down down on a raised bed or directly on the floor or over a sunken garden bed. The very best or duvet can be made from 1-by-3-inch boards with one or two layers of polyethylene plastic or glass–two layers offer higher insulation from cold local weather. Earlier typhoon house home windows make very good tops.
Portable cold frames steadily have aluminum frames and clear plastic or polyethylene facets. Small- to medium-size cold frame kits are fairly inexpensive and easy to collect and disassemble for storage. Portable frames with clear covers and facets are comprised of acrylic, Plexiglas, UV-stabilized polyethylene hooked as much as a frame, or glass. Polyethylene and plastic are less expensive than glass alternatively usually final no more than 5 seasons—they turn into worse when exposed to the sun.
Polyethylene transmits 90 % of available sunlight and protects plants to 25°F.
Siting a Cold Frame
Cold frames will have to be slanted so that plants download the maximum sun exposure. (Throughout the northern hemisphere, the frame will have to face south.) The once more wall will have to be a few inches higher than the doorway wall. A rule of thumb is with the intention to upload 20 ranges to your latitude to succeed in at the most productive standpoint from the horizon (for example, whilst you live at the 40-degree parallel, the very best will have to slant 60 ranges from the horizon).
Very good drainage is essential for a cold frame. Make certain that the internet web page is well-drained; do not allow water to stand inside of a cold frame–roots will drown.
Air glide is vital. A thermometer inside of is advisable. The frame absolute best will have to be opened when the temperature inside of reaches 65° to 75°F. Direct sunlight can overheat a cold frame and harm plants.
Where winters are very cold, a cold frame can be insulated. Line the sides of the frame with 2-inch-thick foam sheets and use double-thick plastic or glass for the very best.
For additonal tips about expanding vegetables in cold frames, click on on on the ones articles:
Making a Cold Frame
Easiest Cold Frame Web site
Cold Frame Calendar
Cold Frames for Autumn and Wintry climate Crops
