What are Cold Frames?
Lets review; they are used for 3 or the 4 seasons in the following capacities, spring: Before seedlings can be planted outside, they need a transition period of hardening off. This allows them to become acclimated to the outdoors. If plants are moved too abruptly from a warm greenhouse or indoor setting to the exposed garden, they can suffer stunted growth, disease or even death. Cold-frame provides the perfect interim environment while delicate seedlings adjust to the cool weather. It is also possible to start growing cool season crops like radishes or carrots earlier than normal. Though it is common to transplant directly into the garden, you may elect to keep them in the cold frame until harvest maturity is reached. Summer: This is the ideal time for plant propagation. If the proper soil medium is utilized, cold frames can protect environment necessary for rooting of tubers, or evergreen cuttings. Shade may be required during the hottest months. To prevent temperatures from rising t
Cold frames are simple structures used in gardening as a way to extend the growing season. They are made up of many different types of materials, from wood to cement blocks, and topped with a frame of glass, plastic sheeting or Plexiglas. Their function is to provide a warm, insulated, protected place to prepare seedlings sowed indoors for the early spring or fall conditions outside. This process of preparing fragile seedlings for the outdoors is called hardening off by gardeners. Using cold frames can allow a gardener to plant seedlings outside up to four to six weeks before the last frost. Without cold frames, gardeners must wait to plant seeds outdoors until after the last frost to avoid losing them to freezing weather. Cold frames give plants a warm, humidified, protected environment to thrive in. As with nearly any gardening tool, cold frames may be purchased online or at gardening supply stores. For the do-it-yourselfer, a simple wood frame may be constructed, and then topped wit
