What is a Cold Frame?
Are you a backyard gardener? Want to have longer growing seasons? Then a cold frame is the way to go. It is an open bottom box with a clear top in order to maximize the amount of sunlight to reach your plants. This is great in chilly seasons so that your plants can stay warm. Whether you are trying to sprout your seedlings in early spring to get a head start in the growing process; versus extending the plant life during late fall, a cold frame can be used to help protect these plants from the cold harsh weather. It is a useful tool for season extension!
How is a Cold Frame Built?
For our garden, our cold frame was built from a salvaged window. We built the box to fit the size of the window. Although, the base of a cold frame is typically made from wood (for ours it was), it can be built from different types of material. The frame can also be created using bricks, straw or completely of the clear material weather glass or plastic.
What Type of Crops Can You Grow in Your Cold Frame?
It depends on the season.
Early Spring
Lettuces
Spinach
Radishes
Peas
Carrots
Beets
Leeks
Late Summer
Spinach
Kale
Arugula
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Peppers
Note: The crops are planted in the late summer and made to last in the late fall.
So What’s The Difference Between a Cold Frame And a Greenhouse?
While they carry out similar functions, a cold frame is smaller and typically used for backyard gardening or small scale farm projects because you can generally move it around.
Perfect for backyard gardeners!
Reference:
https://www.finegardening.com/article/4-ways-to-use-a-cold-frame