Get A Running Start On Your Garden Using A Cold Frame Greenhouse
A cold frame greenhouse is a fantastic way to lengthen the gardening season and to provide a protected setting for your plants. These small growing boxes are a great addition to any backyard, even if you have a regular greenhouse. They are an excellent location for your hothouse plants to adjust to the outside environment prior to planting them. Moreover, they’re ideal for starting seedlings in the springtime.
A cold frame greenhouse is essentially a wooden box without a bottom measuring around a foot in height which can be either placed on the ground or sunk in several inches. If you want to sow your plants directly within the structure, then put in about four or five inches of compost and topsoil. It is possible to make it any size you like, but be certain you can get at all the plants inside it. A cold frame depends completely on the sun as its heat source, therefore ensure that you place it in a secluded area that gets lots of sunshine and is protected from the wind.
The most critical aspect of a cold frame is the sloping roof, which is made of transparent or translucent material that allows in warmth from the sun. Discarded windows make great covers, but you can choose any kind of see-through, rigid plastic or film; just make certain that the cover can be adjusted in order to allow proper ventilation.
A hotbed is a kind of cold frame that has a supply of heat within it, which can be a thermostatically controlled electric heating cable, an incandescent light bulb and even manure. Any of those sources of heat will prevent your plants from freezing even if outdoor temperatures drop to approximately 15 degrees F.
You don’t need to construct your own cold frame if you’re not inclined to DIY projects. A cold frame greenhouse is basically a miniature greenhouse, and you can purchase these all ready to go at a number of stores and on the internet. These products are lightweight yet durable, and can be effortlessly relocated as needed. They are likely to be taller than cold frames and are manufactured from translucent plastic which is typically double-walled to provide insulation, and there are hinges on the roof for quick access.
You may wish to use your cold frame greenhouse for getting a head start on hardier annuals and early salad greens. It’s also a great situation to acclimatize seedlings before planting them in the garden. When the weather warms up, you’ll be able to make use of it to root cuttings, to start less sturdy annuals and also to sprout seeds. You can also sow cold-weather crops in your cold frame in the fall so you will be able to enjoy fresh root vegetables and greens through the cold months of winter.
If plan on growing plants inside your home, you’ll need to make sure you have adequate indoor greenhouse lighting for their needs. Click here to find out more about setting up an indoor greenhouse right in your own home.
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