Connect with us

Green & Energy

Working With A Cold Frame

gardening gloves
A cold frame is a basic miniature greenhouse enclosure that allows you to extend your plants’ growing season. Instead of relying on the ever-changing temperatures of mother nature, you can use one for additional warmth. Unlike true greenhouses, however, cold frames are small and simple enough so that anyone can build one, regardless of skill level. If you are interested in learning more, keep reading and we’ll reveal some essential tips and tricks for working with a cold frame.
How Does It Work?
A cold frame offers a similar effect to a greenhouse. The sun’s UV rays beam down on top of a plastic or glass sheet covering the frame, at which point it absorbs and traps the heat inside. Cold frames can be manufactured in a wide variety of styles and designs, but most of them feature a hinged glass roof with wooden sides. It’s a very simple setup that proves to be extremely effective at capturing thermal energy and trapping it inside for the plants to take advantage of.
The hinged roof on a cold frame allows the gardener to easily move plants back and forth. If you believe your plants are receiving too much warmth during the heat of the day, simply take them out and set them outside the cold frame. Or you can prop open the hinged roof to allow more cool air to come in from the outside.  Some cold frames are built with slide-off roofs where the glass top slides off from its rails. These are just a few of the most common methods of construction for cold frames.
 
Hardening Off
Before moving seedlings from indoors to out in the garden, a cold frame is ideal for ‘hardening off’ your plants. The cold frame acts as a transition from the warmth of the indoors to the colder temperatures outdoors in early spring in colder climates.  Put the plants in your cold frame during the day and bring them indoors at night if cold temperatures or a frost is expected. Do this every day for about a week, and your plants will then be ready to withstand the cooler temperatures in your garden.
Growing Tropical Plants
 
Cold frames will allow you to transition your favorite heat loving houseplants, which are usually tropical plants, from indoors to outdoors.  In the fall, you can use your cold frame to transition them from outdoors to indoors. You have to remember that tropical plants are used to year-round warm temperatures, so it’s imperative that you mimic these conditions.
Increasing Warmth
The secret to using a cold frame is to add as much additional warmth to it as possible. After all, that’s the primary goal of this enclosure, so common sense should tell you that a warmer cold frame is more effective. But how are you supposed to accomplish this? There are a couple of methods for increasing the warmth in a cold frame, but one of the most effective is to add more potting soil around your plants. Extra soil offers more insulation against the temperatures; thus, your plants stay warmer and more comfortable. Some gardeners have also had mixed success using soil warming cables in their cold frames.

Featured images:

    License: Image author owned
    Angela Rivers is a content contributor for Womanswork. Angela likes to write about gardening and other outdoor hobbies. She orders her gardening gloves from Womanswork.com.

    Continue Reading

    Recent Posts

    General2 weeks ago

    Invigorating Your Wheels: Mastering The Art Of Car Painting Techniques

    Have you ever marvelled at the glossy, vibrant colours glossing over cars as they zip past you on a sunny...

    Home Improvement2 weeks ago

    The Ultimate Guide: Preparing For Packers And Movers

    Moving homes is a significant event in everyone’s life that can evoke a myriad of emotions. Excitement, optimism, sadness, and...

    Science2 weeks ago

    The Impact Of Polycarbonate On Eco-Friendly Production: An Exploration Of Sustainability In Design

    Have you ever wondered about the role of modern materials in shifting our society toward more sustainable and ecological ways...

    Law2 months ago

    Understanding the Eligibility Criteria for Indefinite Leave to Remain

    A migrant to the UK has the right to make a permanent move to the country without any immigration restrictions...

    Home Improvement3 months ago

    Mastering The Maintenance: Breaking Down The Basics Of Your Ducted Heating And Cooling System

    Welcome, fellow home enthusiasts! Ever find yourself lost in the labyrinth of your ducted heating and cooling system? Have you...

    Business3 months ago

    The Invisible Hands: Unveiling How Food Distributors Influence the Quality of Our Foods

    Ever found yourself wondering why the tomatoes in your salad taste particularly fresh or why your preferred brand of coffee...

    Marketing3 months ago

    Webflow CMS: A Comprehensive Guide

    Webflow is a powerful tool that allows you to create and manage dynamic websites without needing to code. It’s a...

    Business3 months ago

    The Three Most Important Benefits You Should Offer To Your Employees

    Offering your employees a range of benefits on top of regular salary increases will really help to show that you...

    Business4 months ago

    Business Tips For Protecting Your Finances During A Recession

    In 2024, taking the necessary steps to protect your finances for your business is now more important than ever. The...

    Green & Energy4 months ago

    Air Conditioning Installation: What You Need to Know

    When it comes to getting an air conditioning unit installed, can significantly improve your comfort and home environment, especially during...

    Marketing4 months ago

    Marketing Tips For A Gym Wear Brand

    When starting a gym wear brand, there are a few things you need to do and one of them is...

    General5 months ago

    Social Media Marketing: What Are All The Types?

    Social media marketing is a tool that is a must-have in today’s digital age. it’s very rare that businesses can...

    Business5 months ago

    How To Become A Property Developer

    There are several reasons why an individual will want to become a property developer. One of the main reasons for...

    Business6 months ago

    Remote Delivery Innovations: Case Studies from Leading E-commerce Brands

    People have gone through much change in the past few years when it comes to online shopping. Nowadays, when delivery...

    Business6 months ago

    Why are Brits turning to online-only banks?

    For years, large, conventional banks held all the aces when it comes to citizens’ finances in the UK. HSBC, Lloyds...

    Categories

    Archives

    Trending