Cold Frame Season - 2019

OhioGardener 10/18/2019, 5:32 pm

Fall is here, and several heavy frosts have ended the summer garden season. The Fall/Winter Cold Frame Season has begun. Cleaned out the peppers bed, and set up the cold frame today. Planted Black Simpson Lettuce, Perpetual Spinach, and Champion Radish seeds in the cold frame. One section isn't planted yet, and will have to decide what to put in there.

countrynaturals 10/18/2019, 5:58 pm

What's a "cold frame"? yahoo

OhioGardener 10/19/2019, 10:33 am

countrynaturals wrote:What's a "cold frame"?

You won't see a cold frame anywhere near the Mouse House! But, here is the northland they are very useful. They are also known as “the poor man’s greenhouse”.

**Scorpio Rising** 10/19/2019, 1:13 pm

I have a 4x4 cold frame in my garage, but had to have some tiling done to alleviate the flooding in my back yard, so waiting to place it...can’t wait though!

OhioGardener 12/21/2019, 10:45 am

While visiting a friend yesterday to drop of some Christmas goodies, he had to show me his "new" cold frame on one of the raised beds. He found an old 25 gallon aquarium in the thrift shop for $5, and thought it should make a good mini-greenhouse since even the bottom of it was glass. He turned it upside down over some winter greens seedlings, and pushed soil up against the edges of the sides to seal it. Even though we have already had nighttime temps down to 5ºF, the greens are all growing beautifully.

I couldn't believe how simple and inexpensive that was, but it got me to thinking - could the same thing be done using those clear plastic storage bins that are everywhere (including my storage room) would be just as effective? Anyone tried something similar to this? If so, how did it work?

countrynaturals 12/21/2019, 12:41 pm

OhioGardener wrote:While visiting a friend yesterday to drop of some Christmas goodies, he had to show me his "new" cold frame on one of the raised beds. He found an old 25 gallon aquarium in the thrift shop for $5, and thought it should make a good mini-greenhouse since even the bottom of it was glass. He turned it upside down over some winter greens seedlings, and pushed soil up against the edges of the sides to seal it. Even though we have already had nighttime temps down to 5ºF, the greens are all growing beautifully.

I couldn't believe how simple and inexpensive that was, but it got me to thinking - could the same thing be done using those clear plastic storage bins that are everywhere (including my storage room) would be just as effective? Anyone tried something similar to this? If so, how did it work?

My concern would be ventilation. I'm fighting that battle with my inside plants right now, and my plants aren't even covered. Cold Frame Season - 2019 671790

You'd have to take them off and put them back on almost daily -- weather permitting. I've never used a cold frame, so there's a good chance I don't know what I'm talking about. pale

OhioGardener 12/21/2019, 1:00 pm

Yes, CN, you would have to tip it up and put a block or rock under the edge to vent it on sunny days to keep from cooking the plants. And, then remember to close it in the evening when it cools down. My cold frame has an automatic opener on it that lifts a door anytime it gets over 60ºF inside it, and closes when it cools again.

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