Cold Frame
for
Winter Farming



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a113/SSanguine/coldframe.jpg


Above is a quick painting that I did to give you a better idea of what a cold frame box looks like. Different pieces are described below.


Cold frames are great to have year round. During springtime they can be used for starting seeds. Fall and winter times you can have a steady supply of your favorite cold tolerant crops like spinach, lettuce, and cabbage.

The easiest way to start your seedlings is to put them in seperate pots for easy management. If you are interested in raising a fall or winter garden, dig out the bed of your cold frame 4-6 inches and fill with good garden soil enriched with compost, manure, etc.

Buidling the Cold Frame

Cold frames should always face south for greatest exposure to the sun, if this is not possible the second choice is to face the west.

Always make the back of the frame higher than the front by a few inches to allow rain and melting snow to properly drain off.

Typical measurements of the frame are 3x6ft with a 15inch height in back and 9 inches in front.

Use 2" boards or 3/4" exterior plywood for main frame
Use 2x3 lumber for sash.
Glass* or plastic for windows
Removable Pin Hinges
Ventilation Prop
**Old Storm windows can be used for top +Timesaver

Set the frame 1-2 inches below ground level. The best lumber to use is a rot resistant species such as redwood or cypress. Most any other wood can serve the same purpose as long as they have been treated with a copper-nenaphthenate. Wood preservatives such as creosote and pentachorlophenol are toxic to plants shouldn't be used.

On a sunny day raise the sash for ventilation, very high temperatures could cause delicate seedlings to die, but be sure to close sash at night so plants do not freeze. On a very cold night cover your cold frame with burlap, hay, an old blanket, etc. to help with insulation. During very wet weather you should cover frame with an extra tarp or plastic sheet. Place a thermometer in your cold frame, ideal temperatures are 65-75 degrees fahrenheit during the day and 55-65 degrees at night.


To a Bountiful Winter Harvest
Cheers!
:cheers:

bump bump bump and a bump bump bump!

Thanks for posting this. I am in Zone 7, so I should be able to do a lot with something like that.

I'm in the process of designing a double (or maybe triple) layer greenhouse. But even with two or three layers I'll probably have to spend pretty penny to heat it in the winter when the temperature dips to -30°C.

Sounds like too maintenance intensive.

Better to do underground gardening, Like forestiere in his underground gardens.

Or, you can rib the tubes out of junk air conditioners, and put them in the ground, they act as a heat transfer. I forget the technical name, but it's a good technique.

2005? Jeezus, this thread is old.

Sounds like too maintenance intensive.

Better to do underground gardening, Like forestiere in his underground gardens.

Or, you can rib the tubes out of junk air conditioners, and put them in the ground, they act as a heat transfer. I forget the technical name, but it's a good technique.

2005? Jeezus, this thread is old.

Old but relative :) I noticed that people re getting more and more into growing their own gardens and what not, so I bumped my old threads up ;)