How to Use a Cold Frame

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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A cold frame is a solid-sided structure with a hinged or removable clear top--called a "light"--that permits sunlight to penetrate into the structure. Cold frames are usually rectangular in shape and can be any size, although most are at least 2 by 4 feet with 12-inch sides. Cold frames are used in gardens to extend the growing season.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Raise or remove the light from the cold frame structure to gain access to the interior space. Depending on the cold frame, you may garden directly in prepared soil, or you may use the space in the cold frame to place potted plants that need to be hardened off.

Step2

Conduct your garden work in the cold frame interior as you would in any garden. Plant seeds, do weeding, fertilize or water as needed.

Step3

Lower or replace the light on the cold frame structure when you are done with your garden tasks.

Step4

Remember that, depending on what garden zone you are in, the temperatures can fluctuate widely over the course of a day. It is possible that the temperatures in the cold frame may get too hot for your plants, killing them or stunting their growth. You should prop the light up an inch or two to permit excess heat to escape to prevent this from happening.

Step5

Realize that even if it is very cold outside of the cold frame, the concentration of sunlight in the enclosed interior of the cold frame will raise temperatures to the point that soil moisture evaporation will occur more rapidly than in an open garden bed. Monitor the soil moisture and water as needed, which will likely be more frequently than in an open garden.

Tips & Warnings

Hardening plants is the process of acclimating young plants, usually seedlings, to more rugged outdoor conditions by gradually exposing them to colder temperatures.
Garden supply stores and sites sell hydraulic arms that you can attach to your cold frame that raise and lower the light depending on the internal cold frame temperature. They can be pricey at around $50 a pop, but they may be worth it if you won't be around to manually raise and lower the light on sunny days.