These enclosed boxes allow for us to harness the power of the sun to greatly extend our growing season. Heat enters through the plexiglass windowpane on the top, warming the soil inside. The reflective white paint inside the frames captures even more of the warming UV rays.
Temperature is important to regulate in a cold frame for the gardener doesn’t want extreme heat or frost. One box is used to grow cold hardy plants such as carrots, lettuces, radishes, beets, and other greens. The other box is used to germinate seeds that require cold stratification, such as many native plants. We also use it to cold-harden our seedlings before planting outside.
Cold frame boxes can be set up using recycled materials and don’t have to be attached to any existing garden. Simply place along the sunny side of a house and enjoy fresh, homegrown produce year-round.