Last summer my sweet husband built me a cold frame! Isn’t it pretty? What’s in my spring cold frame? Read on!
He made it nice and deep, long enough to house lots of plants, and made an ingenious sliding plastic panel top to cover it.
What I especially like about the sliding, lightweight top is that it can be easily removed and left completely off in the warmer months, but on a day like we are having here today, where heavy rains and storms are expected, I can quickly slide the panels back in and protect my tender crops from damage.
What is a Cold Frame?
If you’re not familiar with what a cold frame is, it’s something like a tiny greenhouse that keeps your colder weather or late season crops covered through the winter and lets you enjoy a longer harvest season.
Likewise, you can plant your cool spring crops like radish, onion, etc, a little earlier.
At the end of the summer, I planted some kohlrabi, Swiss chard, chives, and celery in my cold frame.
Everything survived the winter just fine here in zone 7a. There was not much to harvest, unfortunately. I think my poor soil has the most to do with my plants scant performance. I have since added about 3 inches of beautiful, black compost, so I have high hopes now.
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For my spring cold frame, I have removed the sliding top, and have planted quite a few new things!
I left some of the Swiss chard to see if the warm weather might prompt new growth of tastier leaves. We shall see.
I also direct sowed Winter’s Density romaine lettuce seeds, and Corvair F1 spinach.
Then I also planted seedlings that I raised in my house under a grow light. You can read about how I do that here, it’s fun and easy! I planted bunching onions, Azur Star Kohlrabi, and Fordhook chard.
These are all cool weather tolerant plants that should do well in this early spring through early summer weather.
I love having this little spot to grow things right outside my door. My main veggie garden is set a bit away from the house, so I love being able to step out the door and see beautiful growing things.
Do any of you have cold frame? If so, what do you plant in there this time of year?
You May Also Like to Check Out:
How to Make Beautiful Reclaimed Garden Planters
Homemaking Mama Summer Favorites 2017
My Spring Seed Order and Plans for My Zone 7b Garden
Thanks for stopping by! Dig the Good Life!
Your cold frame looks great!
Well, Maw and me have been in the 3-M mode, moving, mowing and mulching, or maybe the 10 or 12-M mode. She’s been moving stuff from the house to the greenhouse to the beds for a long summers awakeness! I have been moving the mower around the yard after moving goggie dookers out of the way and clippings to her for mulch. I’ve got the neighbor that’s searching for his next ex wife’s maple to work up and move to the shed after I move the seasoned wood over to make room for the fresh. After I move out the old splitter and tiller I’ll have enough room to work on something in the equipment shed, as it was/is/whatever. I don’t know about a whole lot of shaking going on as the old song says BUT there’s a pile of moving going on here. So if you want to watch something move besides your own stuff, come on up. I might even conn Noodle Head into helping!