Cold Frame

One of the cold frames in mid-November after 3 snowfalls and several more freezing nights.

I built 2 4x12 garden beds to cover with cold frames for winter harvests. Each bed was made with 2x6 cedar planks because I didn’t want the pressurized wood to leak chemicals into my soil. I hammered 18 inch sections of rebar 1 foot into the ground to hold my 6 foot long sprinkler tube hoops in place. I then covered with 4 mil clear plastic which is clamped to the cedar frame. The ends of the plastic should be rolled up daily in order for the heat to escape during the day. Fried plants are just as dead as frozen ones.

According to research for our area, the bed should be no wider than 4 feet with the top arch of the cover approximately 4 feet high. (To make it 4 feet high use 6 feet lengths of sprinkler hose held in place with the rebar)

Christmas lights can be added under the plastic for added heat on cold nights. You could also cover with blankets. Make sure you remove the blankets in the morning so your plants don’t fry during daylight.

For irrigation, I added a 1/4 inch soaker hose that extends long ways multiple times. I also divided the beds into 1x4 sections with yarn so it was easier to keep the plants labeled.