Building A Cold Frame

Seeds of Gourmet Lettuce Blend, Bloomsdale spinach, Short-N-Sweet carrot, Detroit Dark Red beet,
and Cherry Belle radish laid out for planting in the cold frame.

Thanks to my father-in-law for the free-to-us
discarded window!

Winter has not been kind to southern gardens this year; green edibles in our veggie patch did not survive January, and the forecast for what's to come indicates more frigid weather.  Though we may still get snow, under a cold frame vegetables are getting an early start on the growing season.  

A cold frame is a bottomless box with a top that admits light, providing the benefits of a greenhouse on a convenient scale.  We used 2"x12"s treated with wood preservative to discourage rot; total dimensions are 68" x 46".  The lid is hinged to help with ventilation.  The cold frame is situated on the sunny south side of our barn.

The cold frame is 12" high in front, 18" high in back to help with
water drainage and to catch slanted rays of winter sun.

Fitted with the window on top.

Potting mix 8" deep fills the inside.  Even on a cold cloudy day,
soil inside the cold frame feels warm.