A cold frame greenhouse is a great way to lengthen the growing season and to provide a protected environment for your plants. These compact growing structures are a great addition to any backyard, even if you have a conventional greenhouse. They're an excellent location for your greenhouse plants to adjust to the outside environment prior to planting them. Furthermore, they're just the thing for starting seedlings in the springtime.

A cold frame greenhouse is basically a bottomless wooden box measuring around a foot in height that is either placed on the ground or sunk in several inches. If you would like to sow your plants directly into the structure, then add about four or five inches of topsoil and compost. You'll be able to make it any dimensions you like, but be certain you can get at all the plants inside it. A cold frame depends completely on the sun's rays for its heat, so you should situate it in a secluded corner that receives plenty of sun and is protected from the wind.

The most critical part of a cold frame is the sloping roof, which is made of clear or semi-transparent material that lets in heat from the sun. Old windows make perfect covers, but you can use any type of transparent, rigid plastic or film; simply be certain that the cover can be adjusted in order to allow adequate exposure to air.

A hotbed is a type of cold frame which has a supply of heat inside it, which could be a heating cable controlled by thermostat, an incandescent light bulb or even manure. Each of those sources of heat will keep your plants from freezing even if outdoor temperatures dip to nearly 15 degrees F.

You don't need to build your own cold frame if you're not handy with a hammer. A cold frame greenhouse is really a miniature greenhouse, and you can get these in kits at various stores and online merchants. These products are lightweight but sturdy, and may be effortlessly relocated as needed. They are likely to be taller than cold frames and are produced from translucent plastic which is typically double-walled to provide insulation, and there are hinges on the roof for easy access.

You may wish to use a cold frame greenhouse for starting hardier annuals and early salad greens. It's also the perfect spot to adapt seedlings before transplanting them into the ground. When the outdoor temperatures rise, you can use it for rooting cuttings, to start less sturdy annuals and to sprout seeds. You might also sow winter vegetables in your cold frame during the fall so you will be able to have fresh greens and root vegetables during the winter time.

An indoor greenhouse is easy to set up and maintain, and is available in an assortment of sizes and materials to suit every home and budget. You can make a homemade indoor greenhouse, or buy one of the many pre-fab structures available.

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