What Is a Cold Frame Greenhouse?
Upgrade your gardening game.
Whether you’re a green thumb gardening expert, or just getting into the growing hobby, a cold frame greenhouse is a great structure to have with your garden. Fortunately, cold frame greenhouses are inexpensive and easy to set up. Read more to discover what is a cold frame greenhouse.
What Is a Cold Frame Greenhouse?
A cold frame is exactly what it sounds like – a bare outdoor frame, with a transparent cover that protects plants from extreme weather while still letting in sunlight. The canvas uses solar energy and insulation to create a stable climate within your greenhouse garden.
Is a Cold Frame the Right Greenhouse for Your Environment?
In most regions, a cold frame can be used effectively to grow winter seedlings and crops by harnessing natural sunlight and warmth they wouldn’t otherwise receive in the open. According to the USDA Plant Hardiness map that displays an area’s average low temperature, if you live in a climate zone below USDA Zone 6, you may need a more fortified version of a cold frame greenhouse.
Tip!
Although most winter crops are at least a little bit frost tolerant, they don’t grow when it is under 40 degrees outside. They’ll appreciate the cover of your cold frame staying on any time the weather is below 50 degrees. Alternatively, cool weather crops don’t like it hot. If the thermostat says 50 degrees or warmer, crack the cover or take it off completely.
Ensure your cold frame greenhouse stays at the right temperature with the addition of an outdoor thermometer.
There are several tools for indoor gardening especially in a structure as exposed as a cold frame greenhouse that can help your plants thrive. If you are unable to construct your cold frame greenhouse in an area with the most light, you can add indoor grow lights to promote heat. For pruning in your cold frame greenhouse, gardening tools such as trowels, sheers, and watering cans are also available. If you’re new to gardening and starting from scratch, Wayfair offers several indoor grow kits that contain everything you need to start your cold frame greenhouse.
Now that you can answer the questions, “what is a cold frame greenhouse?”, you can get started on your next indoor gardening project right away. Be sure to check out all of our cold frame greenhouses and other greenhouse options below.
