Extend Your Growing Season with Cold Frames

Frost-proof your garden and enjoy fresh produce longer with easy-to-build cold frames!

If you want to keep harvesting vegetables or protect tender plants from frost, using a cold frame is a great way to extend your growing season. Cold frames are simple, box-like structures with a transparent lid that acts like a mini greenhouse, trapping heat and protecting plants from the cold. They’re perfect for growing cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, or radishes long after the first frost arrives. We have several different kinds of cold frames. We use some to winter over delicate small plants, or cuttings that were taken so late in the season that they will need some protection. Two small ones sit in the vegetable garden. The squash starts there. Once it’s big enough, we lift the lid, attach it to the fence and the vine continues to grow thru the season.

Building a cold frame doesn’t have to be complicated. You can make one using repurposed materials like old windows or clear plastic sheets. Place your cold frame in a sunny spot, and it will absorb sunlight during the day, creating a warm microclimate inside. At night, it will help keep the warmth in, preventing frost from damaging your plants. It’s a great way to get a few more weeks of fresh produce!

Cold frames are also useful for hardening off seedlings in early spring, so they’re a year-round asset in the garden. With a bit of planning, you can keep your garden productive even as temperatures drop. Plus, it’s a fun DIY project that will pay off in fresh vegetables when others have packed up their gardens for the winter.

Leola Young & AI~PA