We dutifully prune our fruit trees and our rose bushes, but not all of us are taking the same care with our tomatoes.We link to vendors to help you find re
12.06.2023 - 01:03 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren
How to Create a Hotbed Garden to Extend Your Growing SeasonTunnels and cold frames can only get you so far.
If you really want to extend your growing season and increase the number of different types of crops you can grow, it’s time to level up with a hotbed.
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I like to imagine that some gardeners centuries back noticed how hot a manure pile can get, and they had a lightbulb moment – or maybe an oil lamp moment?
That natural heat offers a darn good way to keep plants warmer during the cool months. And if you happen to have horses, chickens, or cattle, or know someone who does, it’s also pretty much free.
Of course, the process has been refined over time and there are modern tools you can use to make your hotbed even more efficient, but the fundamentals remain the same.
If you’re dreaming of fresh veggies in winter or having the ability to start your seeds earlier by a month or more, you’re going to love your new hotbed.
To help make your warm and burgeoning dreams a reality, here’s what we’re going to discuss:
The process of building a hotbed isn’t that complicated and the time it adds onto your growing season is invaluable. Ready to heat things up? Here we go!
What Is a Hotbed?If you’ve ever had a thriving compost pile, then you already know that decomposing matter generates heat.
A hotbed harnesses this heat to keep your winter crops warm and toasty. You can put any type of decomposing matter to work this way, but most gardeners stick with decaying compost or manure.
Some barns that support a lot of livestock will generate large manure piles.
If you walk past one of these piles, you’ll notice that the snow melts off
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