How to Use Cold Frames in Spring

06.06.2023 - 16:37 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren

Eliot Coleman, a pioneer of four-season gardening, wrote that “gardeners should dedicate a monument to the cold frame.” I agree.

If you can’t wait to start growing in the spring but the weather has other ideas, a cold frame is your secret weapon.

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In my area, the typical spring planting date is in the last week of April. But with this handy tool, I’m starting seeds in early March.

Actually, there are some cold-weather-loving crops I grow year round, but I can start just about anything a few weeks early in the spring – even tomatoes and peppers!

A cold frame is indispensable for hardening off plants that you’ve started indoors and for protecting tender crops during a surprise storm.

You can use yours to propagate seeds or to grow plants that can tolerate cooler temperatures.

And using a cold frame in the spring differs from using one in the fall or winter. It’s really the best time of year for using this indispensable “magic box.”

If you’re thinking of putting this tool to work in your garden, here’s what we’re going to talk about to help you make the most of it:

Can’t wait to start? I get it.

After a long winter, there’s nothing more exciting for a garden lover than starting up those seeds, which bring the promise of warmer weather and abundant harvests.

So let’s go!

If you’ve never seen a cold frame before, it’s basically a box with an open bottom and a clear material over the top.

It is a bit like a tiny greenhouse, creating a warmer microclimate inside than the general surrounding climate.

A well-situated and insulated structure can raise the temperature by as