The Cold Frame Handbook - for Winter Gardening ~ Hobart and William Smith Colleges

1. THECOLDFRAME
HANDBOOK
HowtoBuildandMaintainaGardenCold
FrameThroughouttheYear
ByDerekWeissH’’12

2. 2
TABLEOFCONTENTS

3. Ǥ

4. –”‘†—…–‹‘ǥǥǤǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤʹ

6. Ǥ ‘™–‘„—‹Ž†ƒ…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡ǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǤǤǤǤǤǥǤǤ͵
ƒǤ ‘—”…‹‰ƒ–‡”‹ƒŽ•
„Ǥ ••‡–‹ƒŽƒ•’‡…–•
…Ǥ Š‡”‡–‘„—‹Ž†

9. Ǥ Šƒ––‘‰”‘™‹›‘—”…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡ǥǥǥǥǥǥǤǤǤǤͷ
ƒǤ ƒŽŽ
„Ǥ ‹–‡”
…Ǥ ’”‹‰

10. Ǥ Š‡ ‘—”‡ƒ•‘Šƒ”˜‡•–ǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǤǤǥǥǤǤǤ͸
ƒǤ

11. †‡ƒŽ‹œ‡†‰‘ƒŽ
„Ǥ …ƒŽ‡‘ˆ’”‘†—…–‹‘
Ǥ

12. ’Ž‹…ƒ–‹‘•‘ˆ…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡‰”‘™‹‰ǥǥǤǤǥǥǤǤǤǤ͹

13. Ǥ ‡ˆ‡”‡…‡•ǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǥǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǤǥͺ

14. Saladgreensandrootvegetablesaretwotraditionalchoicesforgrowinginacoldframebecauseoftheir
coldhardiness. {Lively,Ruth,andEliotColeman.ColdFrameGardening.ǦVegetableGardener.Aug.
1996.http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/2504/coldǦframeǦgardening/page/all};
3
I.Introduction
‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•ƒ”‡ƒ‡ˆˆ‡…–‹˜‡ˆ‘—”Ǧ•‡ƒ•‘‰ƒ”†‡‹‰–‡…Š‹“—‡ǤŠ‡›…ƒ„‡
ƒ†ƒ’–‡†–‘™‘”‹ƒƒ””ƒ›‘ˆ…Ž‹ƒ–‡œ‘‡•ǤŠ‡•›•–‡‹•—•‡†’”‹ƒ”‹Ž›–‘‰”‘™
•ƒŽƒ†‰”‡‡•Ǣ•’‹ƒ…Šǡ…Šƒ”†ǡž…Š‡ǡ…Žƒ›–‘‹ƒǡƒ”—‰—Žƒǡƒ†ƒ˜ƒ”‹‡–›‘ˆŽ‡––—…‡•
‰”‘™™‡ŽŽ‹…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•Ǥ‘™‡˜‡”ǡ‹–…ƒƒŽ•‘„‡—•‡†–‘‰”‘™‘–Š‡”˜‡‰‡–ƒ„Ž‡•
•—…Šƒ••…ƒŽŽ‹‘•ǡ”ƒ†‹•Š‡•ǡ…ƒ””‘–•ǡƒ†Ž‡‡•Ǥ‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•…”‡ƒ–‡ƒ‹•‘Žƒ–‡†™ƒ”ǡ
Š—‹†ǡ…‘–”‘ŽŽ‡†‡˜‹”‘‡–ˆ‘”’Žƒ–•–‘‰”‘™‹†—”‹‰–Š‡Šƒ”•Š‡”–‹‡•‘ˆ–Š‡
›‡ƒ”Ǥ–”ƒ•Ž—…‡––‘’‹•ƒ‰Ž‡†–‘™ƒ”†•–Š‡•‘—–Š‹‘”†‡”–‘…ƒ’–—”‡ƒ•—…Š
•‘Žƒ””ƒ†‹ƒ–‹‘ƒ•’‘••‹„Ž‡–Š”‘—‰Š‘—––Š‡†ƒ›Ǥ‡ˆˆ‡…–‹˜‡…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡‹•’Žƒ–‡†‹
–Š‡‰”‘—†ǡ‹‘”†‡”–‘‹•—Žƒ–‡–Š‡‰”‘—†‹™Š‹…Š–Š‡’Žƒ–•‰”‘™Ǥ
{thegardenerseden.com}

15. 4
II.Howtobuildacoldframe
SourcingMaterials:
‡‘ˆ–Š‡‰”‡ƒ––Š‹‰•ƒ„‘—–…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•‹•–Š‡•‹’Ž‹…‹–›‘ˆ–Š‡‹”…‘…‡’–Ǣ
–Š‡›…ƒ„‡„—‹Ž–ˆ”‘ƒ™‹†‡ƒ””ƒ›‘ˆƒ–‡”‹ƒŽ•Ǥˆˆ‡…–‹˜‡…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•”ƒ‰‡
ƒ›™Š‡”‡ˆ”‘ƒŠ‘Ž‡‹–Š‡‰”‘—†…‘˜‡”‡†™‹–Š’Žƒ•–‹…ǡ–‘ƒ„—”‹‡†™‘‘†‡
•–”—…–—”‡ƒ†‡ˆ”‘”‡Ǧ—•‡†ƒ–‡”‹ƒŽ•ǡ–‘ƒ‹•—Žƒ–‡†”ƒ‹•‡†„‡†—•‹‰”‡…›…Ž‡†
ƒ–‡”‹ƒŽ•Ǥ‘‡™Š‡”‡ƒ”‘—†Ͷǯšͺǯ‹•‹œ‡‹•‰‘‘†–‘ƒš‹‹œ‡‰”‘™‹‰•’ƒ…‡ƒ†
Š‡ƒ–”‡–‡–‹‘Ǥ‘ƒ––‡”™Šƒ–›‘——•‡–‘…‘•–”—…–›‘—”…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡ǡ–Š‡”‡ƒ”‡ƒ
ˆ‡™‡••‡–‹ƒŽƒ•’‡…–•–Šƒ–ƒ‡‰”‘™‹‰‹›‘—”…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡Šƒ’’‡Ǥ
EssentialAspects:
x ‘—–Š‡”ˆƒ…‹‰‰Žƒœ‹‰–‘–ƒ‡‹•‘Žƒ””ƒ†‹ƒ–‹‘
o ƒ„‡ƒ…Š‹‡˜‡†™‹–Š…Ž‡ƒ”’Žƒ•–‹…ǡƒ‘Ž†™‹†‘™ǡƒ‹•—Žƒ–‡†
†‘—„Ž‡Ǧ’ƒ‡Ž’‘Ž›…ƒ”„‘ƒ–‡ǡ‘”ƒ›–Š‹‰‹„‡–™‡‡
x —”‹‡†‹–Š‡‰”‘—†–‘‹•—Žƒ–‡–Š‡‡ƒ”–Š
o Š‘Ž‡‹–Š‡‰”‘—†ǡ‘—†‡†‡ƒ”–Šǡ‘”ƒ„—”‹‡†„‘šǤ
o ‡•––‘‹•—Žƒ–‡„‡‡ƒ–Š–Š‡ˆ”‘•–Ž‹‡‹ˆ’‘••‹„Ž‡
x

16. •—Žƒ–‡†ǡ•‡ƒŽ‡†‡˜‹”‘‡–
o ‡ƒŽ‹‰–Š‡–‘’–‘–Š‡ˆ”ƒ‡‹•˜‹–ƒŽ
o ”‘˜‹†‡•™ƒ”ƒ‹”ǡ‹…”‡ƒ•‡†Š—‹†‹–›ǡƒ†‹•‘Žƒ–‹‘ˆ”‘–Š‡
‡Ž‡‡–•

17. 5
Coldframeconceptusingmoreadvancedmaterials(insulatedglazingandwalls).
Topglazingslopestowardsthesouthtoabsorbsolarradiation.
WheretoBuild:
Š‡Ž‘…ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•Š‘—Ž†„‡‡ƒ•‹Ž›ƒ……‡••‹„Ž‡•‘–Šƒ–›‘—…ƒ
…Š‡…‹–”‡‰—Žƒ”Ž›ƒ†‡‡’ƒ…Ž‘•‡‡›‡‘›‘—”’Žƒ–•ǤŠƒ–„‡‹‰•ƒ‹†ǡ–Š‡•›•–‡‹•
ˆƒ‹”Ž›Ž‘™ƒ‹–‡ƒ…‡Ǥ‘‡™Š‡”‡™‹–Šƒ…Ž‡ƒ”•‘—–Š‡”‡š’‘•—”‡‹•‹†‡ƒŽǡƒ•–Šƒ–
™‹ŽŽƒŽŽ‘™ˆ‘”–Š‡‰”‡ƒ–‡•–ƒ…“—‹•‹–‹‘‘ˆ•‘Žƒ””ƒ†‹ƒ–‹‘Ǥ

18. ƒ††‹–‹‘–‘™‹–‡”
‰”‘™‹‰ǡ…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•…ƒ„‡—•‡†–‘•’”‘—–’Žƒ–•ˆ‘”‰”‘™–Š‹ƒ”‡‰—Žƒ”•—‡”
˜‡‰‡–ƒ„Ž‡‰ƒ”†‡ǡ•‘„—‹Ž†‹‰›‘—”…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡‡ƒ”›‘—”•—‡”‰ƒ”†‡‹•
„‡‡ˆ‹…‹ƒŽǤ

19. 6
III.Whattogrowinyourcoldframe
Fall:
Š‡ˆƒŽŽ‹•–Š‡–‹‡–‘‰”‘™›‘—”Žƒ”‰‡”˜‡‰‡–ƒ„Ž‡•ǡ•—…Šƒ•…ƒ””‘–•ǡŽ‡‡•ǡ
”ƒ†‹•Š‡•ǡ‡–…Ǥǡƒ•–Š‹•™‹ŽŽ„‡–Š‡™ƒ”‡•–‘ˆ–Š‡–Š”‡‡‘ˆˆǦ•‡ƒ•‘•Ǥ‘‰†ƒ›•™‹ŽŽ
ƒŽŽ‘™ˆ‘”‰”‡ƒ–‡”•‘Žƒ””ƒ†‹ƒ–‹‘ƒ„•‘”’–‹‘ƒ†Š‹‰Š‡”‰”‘™‹‰–‡’‡”ƒ–—”‡•
™‹–Š‹–Š‡…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡ǤƒŽƒ†‰”‡‡•™‹ŽŽ–Š”‹˜‡‹–Š‡•‡…‘†‹–‹‘•ƒ•™‡ŽŽǤŠ‹•
‰”‘™‹‰•‡ƒ•‘–›’‹…ƒŽŽ›‰‘‡•ˆ”‘Žƒ–‡—‰—•–—–‹Žƒ”‘—†‡…‡„‡”Ǥ
Winter:
‹–‡”‹•–Š‡Šƒ”•Š‡•–‰”‘™‹‰•‡ƒ•‘ǡ•‘–Š‡Š‡ƒ”–‹‡•–’Žƒ–••Š‘—Ž†„‡
’Žƒ–‡†ǤƒŽƒ†‰”‡‡••—…Šƒ•ƒ”—‰—Žƒǡ•’‹ƒ…Šǡž…Š‡ǡƒ†Ž‡––—…‡•™‹ŽŽ„‡–Š‡‘•–
•—……‡••ˆ—ŽǤ’‹ƒ…Š™‹ŽŽ…‘–‹—‡–‘’”‘†—…‡„‡›‘†–Š‡ˆ‹”•–Šƒ”˜‡•–ǡ„—–‘–Š‡”
•ƒŽƒ†‰”‡‡•™‹ŽŽ”‡“—‹”‡ƒ‘”‡‹–‡•‹˜‡•‡‡†•‡™‹‰”‘–ƒ–‹‘Ǥ‡™‹‰•‡‡†•‹
ƒ—ƒ”›•Š‘—Ž†›‹‡Ž†ƒƒ”…ŠŠƒ”˜‡•–Ǥ
Spring:
’”‹‰–‹‡…ƒ„‡—•‡†–‘’Žƒ–ƒ‘–Š‡””‘—†‘ˆ•ƒŽƒ†‰”‡‡•ǡ‘”–‘•–ƒ”–
•’”‘—–‹‰’Žƒ–•ˆ‘”ƒ•—‡”‰ƒ”†‡Ǥ‡™‹‰•‡‡†•ˆ‘”•—‡”‰ƒ”†‡••Š‘—Ž†
Šƒ’’‡ƒ„‘—–ͷ™‡‡•„‡ˆ‘”‡–Š‡Žƒ•–ˆ”‘•–Ǥ

20. 7
ColdFrameVegetables:
x ƒ””‘–•
x ‡‡•
x ƒ†‹•Š‡•
x ’‹ƒ…Š
x ‡––—…‡•
x ”—‰—Žƒ
x ƒ…Š‡
x Šƒ”†
x ‡‡–‰”‡‡•
x †‹˜‡
x •…ƒ”‘Ž‡
x —”‹’•
x Žƒ›–‘‹ƒ
Somevegetablesthatcanbegrowninyourcoldframe.{Coleman,Eliot. ‘—”Ǧ•‡ƒ•‘ƒ”˜‡•–ǣ
”‰ƒ‹…‡‰‡–ƒ„Ž‡•ˆ”‘‘—”‘‡
ƒ”†‡ŽŽ‡ƒ”ƒ”‘—†.WhiteRiverJunction,VT:
ChelseaGreenPub.,1999.Print}

21. 8
IV.TheFourǦSeasonHarvest
IdealizedGoal:
”‘™‹‰‹ƒ…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡™‹ŽŽ–ƒ‡–‹‡–‘’‡”ˆ‡…–ǡ„—–•—……‡••ˆ—Ž‰”‘™‹‰
•‡ƒ•‘•ƒ”‡‘–Šƒ”†–‘…‘‡„›ǤŠ‡™‹–‡”™‹ŽŽ„‡–Š‡‘•–†‹ˆˆ‹…—Ž–•‡ƒ•‘–‘
’”‘†—…‡ƒ•—……‡••ˆ—Ž…”‘’•‹…‡–Š‡–‡’‡”ƒ–—”‡•ƒ”‡–Š‡…‘Ž†‡•–ǡ†ƒ›•ƒ”‡•Š‘”–‡•–ǡ
ƒ†–Š‡ƒ‰Ž‡‘ˆ–Š‡•—‹•–Š‡Ž‘™‡•–ǡ•‘•‘Žƒ””ƒ†‹ƒ–‹‘™‹ŽŽ„‡†‹ˆˆ‹…—Ž––‘ƒ…“—‹”‡Ǥ
‘‘†–‹‹‰ǡ…ƒ”‡ˆ—Ž’”ƒ…–‹…‡•ǡƒ†Ž‡ƒ”‹‰ˆ”‘’”‡˜‹‘—•›‡ƒ”•…ƒ›‹‡Ž†ƒ
•—……‡••ˆ—ŽŠƒ”˜‡•–Ǥ

22. ˜‡”›Šƒ”•ŠŽ›…‘Ž†…‘†‹–‹‘•ǡ–Š‡ƒ††‹–‹‘‘ˆƒŠ‡ƒ–‹‰…‘‹Ž–‘
–Š‡•‘‹Ž™‹ŽŽ–—”›‘—”…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡‹–‘ƒŠ‡ƒ–„‘šƒ†ƒŽŽ‘™‘”‡…‘•‹•–‡–•—……‡••ǡ
„—––Šƒ–”‡“—‹”‡•‡Ž‡…–”‹…‹–›ǤŠ‹Ž‡ƒ‹–ƒ‹‹‰ƒ™ƒ”‡˜‹”‘‡–‹•‡••‡–‹ƒŽǡƒ
‡“—ƒŽ‹’‘”–ƒ––ƒ•‹•ƒ‹‰•—”‡‹–†‘‡•ǯ–‰‡––‘‘™ƒ”ǤŠ‹•…ƒ„‡ƒ…Š‹‡˜‡†
„›ƒ—ƒŽŽ›˜‡–‹‰›‘—”ˆ”ƒ‡‘™ƒ”ƒ†Ȁ‘”•—›†ƒ›•ǡ‘”„›–Š‡—•‡‘ˆƒ
•‘Žƒ”Ǧ˜‡–‹‰Ǧƒ”ǡ™Š‹…Šƒ—–‘ƒ–‹…ƒŽŽ›‘’‡•ƒ†˜‡–•–Š‡ˆ”ƒ‡™Š‡–Š‡ƒ‹”‰‡–•
–‘‘™ƒ”Ǥ
ƒŽŽ™‹ŽŽ„‡–Š‡‘•–„‘—–‹ˆ—Ž…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•‡ƒ•‘•‹…‡–Š‡†ƒ›•ƒ”‡•–‹ŽŽˆƒ‹”Ž›
Ž‘‰ǡƒ†–Š‡‰”‘—†™‹ŽŽ•–‹ŽŽ„‡™ƒ”ˆ”‘–Š‡•—‡”ǤŠ‡•’”‹‰‹•ƒ‰‘‘†–‹‡
ˆ‘”’‘––‡†’Žƒ–•‹–Š‡…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡Ǣ–Š‡‡ƒ”–Š™‹ŽŽ•–‹ŽŽ„‡…‘Ž†ˆ”‘–Š‡™‹–‡”ǡ•‘
•’”‘—–‹‰•—‡”’Žƒ–•‹’‘–•™‹ŽŽ„‡–Š‡‘•–•—……‡••ˆ—Ž‡–Š‘†Ǥ
ScaleofProduction:
‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•ƒ”‡–”ƒ†‹–‹‘ƒŽŽ›—•‡†–‘’”‘†—…‡•ƒŽƒ†‰”‡‡•ǡ•‘–Šƒ–‹•–Š‡
”‡Žƒ–‹˜‡—‹–‘ˆ’”‘†—…–‹‘Ǥ›’‹…ƒŽŽ›ǡ–™‘Ͷǯšͺǯ…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•…ƒ’”‘†—…‡‡‘—‰Š
•ƒŽƒ†‰”‡‡•ˆ‘”‘‡’‡”•‘–Š”‘—‰Š‘—––Š‡…ƒŽ‡†ƒ”›‡ƒ”ǤŠ‹Ž‡…‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•ƒ”‡ǯ–

23. 9
“—‹–‡‡‘—‰Š–‘ˆ—ŽŽ›•—•–ƒ‹›‘—”•‡Žˆǡ–Š‡›ƒ”‡ƒ‰”‡ƒ–•‘—”…‡‘ˆˆ”‡•Š‡••
–Š”‘—‰Š‘—––Š‡™‹–‡”ǡƒ†ƒ‰”‡ƒ–™ƒ›–‘•—’’Ž‡‡–›‘—”‘”ƒŽ†‹‡–™‹–Š•‘‡
Š‘‡Ǧ‰”‘™’”‘†—…‡Ǥ
V.ImplicationsofColdFrameGrowing
‘Ž†ˆ”ƒ‡•ƒ”‡ƒ‰”‡ƒ––‘‘Žˆ‘”ƒ›ƒ’’Ž‹…ƒ–‹‘•Ǥ–Š‘‡ǡ–Š‡›ƒ”‡ƒ‰”‡ƒ–
™ƒ›–‘’”‘†—…‡›‘—”‘™ˆ”‡•Šˆ‘‘†–Š”‘—‰Š‘—––Š‡™‹–‡”Ǥ–•…Š‘‘Ž•ǡ–Š‡›ƒ”‡ƒ
‡–Š‘†–‘„”‹‰˜‡‰‡–ƒ„Ž‡‰ƒ”†‡‹‰–‘–Š‡ƒ…ƒ†‡‹…›‡ƒ”ǡƒ†…ƒ•‡”˜‡ƒ•ƒ
‡š…‡ŽŽ‡–ƒ–—”ƒŽŽƒ„‘”ƒ–‘”›ƒ†‡š’‡”‹‡–‹ƒŽŽ‡ƒ”‹‰‡–Š‘†ˆ‘”…Š‹Ž†”‡ƒ†
›‘—‰ƒ†—Ž–•ƒŽ‹‡Ǥƒ˜‹‰ƒ™ƒ”‡‡••ƒ„‘—–™Š‡”‡ˆ‘‘†…‘‡•ˆ”‘ƒ†Š‘™‹–‹•
’”‘†—…‡†‹•ƒ‹˜ƒŽ—ƒ„Ž‡–Š‹‰‹–‘†ƒ›ǯ•™‘”Ž†ǤŠ‹•ƒ™ƒ”‡‡••‹•Ž‘•–‘—…Š‘ˆ
‘—”•‘…‹‡–›ǡƒ†‰ƒ”†‡‹‰‹•ƒ‰”‡ƒ–™ƒ›–‘„”‹‰‹–„ƒ…Ǥ

24. –ƒŽŽ‘™•‰”‡ƒ–‡”
…‘‡…–‹‘™‹–Š›‘—”ˆ‘‘†ǡƒ†‰”‡ƒ–‡”…‘‡…–‹‘™‹–Š‘—”•‡Ž˜‡•Ǥ
VI.References
1.) ”‡‹–‡”ǡ‡†ǤDz
ƒ”†‡ŽŽ‹–‡”‘‰ǤdzSaturdayEveningPostʹͺʹǤͳ
ȋʹͲͳͲȌǣͷͲǦͷͳǤAcademicSearchPremierǤ
2.) ‡›‡”ǡ…‘––ǤDzƒ‡‘—”™‘Ž† ”ƒ‡•ǤdzOrganicGardening
(08973792)ͶͳǤͺȋͳͻͻͶȌǣͶʹǤAcademicSearchPremier.
3.) ‘Ž‡ƒǡŽ‹‘–ǤTheWinterHarvestHandbook:YearǦroundVegetable
ProductionUsingDeepǦorganicTechniquesandUnheatedGreenhousesǤ
Š‹–‡‹˜‡”
—…–‹‘ǡǣŠ‡Ž•‡ƒ
”‡‡—„ǤǡʹͲͲͻǤ”‹–Ǥ