{"id":119,"date":"2020-04-03T17:15:43","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T22:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/?p=119"},"modified":"2022-10-29T11:45:46","modified_gmt":"2022-10-29T16:45:46","slug":"why-build-a-cold-frame-for-growing-vegetables-and-the-supplies-you-will-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/?p=119","title":{"rendered":"Why build a cold frame for growing vegetables and the supplies you will need"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/example-of-adding-flowers-with-veggies-summer-2016.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-121 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/example-of-adding-flowers-with-veggies-summer-2016.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"5184\" height=\"3456\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/example-of-adding-flowers-with-veggies-summer-2016.jpg 5184w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/example-of-adding-flowers-with-veggies-summer-2016-300x200.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/example-of-adding-flowers-with-veggies-summer-2016-768x512.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/example-of-adding-flowers-with-veggies-summer-2016-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In the southeast corner of our backyard, we initially had a vegetable garden which was 15&#8217;x15&#8242; at ground level.\u00a0 This garden was sufficient for the first couple of years we lived here because there was only a 20\u2019 maple tree to one side of the garden and some 5\u2019 blue spruce trees towards the back of the yard.\u00a0 But, as our interests in adding more edible landscaping to our yard grew, so did the number of plants growing in this particular area of our yard.\u00a0 We added a tall lattice in the corner and planted three grape vines, and we also added three gooseberry plants, raspberries and some rhubarb.\u00a0 All these plants were now competing for soil nutrients and water.\u00a0 In the spring, we would go to turn over the garden and find the maple roots were hard to work around.<\/p>\n<p>Here is where the idea of building some raised gardens in the yard made sense.\u00a0 I knew that, not only did I want to make it easier to work in the spring, I also wanted to increase the number of vegetables I could plant and also add some interesting focal points to my yard.<\/p>\n<div class=\"googleadsrectangle\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n.adslot_1 { width: 300px; height: 250px; }<br \/>@media (max-width:420px) { .adslot_1 { width: 300px; height: 250px; } }<br \/><\/style>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5639430099219624\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5639430099219624\" data-ad-slot=\"4864070677\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>At this point in my gardening life, I had owned three houses and created different vegetable gardens at each of these locations.\u00a0 I had read several books describing how to square foot garden and so set out to design a cold frame that would be efficient for growing the vegetables that I cherished most.\u00a0 These included, radishes, onions, lettuces, spinach, kale, beets, carrots and leeks.<\/p>\n<p>In planning my edible landscape, I knew I wanted garden boxes that would allow me to plant my vegetables as early as possible and also allow me keep the plants going right up until the winter.<\/p>\n<p>I decided we would start with one cold frame with a hinged, but removable, Plexiglas lid.\u00a0 Once I knew how many vegetables I could get out of the first cold frame, I could add one or two boxes each year.\u00a0 As of March 2020, I have two with lids and two without lids in my backyard.<\/p>\n<p>Now that I have given you the background on why and how we made the decision to get into raised beds, here is what I would suggest you do.\u00a0 It is ideal for plants to have soil that is as alive as possible, meaning good microbes, worms etc. So, with this in mind, build your cold frame at least one month before planting in it.\u00a0 If you have an existing garden and can take some live soil out of it to partially fill your cold frame that is ideal.<\/p>\n<div class=\"googleadsrectangle\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n.adslot_1 { width: 300px; height: 250px; }<br \/>@media (max-width:420px) { .adslot_1 { width: 300px; height: 250px; } }<br \/><\/style>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5639430099219624\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5639430099219624\" data-ad-slot=\"4864070677\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Here is what you will need to build your own cold frame:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Lumber<\/strong>. The amount and dimensions you need will depend on how large the cold frame will be.\u00a0 I just use standard spruce lumber \u2013 easily available at any building center.\u00a0 You want to build the cold frame large enough that it won\u2019t dry out quickly during the hottest days of summer.\u00a0 I would suggest that, at a minimum, you make it tall enough to allow for the soil to be eight inches deep; if you are going to plant large plants (like tomatoes) you will probably want 12 inches of soil.\u00a0 As for the width, I like 36 inches.\u00a0 This provides space for six lettuce plants across, and yet it is not awkward to reach all parts of the surface.\u00a0 The length is more of an aesthetic choice.\u00a0 So, for example, with my first cold frame, I made it 24.5 inches high, 36 inches wide, and 72 inches long.\u00a0 I wanted the top to be sloped when the cover was down.\u00a0 So, while it was 24.5 inches at one end, it was only 20.5 inches at the other.\u00a0 You may be thinking that 24.5 seems like an odd choice &#8211; why not 24 inches.\u00a0 Well, standard lumber has a half inch planed off to make it smoother.\u00a0 So, I used two 2x10s and one 2&#215;6 stacked on top of each other to build the sides.\u00a0 But, a 2&#215;10 is actually 1.5&#215;9.5 and the 2&#215;6 is actually 1.5&#215;5.5, which means the sides were 9.5 + 9.5 + 5.5 or 24.5 inches.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Paint<\/strong>. Use a latex exterior and put on at least two coats.\u00a0 I don\u2019t use treated lumber for the cold frame, as I don\u2019t want any chemicals leeching into the soil.\u00a0 So, the paint is needed to protect the wood from insects, water, and sunlight.\u00a0 The paint is also an opportunity to add a splash of colour, which you might really appreciate in the winter.\u00a0 Once the wood is cut to the appropriate dimensions, I paint it before assembly.\u00a0 In that way, I ensure that all parts of the wood are covered by paint.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Landscape fabric<\/strong>. Once the cold frame is assembled and in place, I lay landscape fabric on the bottom.\u00a0 I use enough so that it curls up and covers an inch or two of the sides.\u00a0 This will help hold the soil in when the cold frame is new.\u00a0 Eventually, the cold frame will settle firmly into the ground, but when you first build it, there may be some gaps around the bottom.\u00a0 Landscape fabric will allow water to pass through.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clear plastic sheeting<\/strong>. You can find this by the roll at the building center.\u00a0 I use this to line the inside of the cold fame.\u00a0 It keeps the wet soil from directly contacting the wood sides of the cold frame.\u00a0 You will want to leave a gap between the top of the soil and the top of the cold frame.\u00a0 So, only line the sides as high as you need to.\u00a0 For example, in my first cold frame, I wanted the soil to be about 12 inches deep.\u00a0 So, I only lined the sides up to the 12-inch mark.\u00a0 In that way, you will only see the painted wood above the soil line.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Soil<\/strong>. This is where you can apply your own recipe.\u00a0 One thing I would suggest, however, is that you include some soil from another garden in your yard.\u00a0 If all you use is bagged soil your garden will lack important soil microbes.\u00a0 So, I always like to add some living soil.\u00a0 I also like to include compost and manure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"googleadsrectangle\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n.adslot_1 { width: 300px; height: 250px; }<br \/>@media (max-width:420px) { .adslot_1 { width: 300px; height: 250px; } }<br \/><\/style>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5639430099219624\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5639430099219624\" data-ad-slot=\"2757562335\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Keep in mind if you are planning on building your cold frame in April and then using it in May you just have to build the box part and do not have to worry about building the lid until the fall or next spring.\u00a0 Better to get the soil into the box and let it settle for a month so you can get to the planting.<\/p>\n<p>Why do you need to wait a month before planting?\u00a0 If you have added compost to the box, and you should, you should allow the microbes a chance to break down the compost, in particular the nitrogen.\u00a0 If you plant seeds directly into the bed after adding all the soil the process of the microbes breaking down the compost might interfere with germination.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Cold-frames-2020.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-129 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Cold-frames-2020.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"5184\" height=\"3456\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Cold-frames-2020.jpg 5184w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Cold-frames-2020-300x200.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Cold-frames-2020-768x512.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Cold-frames-2020-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; In the southeast corner of our backyard, we initially had a vegetable garden which was 15&#8217;x15&#8242; at ground level.\u00a0 This garden was sufficient for the first couple of years we lived here because there was only a 20\u2019 maple tree to one side of the garden and some 5\u2019 blue spruce trees towards the &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/?p=119\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Why build a cold frame for growing vegetables and the supplies you will need&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[338,4,118,117],"tags":[8,6,19],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=119"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8095,"href":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119\/revisions\/8095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/homekokki.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}