I was asked the other day what a cold frame is and decided a post on some terminology might be in order. Since I like to read about different gardening methods the term is common to me, but for anyone else it probably sounds weird. So here are a few types of garden covers with, hopefully, a clear definition.
Cold frame – aka a mini greenhouse. This is a frame which has at least one transparent side facing the sun. These can be used to ‘harden off’ plants or extend the growing season. The lack of heat source seems to be the biggest trait to cold frames. Hoop houses, row covers, and raised bed covers are examples of cold frames.
Hotbed – aka hotbox. They are very similar to cold frames in size except, as the name implies, has heat. Traditional styles are built by digging a hole several feet deep, putting in a thick layer of fresh manure, covering the rest with soil and placing a frame on top. The composting manure will warm the soil. Most sites were recommending you wait at least a week or so before planting. At first the heat can actually burn the seeds or plants. Today you can also use a heat coil in the soil to heat the frame, provided you always have electricity. 🙂
Greenhouse – A building with typically either glass or plastic covering and environment control – heating, cooling, water. Most people will know what you mean when you say greenhouse. It’s the place you go to pick out new seedlings or flowers for the season with the humid air and plants, hoses, and containers everywhere. Greenhouses are usually permanent structures which you can use to keep a consistent temperature and grow year round in.
Cloche – An old form of garden cover from France, these were smaller bell shaped glass covers for individual plants outside. The word cloche means bell. Different varieties were developed by the English and others and now includes most any type of outdoor plant cover, like a hoop row cover. These are meant to be portable covers for outdoor garden areas. To me, these are the same as any cold frame placed over a raised bed or other area to extend the growing season.
That’s it – all that I know about. Really there are many ways to protect your plants to extend your growing season to be however long you want, provided you are willing to do a little work. I think the rewards will be well worth the effort 🙂
Resources:
http://extension.missouri.edu/p/g6965
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/2000-02-01/The-100-Year-Hotbed.aspx?page=5
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