Cold frame of reference are a great way to grow healthy , tonic salad crops like lettuce , kale and spinach all winter long !
Salad crops are the stark option when it comes to produce in cold skeleton . They are quick to germinate , have short harvest times and develop best in cool temperatures . And as a gardener , nothing is more rewarding than cutting your own fresh salad in mid - December !
frigid framing are four walled structures with a clear roof . They absorb the sun ’s heat through the unmortgaged roof , and warm up up the growing ground during the daytime . At night , the soil releases the heat back , keeping plants safe from the freeze out temps .
Cold frames are ordinarily identify down in the soil to take advantage of the excess oestrus the earth walls can provide
stale frames can be made from nearly anything . Wood , brick , Edward Durell Stone and even hay and drinking straw Basel are all excellent option . For the top – something as simple as thick clear plastic , glass or Plexiglas will work.(See : How To Build Your Own Cold Frame )
Cold frames should be invest in a southern - facing location . They do well when buried down 6 to 12″ inches into the soil . This helps to take full advantage of caloric ground heat . For a outstanding growing average , fill with 3 to 5 inch of garden soil and compost , or a undecomposed organic potting soil .
Once your cold frame in place – you’re able to implant your salad crop seeds exactly as you would in a normal garden setting .
Once found , controlling the temperature inside of your stale skeletal system is the key fruit to success .
Prop open up or remove the covering on extremely lovesome sunny wintertime Day . Keep it closed on dusty 24-hour interval and frigid nights to keep heating plant in .
When the temperatures does take a bountiful nose dive , you may provide excess protection for your plants by overcompensate the top and side with a heavy blanket .
leafage lettuce varieties , spinach , kale and even radishes are excellent pick for your winter salad crop . We have been able to turn all of the above through some of the coldest of January temporary . So do n’t let the coldness of wintertime stop you from gardening !
felicitous Winter Gardening , Jim and Mary ! To get our Recipes , DIY and Gardening articles each week , sign up to observe the blog via email in the right hand column above , “ Like ” us on Facebook , or follow us on Twitter . you’re able to also crack out our young book release this twelvemonth , Growing Simple , now usable onAmazon.com .
