A Cold Frame is a must for every gardener, it creates covered growing space which is essential for successful gardening.
Before talking about using one in your garden, let’s define what a ‘cold frame’ is.
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Definition of a Cold Frame
There are lots of different definitions when describing a cold frame – this gives us an idea of how many different types are available. Here are just a few examples:
‘an unheated, boxlike, glass-covered structure for protecting young plants outdoors’
Cold frames do not have to be glazed with glass, they are also available glazed with polycarbonate, polythene or acrylic.
‘essentially the smallest of greenhouses and is one of the most common do-it-yourself gardening projects. It provides a simple way to grow plants throughout the winter months by harnessing the power of the sun. Cold frames can be used to extend the growing season, to protect semi-hardy plants such as herbs or to get a pre-season start on flower and vegetable seedlings’
‘protective covering consisting of a wooden frame with a glass top in which small plants are protected from the cold’
Traditionally they would have had a wooden frame, but it is now possible to buy them with aluminium frames or frames made from tubular steel.
‘a large box with glass sides that you keep young plants in before you plant them outside’
‘In agriculture and gardening, a cold frame is a transparent-roofed enclosure, built low to the ground, used to protect plants from cold weather. The transparent top admits sunlight and prevents heat escape via convection that would otherwise occur, particularly at night’
‘a glass-covered frame without artificial heat used to protect plants and seedlings’
Normally used without heat, if needed you can often add a small heater to lift temperatures on especially cold nights.
‘A low structure with a translucent top, used for protecting plants from the weather and for hardening-off young seedlings’
‘A four-sided structure with a glass or plastic covering used to shelter young plants or transplanted seedlings from cold temperatures’
‘Low structure with solid sides in timber, brick, concrete steel, aluminium or sometimes plastic with a removable clear top (known as the 'light') in glass or transparent plastic. Provides protection from the most severe weather and used especially for hardening off’
‘Refers to a structure which is built to trap heat and help the strong growth of seedlings which have been germinated before the soil has warmed in’.
What we’ve learnt from the above definitions is that a these frames are usually low to the ground, have clear glazing in the top, are shaped designed to act as a suntrap, are used to protect plants from harsh weather conditions and are a place to harden off plants raised in your home or greenhouse prior to planting out.
In addition we know that there is a wide range available, depending on the material used to make their frame and the type of glazing. To help you choose the correct frame for your garden, we can look at the benefits of the different types available.
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| Timber Framed |
Aluminium Framed |
Tubular Steel Framed |
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| Polythene Glazing |
Glass Glazing |
Double Skinned Plastic Glazing |
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| Hinged Top |
Sliding Lights Top |
Hinged / Sliding Top |
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| Low Frame |
Double Height Frame |
Frame with Bench |
To Buy a Coldframe CLICK HERE
Our blog posts are created from our personal knowledge, information gathered by speaking to other gardeners or manufacturers in the gardening industry, by reading gardening magazines and devouring information from books and the internet. We aim to be as accurate as we can, so if you find a mistake, please remember, we’re only human. if you have any queries you can contact us today!