How to Build a Cold Frame to Extend Your Growing Season

According to Eliot Coleman, cold frames create a microclimate that is 1 1/2 zones or 500 miles to the south. Today I share how I built the cold frames that will reside in our future walk-in hoop house.

OYR is all about growing a lot of food on a little land using sustainable organic methods, while keeping costs and labor at a minimum. Emphasis is placed on improving soil quality with compost, mulch, and compost tea. No store-bought fertilizers, soil amendments, pesticides, compost activators, etc. are used.

Source: "The Winter Harvest Handbook" by Eliot Coleman

[dritanbega]

So ...you are  a good carpenter to...Thanks for the video, very pleased to watch.

[iamorganicgardening]

Great information from start to finish. Well done. Everyone is looking forward to your walk-in hoop house.

[dkulikowski]

Since we are both in the same zone, it is wonderful to watch how you extend the growing season. Hard work pays off Patrick. You are indeed a passionate gardener

[Oukoyami]

Patrick, That was cool and very detailed. That will help a lot of people. Well done.

[janetbecker]

Really enjoyed your videos. Sorry that I can't find any current gardening videos from you.

[meehan]

Nice cold Frames Patrick and well made to capture the maximum Sun. Thank you for showing us how to do it

[MushroomPatch]

Another excellent video. Thank you Eliot.

[Skyisland]

We tore down our deck. I didn't lay out my garden conveniently to build a walk-in hoop house, but I'm so excited to build some cold frames, and maybe new raised beds.

[ShelitaRN]

Wow Patrick you never cease to amaze me, this is awesome, seems like a lot of work, and that's why your garden looks Reign Fabulous!!!!

[ariesred]

The effort to keep the topside as large as possible will pay off Patrick.Winter sun and natural light/heat to the max.Great job.

[nov]

Great design, Patrick. Fitting the frame to existing glass available is an excellent idea. Ripping 1x2s from old (or new!) cedar fence boards for the bottom protection of the pine would be a good idea, too.

[williamalston]

this video give me some new ideas for cold frame design, thanks for sharing with all of us, with all of your videos, i have made some changes in my garden and seasonal activities... to me, gardening is personal activity, so, i like reviewing ideas and keep creating better ways to grow more food, yours is one my top youtubes to follow and learn different or new ideas... thanks william.

[MarinaWilson]

Looks like my OH has a new project for winter!😉 A great idea Patrick and it's going to be so beneficial to your tender plants, thanks for showing my OH (and me) how to do this.Always informative and may I say, your garden is looking fantastic!

[HealthyLifeFarm]

Very nicely built cold frames and I really love the idea of replacing the bottoms with cedar steaks to protect your frames. I can't wait to see your green house. Best Wishes, Peaches

[domainbe]

I like how you do your videos. They seem so professional. This reminds me of my mom, who used to do cold frames in the spring, and to start new plants. Hers were not so well designed, but they did the trick. Keep up the great work!

[ingerhaugland]

Great video. I really like the design of the cold frames, and I love that you show exactly how you made them, so someone relatively new to gardening (like myself) can follow the method you used. I live in Norway, so cold frames are definitely something I want to look into for my gardening. Thank you! As always, I really enjoy your videos.
Inger

[HelenRullesteg]

Thanks Patrick, I'll have a look at that one as well.

[SouthpawDavey]

Nice job with the cold frames. Looking forward to seeing the hoop house go up.

[maryc]

Hi Patrick! I just love your videos and how you share all of your garden experiments.

Will love to go on the journey of the hoop house with you! I am in zone 5a but surrounded by zone 5b. Would love to to "zone up" by trying some of these ideas out!

[harryrarmer]

Nice one Patrick! By the time you've finished with that garden o' yours you'll have made a micro climate that imitates the equator!