Cold frame or cover

16 years ago

This is my first year doing a garden, and did a SFG with great success. I do not have the book by Mel however.

As I am in Long Island, but on south shore which is zone 7a, I would like to grow cool season crops throughout the winter, and have several cold tolerant varieties like Fordhook Chard, bought from Fedco in Maine, who specializes in cold tolerant varieties.

Yesterday I sowed Mache' and escarole, and will soon also sow spinach and more sugarloaf chicory and chard.

I'm in need of advice regarding the cold frame protection. My beds are 4X8 and are 10 inches high, and the soil level is approx 8 inches up, so 2 inches below the top line. To grow the crops through the fall and winter, should I build a cold frame, say, out of 12" high wood frame, and then a few sheets of glass on top ? Or do I simply get those things that look like pvc hoops, and then cover with a clear plastic ( i think its called a tunnel or high tunnel). I'm not sure what to do that this point. Someone please advise. Thank you !!!

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Comments (4)

gardennotebookgirl
16 years ago
I'm going to do a combination of both this year.A cold frame under a 2 foot hoop tunnel. I got the idea from Eliot Coleman's The Winter Harvest Handbook. I've never done a Winter garden before and I'm excited to try it.
sfallen2002
16 years ago
Either will work, but consider glass as a hazardous/fragile material. If you get a lot of snow or severe ice storms, you might be better off with a low tunnel. High tunnel = one you walk into. Acc to Coleman, each layer takes you one zone south, but more than 2 gets you diminished light, warmth.

Good luck!
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sfallen2002
16 years ago
Either will work, but consider glass as a hazardous/fragile material. If you get a lot of snow or severe ice storms, you might be better off with a low tunnel. High tunnel = one you walk into. Acc to Coleman, each layer takes you one zone south, but more than 2 gets you diminished light, warmth.

Good luck!
scarletdaisies
16 years ago
Don't forget you can heat your little cold frame or hoop cloche with compost, 2 parts brown, 1 part green. I heats up to 160 degrees. If your plants are in planters, set them in the hot compost, maybe a small row cover will work.