Cold Frames....Any one ever tried them?

I was thinking about building a couple cold frames to start my outdoor season a little early this year. A cold frame for those that dont know is a wooden box with a translucent top to provide heat retention, protection from animals, and slightly more controlled environment outside for young plants. ( http://www.seconduse.com/doit/coldframes)

I was wondering has anyone ever tried this before? If so how did it work? would you do it again?

Either way I plan on trying out my own experiment on this issue. I was thinking maybe 2 boxes each 2'x3'X1.5' with a 2'X3'X1.3' hole underneath. 5 plants (Ak-49 autoflower) per box each in 3g pots.z

Please any advice would be awesome!!

Built them and used them. Works great until you have to get rid of the frame to work your garden. Heat mats from the reptile section at Pet Smart keep them so you do not have to bring your stock back in if a freeze hits after you plant them. However, cold weather crops are what work best and pot is not a cold weather crop. Better off planting indoors in large peat containers, or even hard containers, then transplanting outside.

thanks for the reply hotrod. I guess i should of explained further. The seeds will be germinated around marth 10th and grown under a 4 x 2' T5 set. they will only be placed outdoors in the cold frame after the first 3 weeks (maybe 1 week of hardening them off) so they can flower in the box. If i could grow full term inside anymore I would, but I have an excellent spot for outdoor. So this is more of an effort to extend the growing season and amounts of harvests per season. temperatures around my region are from 45-70 F during the beginning of april so the box should be in the 55-70 F range (thermo activated vent opens at 70 F)

The plants will be going full flower period with only a once a week visit in the box. Just wondering

OK you do realize that they won't flower outdoors until the light hits 12/12 - in Fall.

I will be using an auto flowering strain, will be my first time with auto flower but this new idea to get an extra harvest it will seem to work perfect

What I love about cold frames is the plants are immediately acclimated to the daytime and night time temps. However you only get a few weeks head start which is more than enough of an edge to help your plants compete against native weeds and grasses. Although starting indoors allows you such a head start that you can easily double or triple your harvest. Even though you don't get a huge increase in harvest, you save a lot of money in equipment and electricity. And as long as you do your part you'll still get a very nice harvest. cold frames are awesome so long as you understand their use and limitations.

Hey Mr. Ganja. I guess thats kinda my question then. Is it with in its limitations be in 45-70 F weather? Will the box provide enough heat protection with good insulation? How much heat does a good cold box usually retain? Is there any reason you couldnt grown full term in one (I.E with out removing glass?)

I will be starting indoors only to be put outside to flower. Any reason to believe it is unfeasable to try and flower plants outside in those temperatures with the box?
thanks.

AngryProbe said:

Hey Mr. Ganja. I guess thats kinda my question then. Is it with in its limitations be in 45-70 F weather? Will the box provide enough heat protection with good insulation? How much heat does a good cold box usually retain? Is there any reason you couldnt grown full term in one (I.E with out removing glass?)

I will be starting indoors only to be put outside to flower. Any reason to believe it is unfeasable to try and flower plants outside in those temperatures with the box?
thanks.

Click to expand...

yes its possible to grow year round and get multiple harvest,if that is what your referring to when you say "FULL TERM". but the lack of sunlight in the winter will effect your final product and you will just end up with hash making material or worst. but it could be worth a try, good luck