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In this article we will tell about how to make a cold greenhouse with our own hands. When the cold hits, your precious plants will need reliable protection. So, we build the first cold greenhouse!
How does it look and what is the need for a cold greenhouse
This design is a box or box without a bottom, which is installed on plants to protect them in adverse weather conditions. As a rule, the height of the building is small, and the roof with glass has hinges for easy opening.
Cold greenhouse reliably protects the planting from the wind and retains heat. Gardeners use it to extend the summer season:
- in the fall to protect the plants for a few more weeks;
- in the spring to have a head start and to ensure early germination of seeds.
Boxes are also used to acclimatize seedlings that have been grown indoors. So they are not threatened by a sharp change in temperature.
Try sowing crops such as radish, lettuce, endive and leek right in the greenhouse for early or late harvest. They can also be raised all summer until the shelter is lifted with the arrival of warm weather.
When deciding on a variety of lettuce for growing, we recommend choosing a winter lettuce salad.
How to build a cold greenhouse
The frame of the structure can be made of wood or plastic, as well as the use of concrete blocks and bricks. Build a wooden box without a bottom and set it in a garden on good soil, where a lot of sunlight gets. Most gardeners use wood to assemble the frame, since it is available and easily cut to the required size with hand tools. If you are lucky enough to find a hardwood tree, use it to build it. It is much stronger than soft conifers and will last longer.
Avoid using old wood treated with creosote or another similar substance, especially if the cold frame is located directly on the ground. Wood can be painted with non-toxic paint if it looks dirty from the side.
Close the upper part of the box with glass( possibly with an old storm window) or frame covered with transparent plastic. The lid should be transparent - old windows and shower doors are the most commonly used options. Put the roof panel on the hinge, or provide a sliding window so that the box can be opened for ventilation on hot days.
If you have raised beds with high sides, you can put a sheet of glass on top to create a temporary greenhouse. Also, temporary shelters can be built by installing old storm windows with a triangle on top of the rows of landings.
For those who have very little time and skills, there is a simple solution. Cut the lower parts of the plastic milk cans and cover individual plants with the side walls with the ground. On warm days, remove the covers for ventilation.
How to make a warm greenhouse
This kind of greenhouse box is the same cold greenhouse, but with heating. The method of using horse manure or compost works well and is more economical than electrical heating cables.
To build a non-electric warm greenhouse, dig a hole 50–60 cm deep and place fresh manure in it. During the week, once every 2 days, mix and moisten the substance until it hardens. Then put a layer of soil about 15 cm thick on top.
Due to the fact that compost and manure decomposes, it will release enough heat to protect plants from early or late frosts.
Cold greenhouses are a great way to keep the planting from the vagaries of the weather. Due to the high efficiency and cost-effectiveness of this design, boxes are widely used by gardeners around the world.
