Cold Frame Construction

If one wishes to grow any reasonable sort of garden in the cold climes of NW Wisconsin, a means of extending the growing season is a must. One such means is a cold frame - a low structure with a transparent roof (old windows work great) that can be opened and is typically slanted towards the south. It protects plants from frost and cold and the transparent top lets in sunlight while trapping the heat inside, thus keeping the soil and plants warm. By slanting towards the south, the cold frame is able to catch the early spring and late fall sunshine, thus allowing one to start plants earlier than usual or keep them growing late into the fall.

Here are some picturs of our efforts at constructing a cold frame.