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Cold frame gardening is an effective strategy to extend your growing season.

What is Cold Frame Gardening?

Frames come in various materials, but the sloping top is always transparent to allow light in.

A set of brick cold frames in a garden next to a greenhouse

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Theyre also helpful in the spring, providing early-planted perennials with protection from late frosts.

One side of the frame is usually higher than the other to capture as much sunlight as possible.

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Types of Cold Frames

Its possible to make a cold frame or buy one.

Not sure whether to opt for a portable, permanent or temporary cold frame?

Weve outlined the pros and cons of each one below.

Often, they are sunk into the ground for better stability and insulation.

you might even use old milk jugs as cold frames for individual plants.

Garden supplies retailers have a wide range of collapsible frames (often made from aluminum).

However, portable frames arent as substantial as permanent designs.

They dont always have such good insulative qualities and arent as durable.

Techniques vary depending on the materials and design you opt for.

you might also use them to extend your vegetable garden harvest calendar.

Below are some of the best crops for cold frames.

Keep the following tips in mind for the best chance of success.