Seedlings that have been started in the greenhouse have lived a pampered life. The temperature is warm, there isn’t any wind and they get plenty of water and fertilizer. When it is time for those seedlings to go out into the garden, the shock of the outside environment might be enough to set back their growth or even kill them. So the answer is a sort of halfway house, that being, a cold frame. There is no additional heat besides that which comes from the sun. Moisture is reduced slightly to toughen the plants up. The cover may be raised during the day to expose the seedlings to a bit of wind. After a week or so of this treatment the plants generally are ready to go into the open garden.
This window sash had been stored outdoors for a while and had seen better days. But I had plans for it that included cleaning; removing and replacing old window glazing; removal of decaying wood to be replaced with plastic wood; painting; and finally window cleaning. It took a fair amount of elbow grease but I hope the result will last for many years to come.
Wood putty or plastic wood is malleable and can be applied with a putty knife. After a period of time it dries and can then be treated as any wood could be. I sanded it down and painted it along with the rest of the wood on the frame. Four pin hinges were attached to the top edge and then to the top edge of the cold frame. Now the only part left is to fashion some support to keep the window frame up and open during the warm part of the day. Work for another day. Once that has been done the first candidates to be put in the cold frame are lettuce and bok choi. The cold frame has been finished just in time, as the greenhouse is quickly filling up with potted up transplants. We will be eating fresh veggies out of the garden in no time!
Hardening off in the cold frame are lettuce, bok choi, snow peas, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage plants. There isn’t enough room for several flats of spinach so they will have to stay in the greenhouse for now. I guess another cold frame is in order.
New Hampshire Gardening 