How to Build a Cold Frame and Hotbed

The making of a manure hotbed is described by New Mexico extension horticulturists as follows:

The
first essential in preparing a manure hotbed is to have fresh horse
manure, preferably from grain fed animals. The manure should contain
one-third straw or other similar litter. Sometimes there is insufficient
straw in the manure for proper heating. If it does not have sufficient
straw in the manure it may not ferment or, if fermentation does take
place, the heat may be evolved rapidly and be of only short duration.
About 10 to 12 days before the manure is to be put in the pit it should
be placed in a flat pile 4 to 5 feet high. If it is dry it should be
dampened with water, but not made soggy. The manure should begin to heat
in 3 or 4 days after which it should be turned placing the inside of
the pile on the outside of the new one. In 3 or 4 more days the manure
should be ready to be placed in the pit. The manure is filled into the
pit in successive layers of 4 to 6 inches and tramped firmly to secure
uniform heating and prevent excessive settling. It is also desirable to
place the soil on top of the manure at the same time, since higher
temperatures that develop when the bed is fast made up tend to kill some
of the weed seeds that may be present in the sop. Since a high
temperature is likely to develop the first few days after the bed is
made up, the planting should be delayed until the temperature drops to
about 85 degrees or slightly lower.

If the seeds are planted when the bed
is first made up, the high temperature is likely to kill the seeds or
at least injure them. Manure heated hotbeds are usually economical to
operate after the initial construction costs are paid. Temperature
cannot be properly controlled in the manure heated hotbed because the
rate of fermentation, and hence the rate of heat formation, is more or
less the same on warm days as on the colder days. Thus the bed may be
too hot or too cold depending upon the weather. The only means of
controlling temperature is by ventilation, but unless much time is spent
regulating the ventilation, the temperature is likely to vary
considerably from the optimum for the growth of the seedlings.

Electrically Heated Hotbed

This kind of growing bed is
made by arranging electric heating cables, 5 inches below the surface
of the topsoil seedbed. No manure is needed for heating this type bed.
The coils produce a steady heat day and night, while the manure is
effective for a few weeks.

Here is the story of how one Pennsylvania organic gardener, Maurice Franz, built a hotbed and his reasons for building it:

We
built a hotbed because we wanted to extend our growing season and
garden activity and also because we wanted an assured source of organic,
homegrown vitamins when we need them most — during the winter.

The hotbed will make this possible.
Our garden activities will no longer be determined by the frost dates,
October 15 to May 1. And equally important to us, we will have a steady
supply of organically grown vitamins A and C through the short, dark,
severe winter days.

We finished the
hotbed in two weekends, which included some unexpected last-minute
scurrying for window frames. Except for excavating and leveling the
ground and perhaps hauling topsoil 100 yards-plus from the garden, the
work could fairly be described as light, pleasant and instructive.

Our
hotbed cost us $45; it is electrically heated. But we know now that we
could have done it for $36 — about 20 percent less — with better
planning. Against this, chalk up a big saving of $5-$6 a month for 5
months for salad greens.

The hotbed is approximately 6 feet
wide and 6 feet long and is covered by two window frames. It is two feet
high in the back and one foot in front with a taper of 12 inches. It is
set 4 to 6 inches in the ground and faces due south.

It
should be stressed that this is a rugged, durable hotbed which should
last for 10 years without any additional cost. This means that our extra
vitamins will cost us $4.50 a year for 10 years and practically nothing
after that. But you should be able to cut this down to $3.50 a year, as
you will see.

Because we wanted a
hotbed that would function right through the winter, on bad days and
good, we decided on electric heat. We also voted against halfway
measures like using electric lights because we wanted a steady source of
heat coming from below, automatically regulated by the varying
temperature needs of the growing soil.

The
General Electric ground heating cable set plus the automatic
thermostatic control unit fills the bill. It is rated capable of
maintaining soil temperatures from 30 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in a
hotbed measuring 6 feet by 6 feet — 36 square feet total.

This heating system will add $1.50 a
month to our light bill — about $7.50 a year — the local power company
advises. But we think it well worth our while because we would spend 4
times that amount — $30 — over the winter months on salad greens. And we
are convinced that the homegrown produce will not only be better
tasting, but because it is picked just before eating, it will be packed
with vitamins A and C just when we need them most.

We
further wanted a frame for this heating unit that would stand handling
without breaking up, that would resist soil rot sturdily, and would also
retain heat thriftily. On the advice of the local lumber dealer we
chose yellow or western fir, ordering planks two inches thick for the
extra insulation and strength. We reinforced this rugged frame at the
comers with two-by-twos and then set this massive box 4 to 6 inches into
the ground.

For bottom insulation, beneath the
heating cables, we spread a two-inch carpet of vermiculite, covering the
cables in an inch of sand (you can use ordinary sod). Over this we
placed a protective wire netting and finally added 4 inches of rich
topsoil as a growing medium.

Building the Hotbed

Putting the frame together
is actually the easiest part of the operation. Order the wood you need,
specifying that it is precut to size by a power saw. This makes for
accuracy and square, even ends. You will also find that hand-sawing
2-by-12-inch boards is no cinch, especially if you order weathered, used
wood. Also drill nail or screw holes before assembling to speed the job
and eliminate splitting.

You must
also weather- and ground-proof your wood with a protective covering. We
used linseed oil because it will not give off any chemical reaction
which can hurt soil life or the healthy organic growth of our
vegetables. It was also recommended by the lumber dealer as a highly
satisfactory protective agent. Painting it on with a large brush should
hold ground rot off and double the life of our already sturdy frame. Do
not neglect painting your frame with linseed oil or a similar protective
medium; 20 minutes’ painting can add years to the life of your hotbed.

Digging the excavation for the frame
is harder and comes first. After picking your site, study the soil
before you start digging. If it is clayey and packed, try to loosen it
with a rotary tiller — you’ll save time and energy for other tasks. The
amount of soil you have to remove will amount to 18-20 cubic feet.

Be
sure to make the excavation at least 3 inches wider and longer than the
size of your frame. This oversize pit will make it easy to fit your
frame into the ground, about 4 inches below the top of the soil. If your
hotbed will be 70 inches wide by 67 long, make your excavation 73
inches wide by 70 long.

Setting your
frame level on a level, secure ground footing is not hard if you plan
ahead. Do not put your frame together until your excavation is ready for
it. Instead, take the 4 baseboards of your frame and fit them intoplace just where they will go.
Take the back board, upend and place it in the back of your excavation,
from corner to corner. Check it with your spirit level and make the
necessary adjustments until it is level and rests firmly in place.

Now
take the board for the left side. Upend it and place it where it will
go. Check the level and make your adjustments. Repeat with the front
board and the other side. If you keep them level as you go from comer to
comer, your frame will have a secure, satisfactory footing. Then, and
only then, assemble your frame, give it its protective coat and put it
into place.

Installing the Heating Unit

Start the actual growing bed off with a
two-inch layer of vermiculite. It is an excellent insulator which will
hold downward loss of heat to a minimum and also permit ready drainage.
It is a matter of moments to spread it and then level it gently using a
board. Then, working slowly and carefully, lay your heating cable on it.
This is a single continuous wire ending in a conventional wall plug
which connects with the thermostat. Attach the thermostat securely to
the frame, but only after you are satisfied with the layout of your
heating cables. The General Electric people include a full set of
instructions and diagrams which are extremely easy to follow.

Next,
cover the cables with one inch of sand or soil. You can save $2 by
using soil instead of sand, and there is no reason why you should not.
Over the sod place a protective wire screening with about one-half inch
mesh. This will keep your trowel out of the heating system.

Finally,
top off your hotbed with 4 inches of rich, fertile topsoil. We took
ours from the garden and screened it for evenness, then mixed the
following growing medium: topsoil — 3 parts; wood mold and sand — one
part each. We then enriched this with 3 pounds of cottonseed meal, bone
meal, and granite dust mixed on a 2 1/2-6-6 formula. This is twice as
rich as seems necessary, but the roots will not be able to reach down as
deep in our rather shallow bed as they would in the garden.

And, now that we have spent our $45 and stand committed to spend $1.50 more on electricity each month, what have we gained?

To
begin with, we have extended our season 4 months. We’ll get an early
start in February with our greens, lettuce, mustard, and spring onions.
By March 15 we will move our early cabbage and celery from the window
flats to the hotbed until they can go into the garden — about a month
later.

When the cabbage and celery are
hardened off we will replace them with peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant
from the inside window flats. Indoors we’ll start cucumbers and melons
in pots, moving them into the hotbed about May 15 when we transplant the
peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant outdoors.

When
the fall comes, we’ll get ready for a winter supply of vitamins by
starting endive, escarole, romaine, kale, and lettuce in the garden.
That should be before Labor Day, and we figure that we’ll transplant
them to the bed by mid-October–just about the time of the first hard
frosts here-abouts.

Construction Materials

Concrete and cinder blocks are often used
for the construction of the walls of hotbeds, cold frames, and small
plant houses, on account of the ease with which they can be laid. In
some localities concrete blocks 4 inches thick can be obtained, and
walls constructed of these occupy less space than those made of the 6-
or 8-inch blocks. Where concrete blocks are used for the front and back
walls of the beds, it is necessary to put up forms and pour the top of
the ends in order to obtain the correct slope. The 8-by 8-by-16-inch
concrete and cinder blocks are especially adapted for constructing the
walls of double beds with a ridge through the center and covered by
means of two lines of hotbed sash or cloth. The top layer of blocks
should be crowned with a layer of cement mortar about an inch in
thickness to prevent water from entering the cavities of the blocks.
Cinder blocks are better insulators against the passage of heat than
concrete and, in addition, have the advantage that nails can be driven
into them where wood is being fastened to the block walls.

Location

Hotbeds and cold frames should always be
located on well-drained land that is free from depressions or danger of
flooding during heavy rains. A location near the house where the beds
can be given frequent attention is desirable. The beds should be
protected on the north by a group of buildings, a grove of trees, a
tight board fence, or an evergreen hedge. In many cases windbreaks,
consisting of pine boughs or bundles of corn fodder set against
supports, are employed for protecting the beds from cold winds. A
location with a southern exposure and adequate wind protection on the
north and west is ideal. In all cases, protection from cold winds, the
securing of direct sunlight, and convenience in the matter of tending
should be the main determining factors in the selection of a location
for any type of plant bed.

Plant beds
and small greenhouses built well below the level of the ground require
less heat than those that are entirely above ground and more exposed.
This principle applies especially to the construction of sash-covered
houses that are heated by flues, stoves, or electricity. Special care
must be taken, however, in the selection of a location for beds and
houses that are partially below ground, to provide good drainage in
order to avoid flooding the beds during rainy seasons.

Testing Seeds for Germination

Some seed will deteriorate with age and,
though it is carefully prepared, may refuse to germinate. Before
planting homegrown seed and depending upon it in spring to produce a
crop, it is wise to make a germination test. This is done by duplicating
as far as possible the conditions of warmth and moisture that the
plants need when growing in the garden.

Twenty
or more seeds are counted out for the test, and the quantity noted.
They are then placed on a layer of absorbent material in a saucer.
Absorbent cotton, blotting paper, or heavy cloth may be used. Sterile
cotton is recommended, because it will not mold as quickly. A second
layer of the material is placed over the seeds, it is sprinkled with
water, and excess water is poured off. The seed may start to germinate
in 24 hours, or it may take 2 or 3 weeks, but meanwhile the covering
material should not be allowed to dry out. The top layer should be
lifted from time to time to allow air to reach the seed. If mold appears
near the seed, the covering layer may have to be removed entirely. Seed
is germinated, for testing purposes, when it has swelled and put forth a
sprout.

The germination tests will show
whether the seed should be used at all, and how thickly it should be
sown. Even if only a small number of seeds germinate, it may be wise to
use the seed, because unusually strong plants are said to result from
planting old seed.

The following is a
list of vegetables with the number of years indicated during which their
seeds can be expected to be viable. If the seed is older, it should be
tested before using: corn, onion, parsnip, soybean, salsify, two years;
bean, leek, parsley, peas, 3 years; carrot, mustard, pepper, tomatoes, 4
years; broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, lettuce, okra,
pumpkin, radish, spinach, turnip, 5 years; beets, eggplant, melons,
squash, 6 years; celery, 8 years; cucumber, endive, 10 years. Whether
the seed is purchased or homegrown, tests should be made if it exceeds
the above ages.

Few seeds will
germinate as soon as they ripen. Most of them require a rest period of
at least a month, and in some cases as much as a year. There are
exceptions to this. Some grains, for instance, will sprout in the seed
head if the weather is wet when they ripen. A few plants such as beans,
sunflowers, lilies, and mustard, will start to sprout in a few days.
Others, like carrots and parsnips, need a month or more before they are
ready to grow. And some trees and shrubs will not germinate in less than
a year.

Planting Seeds

In the germinating hotbeds or cold frames
you plant seeds plentifully, cover them lightly, and keep the rows one
inch apart. You may later thin out to suit. In planting lots of seeds
remember this: While most seeds will produce sturdy plantlets, others
will be thin or weaklings. With plentiful planting you may pluck out all
but the finest, sturdiest plants.

A
must to remember: The grower must constantly watch moisture and heat
with an eagle eye. You must not allow the heat to rise too high, or
above 75-80 degrees while the plants are small. If the growing beds get
too hot — and there is no ventilation — the hundreds of plants may
easily damp-off and die. To ventilate, simply raise the lids a bit.
Leave lids closed at night.

Starting in Flats

In a flat, the bottom quarter to half of
the flat should be sphagnum moss. Soil which is added to cover these
layers should be moist, not wet or dry. Seed should be thinly sown in
rows or in circles in the pot, and in rows in the flat. If more than one
kind of seed is planted in a container, the seeds should be chosen to
germinate in about the same length of time and to grow at the same rate
so that all will be ready for transplanting together. After the seed has
been placed in its rows, sand or fine compost is sifted over it to the
correct depth. The soil may then be firmed and watered, either with a
very fine misty spray from above, or by plunging the container into
water almost as deep as the soil. When wet patches begin to appear on
top of the soil, the container should be removed from the water and
drained.

Seed flats may be covered to
preserve surface moisture until germination starts. Temperature for
germination of seed may usually be somewhat higher than the plants will
bear after growth has started. (Exceptions are the seeds which need a
period of frost before they will germinate.) Soil should be kept moist,
but not wet, during this period. If the top of the container is covered
with glass or paper, the cover should be lifted occasionally to permit
air to circulate. At the first sip of fungus growth, the cover should be
removed.

As soon as the first green begins to
appear, covering should be removed from the seed pot and it should be
placed in a southern window. Gradually, as the seedlings sprout and the
roots stretch down into the pot, watering may be lighter and less
frequent, but the container should never be permitted to become dry. If
seedlings are too thick they must be thinned immediately. Occasionally
when fine seed is planted it will come up unevenly, with thick patches
in places in the pot. These patches should be thinned by means of
tweezers, because crowding at this stage will almost inevitably result
in damping-off.

Watering

Water the beds daily after planting. Use a fine can sprinkler and tepid
water. Don’t muddy the seedbed; just water it enough to be nicely damp.
One gallon sprinkling can to a 6-foot section is generally adequate.
For added moisture, beds can be opened to a warm, quiet rain.

Once
the plants have sprouted and are several weeks old — and there is the
delightful feeling of their crowding one another — lift the lids more
and more. As the growing season progresses, and the bedding plants grow
faster, there will be nice days when you should take the lids off and
get the full benefit of the sun.

First transplanting: When your plants
have grown to a size large enough to be handled, they are ready to
transplant over into the cold frame beds. There they will grow rapidly
and harden off so that the shock of final planting into the open garden
won’t hurt them.

About the only thing
that can harm growing plants in the hotbeds or cold frames is
overheating, drying out for lack of water, or being attacked by the
fungus disease known as damping-off. This damping-off or “black
root” or “wire stem” in the seedbed is caused by about a half dozen or
more fungus parasites. They usually grow near the surface, and enter the
tiny plants at the point where they emerge from the ground. All of
these fungus parasites require a high moisture content of soil and air
for quick growth.

To prevent trouble from damping-off
the best defense is to keep the air and surface of the seedbed as dry
as is consistent with good growth of the plants. Getting the beds heated
without proper ventilation, and not allowing the moisture to escape, is
what causes damping-off.

Proper Soil for Plants

Make a mixture of two parts good garden
loam, one part fine, but sharp sand, and one part leaf mold, peat, or
old decayed compost or manure. Mix well and put 8 inches of it into the
bed. It’s a good idea to let it age for several months before seeding.
Sift the soil mixture through a one-fourth-inch mesh screen to get it in
condition for planting. When screening the mixture, place coarse
screenings in the bottom of the flats to provide better drainage.

There
is enough plant food in this mixture without adding manure or organic
fertilizers high in nitrogen. Used too soon, these often cause the young
plants to grow too rapidly, unbalancing their natural growth.

When
to Plant: Two separate compartments are helpful in the cold frame. All
vegetables do not require the same temperature for germination. Where
some will sprout in the heat, others will rot. To get the maximum number
of plants from the seed, the plants must be divided into two groups.
Celery, cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, and broccoli require low
temperatures for germination. Plant these together in one section of the
cold frame, dropping the seeds evenly in rows two inches apart. Plant
about the first week in April or 8 weeks before transplanting time. An
inch of fine mulch may be spread evenly over the seeded area to keep the
ground moist and to discourage early weeds. The growing plants will
push their way through as they grow. Water lightly, then close the
frame.

About the middle of April, when the
sun is warmer, plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, muskmelons, summer
squash, and cucumbers. Plant these in the other half of the bed. The
plants in the first half of the bed should have sprouted by now and need
ventilation. Close the cover on the tomato bed until the plants sprout,
then ventilate along with the other half.

Cucumbers,
muskmelons, and summer squash are grown in parts of milk cartons and
set out in the open after danger of frost. This is not absolutely
necessary. It merely helps produce an earlier yield.

Ventilation: No matter what the
germination temperatures had been, all growing plants do best around 70
degrees. Regulate temperature each day by slightly lifting the two
sashes. On cold days, allow the beds to remain closed. Never lift covers
into the wind. A cold wind can damage the tender shoots. Open away from
the draft, and secure the windows so they will not be broken.

Nevada’s
experiment station points out that flats, cold frames and hotbeds will
bring many plants into production a month to 6 weeks earlier than when
they are sown outdoors.

The minimum
maturity dates given here indicate the length of time required for
maturing after the plants are set in Nevada’s high altitude gardens.
(Click on the “Image Gallery” to see this table.) At elevations below
5,000 feet, and in favorable seasons, some fruit may ripen in a shorter
period

From How to Grow Vegetables and Fruits by the Organic Method ©1961 by
J.I. Rodale. Permission granted by Rodale Press, Inc., Emmaus, Pa.
18049.