Spring gardening tip: How to use a cold frame to get a jump on spring planting

00:02 Cole explains that cold frames can extend the gardening season by allowing you to start earlier and finish later.

00:12 Cold frames are easy to build and can be made with normal six-inch pressure-treated decking.

00:20 To build a cold frame, you simply form a box and set it on the ground slightly below ground level. Then, make a top for it using the same wood or a different material like two by fours.

00:39 Find some sort of material to glaze the cold frame with such as glass or double layer polycarbonate plastic.

00:53 Once the cold frame is built, you can place plants in it at night, close it down, and open it up in the morning. The plants will continue to grow nicely because they are protected from cold temperatures at night.

01:11 When putting plant packs into a cold frame, use an open type of tray to hold them for better drainage and to prevent drowning the roots in water.

01:44 Prepare the soil in the cold frame by working in mulch, removing weeds, and spooning it up with a trowel. This way, you can plant directly into it.

02:09 At night, if there is a cold night, you can close the cold frame to protect the plants. The rest of the time, the cold frame can stay open.

02:16 Once the weather is warm, you can remove the top of the cold frame entirely. In the autumn, you can put the top back on and grow more lettuce, closing it down when the nights get colder to protect the lettuce from freezing temperatures.

02:46 Having a cold frame in a garden can save you effort and prevent loss of plants by extending the growing season.