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Cold Frames – Extending The Usefulness of a Cold Frame

This great tip for extending the usefulness of a cold frame was sent in by a reader. We’ve not tried all the tips – so if you try a tip, let us know how you got on in the comments box below.

Coldframes can be too hot in summer

We’re always happy to get comments, tips and even full articles for the site from gardeners: just contact me or pop your tip in on the comments box below.

Extending The Usefulness of a Cold Frame

Cold frames are a great way of starting some seeds and plants off, hardening others and providing shelter to boost growth. Unfortunately, come the warmer weather, they can get very hot indeed, too hot.

Removing the glass can help but plants can still be scorched by the sun in the enclosed box. Opening up also allows pests and problems in like aphids and butterflies. I’ve even found a cat happily curled up and asleep on the seedlings.

So to help you use the frames for longer in the growing year, cut up some old net curtain or better still insect netting to the size of the top of the cold frame. Using sticky backed Velcro tape stick it on the top edges of the frame and around the edges of the old netting making a cover.

When fixed it will let the light and air in but will stop the scorching effect of the hot sun whilst keeping out the insect pests and possibly sleepy cats. Come the evening, it provides a little extra shelter – evening the temperature.

The Velcro will let you remove and replace it quickly when access is needed.

When sticking the Velcro on the curtain its works best if you can iron it on a flat surface. When sticking on the frame, if it’s wood, I found that a couple of staples added to each bit of Velcro makes it last all season.

Thanks to Henry for this tip on using a coldframe