The pros and cons of coldframes
IF you don’t have the space or finances for a greenhouse, a cold frame is an excellent alternative. Indeed, many gardeners who do have a greenhouse also have cold frames as they are a useful year-round accessory for propagation and overwintering.
Cold frames are boxes with glass lids that protect plants, but still let in light when closed. When open they give plants access to light, warmth and good ventilation. The body of the box is usually wooden, though some are made of glass or acrylic.
Position them somewhere warm, sheltered and sunny, and they will be hugely useful all year round.
At this time of year ours is packed with hardy seedlings and immature plants that have seen out the winter tucked up with crunched up newspaper between each pot and tray to add insulation and remove the risk of small, frost pockets.
Once the temperature rises I will add sown trays of hardy annuals and early summer crops, and as the year progresses the cold frame will host an ever-moving guest list of seedlings, cuttings and tender plants being hardened off before planting out.
Because cold frames are on the ground the plants are vulnerable to slug attacks, so I cover the floor area with a layer of gravel as a deterrent. I also keep old blankets and layers of fleece close by to throw over the top in case of late-spring frosts.