Extending the SeasonExtending the Season

Start earlier in Start earlier in spring and enjoy spring and enjoy fresh food soonerfresh food sooner

Extend season Extend season

into fall into fall

Season-stretching devices Season-stretching devices

Add four to six weeks to front end and Add four to six weeks to front end and back end of growing seasonback end of growing season

UsesUses

Early spring plantingEarly spring planting

Harden off seedlings started indoorsHarden off seedlings started indoors

Extend fall gardenExtend fall garden

Simple is bestSimple is best

Withstand strong windsWithstand strong winds

Shed rain and snowShed rain and snow

Absorb and store solar warmthAbsorb and store solar warmth

What plants to useWhat plants to use

Cool season plants - lettuce, spinach, Cool season plants - lettuce, spinach, coles – coles –

don’t need much heat at don’t need much heat at night night

Simple plastic cloches, plastic-covered Simple plastic cloches, plastic-covered cold frames raise nighttime cold frames raise nighttime temperatures 4 to 5 degreestemperatures 4 to 5 degrees

insulating blanket - 8 to 10 degreesinsulating blanket - 8 to 10 degrees

Black water bottles – 12-15 degrees Black water bottles – 12-15 degrees (release stored daytime warmth at (release stored daytime warmth at night)night)

MaterialsMaterials

Found or recycled materials Found or recycled materials

Purchased kitsPurchased kits

ClochesCloches

Low, transparent individual plant Low, transparent individual plant protectors protectors

ClochesCloches

for plants spaced for plants spaced more than 8 inches more than 8 inches apart, such as apart, such as tomatoes and tomatoes and peppers peppers

ClochesCloches

plastic milk jugs or clear plastic bottlesplastic milk jugs or clear plastic bottles

set of three large cloches - £36 set of three large cloches - £36 ($75.00)($75.00)

set of three small cloches - £15 set of three small cloches - £15 ($30.00)($30.00)

ClochesCloches

Must be heavy Must be heavy

Must be able to stake to groundMust be able to stake to ground

ClochesCloches

Bamboo clochesBamboo cloches

cover with plasticcover with plastic or fabricor fabric

ClochesCloches

TunnelsTunnels

Plastic-covered Plastic-covered (switch to remay in (switch to remay in

warmer weather)warmer weather)

Low tunnels stand Low tunnels stand firmer in wind firmer in wind

Must hold up under Must hold up under heavy snow loads - heavy snow loads - sturdy support sturdy support

TunnelsTunnels

Fence wire, concrete Fence wire, concrete reinforcing wirereinforcing wire

Simple metal hoops Simple metal hoops

Green saplings Green saplings

Small diameter plastic Small diameter plastic pipe. pipe.

TunnelsTunnels

2-foot overhang on both sides 2-foot overhang on both sides

Edge-weights:Edge-weights:

bricks bricks

landscape timberslandscape timbers

firewoodfirewood

TunnelsTunnels

Ventilate –Ventilate –

purchase slitted plasticpurchase slitted plastic

open ends, hold open with open ends, hold open with clothespinsclothespins

TunnelsTunnels

Cover tunnels with old blankets or Cover tunnels with old blankets or bedspreads on frigid nightsbedspreads on frigid nights

Won’t hurt plants to leave blankets on Won’t hurt plants to leave blankets on up to four days (storms) up to four days (storms)

Other strategiesOther strategies

Wrap tomato cage with clear plasticWrap tomato cage with clear plastic

Staple bubble wrap over cardboard Staple bubble wrap over cardboard box box

fold in top flaps for stabilityfold in top flaps for stability

fold out bottom flaps, weight with fold out bottom flaps, weight with bricks bricks

Solar Water BottlesSolar Water Bottles

Paint square milk jugs black, fill with Paint square milk jugs black, fill with waterwater

Stack along inside of cold frame Stack along inside of cold frame

Release warmth at nightRelease warmth at night

Cold FramesCold Frames

Cold framesCold framesPermanent:

thermostat-controlled vent windows, heating units - like miniature greenhouse

Portable:

more flexibility

lightweight,

take into garden

Portable framePortable frame

Place in garden seven to 10 days before planting date to warm

Plant crop directly into frame

Remove frame when weather stabilizes

Make Your OwnMake Your Own

Stack bricks or bales of straw, cover with a window

Build a box, cover with old storm window

Attach plastic window-well covers to hinged frame

Increase temperature:Locate near wall of heated building

insulate walls

Sink foundation in soil

double-glazed top

heating cable or manure

TipsTips

Orient east to west for best sun

Make frame lower on south side – more sun

Paint inside white to reflect sunlight

TipsTips

Vent – don’t let temperature rise above 80

Automatic opener takes out guesswork

Check for air leaks

Irrigate with warm water

Cold FramesCold Frames

Cold FramesCold Frames

Cold FramesCold Frames

Cold FramesCold Frames

Hot BedHot Bed

Adding heating coils or manure to warm

soil turns cold frame into hot bed and extends winter usefulness

Mini-GreenhousesMini-Greenhouses

Wall-O-WaterWall-O-Water

ReusableReusable

expensive comparativelyexpensive comparatively

more effective than other materialsmore effective than other materials

can add several weeks growthcan add several weeks growth