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Look what someone did! Clever!! #okanogancountyfair2016 #pumpkin #pumpkins #agriculture #gardening #mastergardening

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August Gardening Tip #3: Preparing Your Cold Frame

You've worked so hard on your garden all Spring and Summer. Don't give up on your plants now! You can extend the growing season by investing in a cold frame this August. A cold frame is a simple structure that utilizes solar energy and insulation to create a moderate climate for your garden; so they stay warm and active throughout chilly months. Cold frames are great for small vegetable gardens or flower gardens where you may not need a lot of space. Cold frames are different from greenhouses though. Greenhouses allow growing throughout the winter while cold frames will store the plants safely for warmer seasons (next spring). There are a few things to keep in-mind, however, before you purchase a cold frame such as the plants that you place into the cold frame and the type of cold frame you use.Cold frames are best suited for cool-season plants; but if you have tropical plants from your garden, you may use a cold frame this Fall to house them. With a cold frame, you will be able to provide the right conditions for dormancy until they can resume growing in spring. Keep tender plants sunken in a cold frame to provide the best insulation. Be sure to cut it back as much as possible before the first frost. If the plant is not in a container, sink the roots to insulate it. Pack the cold frame tightly with pots and add leaves and mulch over the soil. Finally, be sure to water the potsOnce the plants are safely stored in a cold frame, you will need to control the temperature to maintain dormancy. Keep the soil moderately moist but not wet. Too much water will rot the flowers if over-watered and they will not need much water in the winter season. "As a general rule, if it’s 35°F to 40°F and sunny, you should open the frame partway, while at 45°F to 50°F, you may need to open it up entirely." (Fine Gardening) Pay attention to excessive heat, as well. Consider hanging a thermometer near the cold frame to monitor the temperature fluctuations. If you are starting seeds in a cold frame, have it in place two weeks prior to seeding to warm the soil for germination. Keep the soil moist - again not wet. However, if your plants are closer to the seedling stage, you may want to wait until the outside temperatures are 45°F to 50°F before venting. Once the seedlings have germinated, the cold frame should be vented more frequently to discourage damping by air circulation. If you are starting seeds in a greenhouse, you can begin six weeks prior to transferring to a cold frame. As plants acclimate to cooler temperatures, they will begin to thicken and darken in color. New growth is a good sign that your cold frame is in place properly.