Greenhouse and Cold Frame Tips for the Winter Months
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This is a homemade cold frame with a variety of greens being grown in January 2019
For starters, what is the difference between a greenhouse and a cold frame? Well, the only difference is that a greenhouse has another source of heat rather than the sunlight. A cold frame is the same thing as a greenhouse but it’s only source of heat is the sun. Weather you have a greenhouse or a cold frame, you have the opportunity to extend your growing seasons for many different types of plants.
Greenhouses and cold houses both can be a great benefit but they might need some extra care in the winter months. You might need to spend some time on the exterior and interior of your structure to make sure it’s good to go.
At this point in the year, if your structure has survived the wind, lots of rain, the snow and the ice, you’re doing something right. Let’s talk about some important hints to keep in mind in these weather conditions. First of all, make sure that your structure is secure. You do not want any plastic or fabric flapping in the wind because that can lead to stress and eventual damage. Next, make sure than any vents are closed and all doors are firmly secured to prevent any temperature issues inside. Especially important in these winter months is to make sure that you frequently check your structure in winter weather. If there are any snow accumulations on the room, to remove those as quick as possible to prevent collapsing or stressing of materials.
Once you have made sure that the exterior of your structure is good to go, move inside and prepare the interior. First and foremost, keep it clean. Remove any unnecessary equipment that is causing clutter and taking up growing room. Any clutter can be a safe haven for any type of rodents or other pests. Next, remove any dead plants from your greenhouse to make sure that you are not harboring any diseases. Next and possibly my most important tip is that it may be wet outside, you still need water plants inside of your structure. And my last tip is to make sure that you don’t get the temperature inside your structure too high, especially in greenhouses when you are adding heat. Be mindful of the plants you have in your structure and their preferred growing temperature.
If you have lost you structure, don’t give up. It can be a temporary setback, but now you know what to improve upon when you get your structure fixed. If you need any building information, general greenhouse or cold house information, or anything related to those topics, feel free to reach out to the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Stokes County Center at 336-593-8179 we will be glad to help you.