Moving the Cold Frame

Today I prepared the cold frame for spring and planting seeds. The cold frame has been used all winter to protect tender plants but March is here and the cold frame is needed for seed cultivation. At the beginning of winter when the risk of frost began I took the shelves out of the frame and stored them in the shed. I put a tender Jasmine in the frame which took up most of the space. There was some remaining room for a Chocolate Cosmos that we had in a pot and a Grape vine. In the winter we were given some Canna Lily and Trailing Begonias which I also stored in the cold frame.

A Video of moving the cold frame ready for seeds  

I removed the Jasmine from the frame and replaced the shelves. I protected the Jasmine in a fleece and used some bubble wrap to protect the roots. Although we are now heading into spring, frosts can still easily and frequently appear at this time of year in the UK and it is still worth protecting tender plants for at least another couple of weeks.

Copyright Robert Widdowson 2016

The cold frame in its spring position where it will receive the most sun

 

In the spring we put the cold frame on the front corner of the decking. It is where the garden receives the most sun throughout the year and is therefore the best place to position it for cultivating seeds. It is not the prettiest place for it to be located, but having a small garden means making compromises, such as potentially causing damage to tender plants and not always having a garden devoted to aesthetics but sometimes function.

Copyright Robert Widdowson 2016

Plants such as this Chocolate Mint we pruned are coming back strongly

Now everything is in position for planting seeds. The tomatoes that I had already planted and placed next to the window inside the house has sprouted and are looking healthy. I have limited space inside so I have decided to start the majority of seeds outside this year in the cold frame. I will plant as many different varieties as possible in relatively small numbers to provide interest and excitement in the garden during the flowering season.