A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 cold frame ?'s

We have a small cold frame....about 4'x2'. It has a nice...ummm...I call it a vent guage cause I don't know what the name of it is. Basically, its a piece of wood that is stuck into the ground next to it with holes in it that I put a peg into it and that's how I keep the top open at varrying heights. ANYWAYS...we are wanting to do a small veggie garden this summer and I'd like to start the plants to get a jump on the season. I want to do a couple tomato plants for salsa, some peppers (habanero and jalepeno), and then some herbs...maybe some others. Can I start these things in the cold frame?? Can they be put in now or do I need to wait? I've never used the cold frame before...it was here from the previous owner. We are on the line between zones 6a and 6b.

Maybe it's time to experiment if you have enough seeds and stuff that it wouldn't be a hardship.

Good luck whatever you decide.

im also on the line between 6a&b. i would recomend checking to see if whst all you want to plant is winter sowable. the tomatoes im sure would be fine to do now. most herbs would probably be ok too. im not sure about peppers... surely someone will know.

good luck

If you want to have Early plants you should start your seeds indoors and use the cold frame to harden them off. Follow the directions on the seed packet as to when you should sow indoors. If you want to "winter sow " them you can do them anytime, however I would wait another month before putting them out. Winter sown seeds will tomatoes will be later to bear than plants you buy from your nursery.

You're better off starting your seed indoors and using the cold frame to harden off the plants as rogmee said. Most veggie seed, especially tomato and pepper seed, need warm temps for the seed to germinate. Start a couple flats of seed indoors under an inexpensive flourescent shoplight 4-8 weeks before last frost, pot them up and then start to harden them off in your coldframe.

4-8 flats!! Sheesh...I'm thinking more like 10 seeds! We're only going to be at this house for another year so we don't want to plant too many. Thanks for all of the advice. I guess I'm itching to get back into the garden.

4-8 weeks

oh!! LOL!! Sorry! I was in a rush this morning and must not have read that correctly. Nothing new for me....you'll learn. :rolleyes:

Oh I've done the same thing many, many times, lol. Good luck with your endeavor