JEFFERSON\WAUKESHA WAPF CHAPTER

We have had some incredible late February weather for Southern Wisconsin. This has given us a unique opportunity to build a long dreamed of cold frame.

We decided on a hoop style cold frame due to simplicity and low cost.  I have to admit, my loving husband Mel did most of the work, but I did help!

First, he framed the base with two untreated 10' 2x6 boards and two untreated 5' 2x6 boards.

Hoops were formed with four 10' long 3/4" PVC electric conduit, sunlight resistant. Mel bent it using a weed burner torch. He felt the heat was necessary to help the hoops hold their shape better with less chance of cracking or breaking over time.

We then put 4 mil plastic sheeting over the top, securing the back side by drilling an old 2x4 over that end of the plastic . The opening side was stapled to another old 10' 2x4 we had laying around. We plan on just rolling that over the top to open as weather warms. The ends are currently just being tucked under until we can figure a better method.

I spread used bedding from our bunnies around the back bottom to help insulate.

And now I wait. In about 2 weeks I'm hoping the soil inside will be thawed so I can work the soil. My first things I will plant will be spinach & lettuce. Later, I'm also going to set all my seedling in there to start hardening them.

If this works well, I also hope to plant winter crops this fall. I've been researching what grows best in cold frames through winter. Fresh lettuce in January? Yum!
So yes, I'm already planning for next winter too.