Hot Bed & Cold Frame Construction and Use

Hot beds and cold frames are used by gardeners for propagating vegetables, flowers and ornamentals. Hot beds are used for starting the plants and cold frames for tempering or hardening plants to outdoor conditions before transplanting. For most home gardeners the same frame can serve both purposes. The principle difference between the two is that hot beds have a heat source. Traditionally, hot beds and cold frames were built even with or slightly below ground level and covered by glass sash. Present-day frames are often completely above ground and plastic covered because film is generally available at a reasonable cost.