Best Cold Frame Reviews 2023

As with any product, different variants look and function differently and of course carry different price tags. Cold frames are like that too, and the material used, the size, and the extra functionality added are some of the factors that determine the cost. Inasmuch as we’d like to have the best cold frames with all the bells and whistles available, we should also be aware that we’re not allowed to spend all our money on cold frames.

The high-end and large sized cold frames usually cost around $500 while the more affordable ones that won’t have as many features will go for less than $50. There are the cheap cold frames too, but these ones are recommended for people who would be better off flushing money down the drain since most are not built to withstand either time or weather.

You can have a great head start ahead of the gardening season with a good cold frame. If you don’t have a lot of space or you just prefer to nurture your seedlings in a nursery before they go out into the ‘wild,’ a well-chosen cold frame has you covered. The following are features to look out for when choosing a cold frame that’ll serve your needs well:

• Material
• Size
• Design
• Accessibility
• Accessories

If one of your goals is to protect your outdoor potted plants during bad weather, it needs to have shelves enough to hold the weight. There are also ones designed with an “open bottom” that can be placed directly over the top of established ground plants.

You now have a good idea what features are important in a cold frame. As you read along, you’ll further understand how these features affect the efficacy of cold frames.

Materials used in making cold frames are in two categories: the frame and the covering. The frame has to do with the structural integrity, shape, and size of the cold frame. The popular materials used are aluminum, steel, plastic, and wood. Though they all offer a sturdy structure, you’ll have to consider some other factors that’ll affect the performance of your cold frame. These factors include things such as the ease of assembly, weight, cost, aesthetics etc.

There are also different types of materials used for covering up the frame; they usually affect the seeds and plants you’ll be housing in them. You may also want to consider the insulation, lighting, and protection when deciding on the material you want for your covering. Glass, polythene, and polycarbonate are mostly used for cold frame covering. These materials have different weights, so if you’ll be moving your cold frame around for whatever reasons, you should consider the lightweight coverings. The thickness of the covering affects the insulation of the cold frame, so a good knowledge of the temperature your seeds and plants will thrive under will help you decide the thickness of the covering you go for.

We all know plants need light, but some need it more than others. In that case, you need to consider how much light you want to get into your cold frame. Coverings often affect light in different ways; diffused coverings will reduce the intensity of the light that gets into the cold frame while clear coverings let in light as is. Semi-diffused combines the benefits of both types.

The size of the cold frame you go for will likely be determined by how much space you have to keep it. There are some cold frame designs, which we’ll talk about soon, that’ll help you manage space while you plant more. Some cold frames are big enough to allow you enter and tend to your plants. This brings us to accessibility, which is simply that an ideal cold frame will give you convenient access to its content.

Cold frames come in different styles and designs, there are the ones that are used to cover seeds and plants while they are in-ground to protect them from the weather, rodents, and to control temperature. There are also some you need to fill with soil and drop your seedlings into so they can sprout in a controlled environment. A third design is one that’s similar to the in-ground design but is mainly used for potted plants and can be used indoors. Most of the indoor designs have clear coverings that let the beauty of the plants be appreciated, which can more or less serve to beautify your balconies and patios. Some designs help you save space as they have a compact footprint but are layered upwards, allowing you to plant more while using less space. This type is ideal for users who don’t have a backyard they can use for gardening but can’t be kept away from the hobby they love.

There are other cool features which cold frames can have that’ll add an edge to their performance. Glass could crack under too much heat and plastics will eventually succumb when exposed to sunlight over time. So, some cold frame covers are treated to be UV-resistant so they can withstand direct sunlight, thus extending their durability. There are some cold frames that have tiers and allow you to customize the shelves to suit your gardening plans. You can reduce the distance between layers if you’re just starting out with seedlings and increase it when the plants start to sprout so they can have the space they need to grow.

There are some accessories you can use with your cold frame to make them all the better. Automatic louvers can be installed with your cold frame so you can control the ventilation and insulation. The louver will automatically open when the heat in the cold frame reaches a set level and shut when heat needs to be retained. Automatic irrigation can also be installed too, which will water your seeds and plants at pre-set times with the aid of some battery-operated device.

With this information you now have, we hope it’ll help you decide which features are critical to how you intend to use the cold frame and will also make it easier for you to decide on a particular one to buy.