HELP! hot frame - to cover or not to cover

[cindy-e]

Well, my hot frame is not so hot anymore. There appears to be ice on the INSIDE of the glass. It got down to 16 degrees last night, and I had it covered, so it is only a little bit of ice.

I did prepare for this in that (knowing I had never tried a hotframe before, and didn't know what to expect) I put cold weather plants in there that will likely be OK with a little frost.

But at this point, is it better to keep the blankets on, or pull them off and let the sun hit the glass so the little plants get at least a little sun. It's 25 degrees today.

Thanks for your help,

Cindyc.

[cindy-e]

Well, I couldn't resist. I went out and opened it. Dumb, I know, I should leave the heat in! But it is still considerably warmer in there than it is outside, and yesterday in the snow, or this morning with ice on the inside of that window, my SPINACH ACTUALLY GREW! My lettuces look great. My peas... I'm not too sure. Either we are having a really spotty germination in there or they are not doing so hot. Still nothing from the broccolli.

The cover has been off to day to allow for them to get a little sun, since I didn't know what else to do. I think I will leave it that way (unless somebody tells me not to) and re cover them again tonight.

Anyway, fwiw. -)

Cindyc.

[Paquebot]

The air inside was not froze, it was just the condensation on the glass. That's normal under the conditions. It's no different than if you had frost on the inside of a window in your house. I may see that in my cold frames and have tomato seedling leaves only 3 or 4 inches away but no damage to the plants. Depending upon how air-tight your structure is, best to cover it if there is a chance of heat loss. For certain, let the sun through in the daytime. We had a few days last week when the air temperatures were only in the low 30s but the cold frames were in the 60s.

Martin

[cindy-e]

Originally Posted by Paquebot

The air inside was not froze, it was just the condensation on the glass. That's normal under the conditions. It's no different than if you had frost on the inside of a window in your house. I may see that in my cold frames and have tomato seedling leaves only 3 or 4 inches away but no damage to the plants. Depending upon how air-tight your structure is, best to cover it if there is a chance of heat loss. For certain, let the sun through in the daytime. We had a few days last week when the air temperatures were only in the low 30s but the cold frames were in the 60s.

Martin

Whew! Well, I did the right thing even though I didn't really know what I was doing I guess. That just confirms what I need to do tonight, though. I really appreciate it Martin.

Thanks!

Cindyc.

[Paquebot]

Air temperature here is 28º right now. Both cold frames were covered with almost 2" of white ice. Lifted it off in huge chunks and both thermometers showed over 40º. The frozen snow was just like a blanket. Now that the sun can get at the glass, it will shoot right up to 60º yet this afternoon. Nothing planted yet as it will be another 3 weeks before the tomatoes will be started in one of them and 5 weeks before brassica family in the other.

Martin