Coldframes and Hotbeds

Coldframes and hotbeds are mini-greenhouses in that both use solar energy for a source of heat and light. Coldframes and hotbeds can help the home gardener start, grow and maintain plants, and help the commercial grower propagate and display plants.

The main differences between coldframes and hotbeds is that hotbeds have a supplemental heat source. This may be organic, such as manure, or nonorganic, such as an electric heating cable. Construction can be simple and inexpensive or quite sophisticated. The size of coldframes and hotbeds can vary significantly.