Cold Frame vs Starting Indoors

This is no doubt a very basic question; I probably can;t find a quick anwer because the answer is so obvious. Here it is. When do you use/need a cold frame? If you start plants indoors, do you need to then transfer them to a cold frame? Do you use a cold frame to start plants outside, eliminating the need to start plants indoors? I have found articles on how to start plants indoors and how to use a cold fram, but no discussion of whether you used both method together or if they are used independently.

I have always started with plants from my local nursery. But I am ready to take my gardening to the next level of obsession by growing plnats from seed, saving seeds, etc.

Thanks.

I only use cold frames to start cold hardy vegetables. ( broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) for early spring transplants. There are folks who start cold intolerant plants ( tomatoes peppers, eggplants) inside and then put them in a cold frame for a week or so to harden them off before transplanting . I harden off but just find a sheltered place outside without tying up a cold frame. Cold frames can also be used to grow cold hardy vegetables like lettuce in the offseason.

I have a greenhouse, but I also have a cold frame. It's just a big square box, with a plexiglass lid. It's about 12 inches deep, and I customized the soil. I start lettuce, and Asian greens in the cold frame. March can be very cold, and April can be too warm. So what I do is grow the greens and lettuces in the cold frame, and they are a good size when it's time to plant them. Because they are growing outside they seem to withstand cooler nights than say plants started in the greenhouse. The cold frame veggies are greener, thicker stems, and very healthy. I'll always have a cold frame. Once I remove most of the greens, I'll toss in a few tomato seeds. They germinate very quickly, and are ready for transplanting in early May. I mainly use my greenhouse for herb and flower starting, but I like the cooler conditions of a cold frame for spring vegetables.

So a cold frame is used to start plants in pots etc. outside instead of starting the plants indoors. Correct?

I have started plants in those black cell packs with the clear domes. The black cell packs are good if you want to get an early start on squash or cucumbers. One seed per block. But mostly, I just break up the soil, and smooth it out in the cold frame, and use it like a mini-greenhouse. Just be sure to label each row or area when planting. If the cold frame has good insulation, and a tight fitting top or lid, then you can start a lot of seed in there. In March, I start most of my spring vegetables in the cold frame. On really cold nights, you can throw an old blanket or a piece of carpet over the cold frame for added insulation. And you can start seeds in small pots filled with seed starting mix. [ I like Hoffman's seed starter mix]. Be sure to vent the cold frame on warm days, and let in a little fresh air. I just like the cold frame for starting my salad vegetables, and it's good to over winter lettuce, and kale. It's a good piece of garden equipment to have. It's saves a lot of money when you can start flowers, herbs, and vegetables from seed.

I don't use pots in a cold frame, but you could. It is basicly an unheated greenhouse, that can hold temps 10 degrees or so above the ambient temp at night and much more in the sunlight. I do not use them for cold sensitive veggies except sweet potatoes. But they are great for frostproof veggies like brassicas. I start the sweet potatoes late after the brassicas have been transplanted.

your cold frame can be used with pots, as I do and this saves any root disturbance, it is also good for starting cuttings from shrubs, or seeds from trees etc, there are no right ways or wrong, it is just another option to protect seeds/cuttings in the cold weather, it all depends on what your winter temps are, some folks dont need to use the cold frame till after Jan, others as you have heard, grow winter salads and veg to eat between the start of Autumn and spring, I have a greenhouse too, so I dont use me cold frame till Feb when my greenhouse started seeds are potted on into there pots from the seed trays, I harden them off in the cold frame and it leaves me room in the greenhouse to start my summer bedding plants earlier had I not moved things into the frame, I think all the people here are saying much the same thing in that you can use your cold frame in whatever way suits your own needs and what kind of seeds or plants it is your requiring to protect, the mane thing to remember is that is is an extension to your indoor seeding regime for whenever they have reached the stage where they can be put out into the frame, and that certain seeds can be started out in the cooler conditions of the frame. Always remember that you will still need to ventilate the frame when needed and water if need be, wish you good luck and remember that if you suffer losses, there is still time to start again because the frame allows you to get a head start from normal sowing times. best wishes. WeeNel.