VegTrug Cold Frame For 1m Classic Raised Garden Bed Greenhouse VTCFGW0561

VegTrug Cold Frame offers to extend or have an early start of the growing season. It insulates your plants from cold temperatures on frosty spring mornings or heavy rainfall days.

Designed to fit on top of the VegTrug 1m Classic Raised Bed Planter, this unit can also be placed directly on the ground.

Features:

This Cold Frame suits seamlessly to VegTrug Classic 1m raised bed planters. NOTE: This unit is not designed for use with 1.8m Classic planters.

• Shatterproof 3.5mm polycarbonate windows ensure that the unit can withstand the elements – heavy rainfall, snow or drastic temperature change between day & night.
• Posture-saving working height of 80cm also provides wheelchair access.
• Lid opens fully to allow for tending plants, controlling temperature and air circulation.
• Use with VegTrug Classic 1m Raised Bed Planter (sold separately) or can be placed directly on the ground.
• Treated with a food-safe, water-based preservative that ensures wood is long-lasting
• Ideal for smaller spaces
• Made from 100% FSC certified timber to ensure sustainability of resources
• Easy to assemble with illustrative instructions

Specifications:

• Assembled product dimensions (L x W x H):  105cm x 76cm x 45cm
• Package dimensions (L x W x H):  108cm x 79cm x 12cm
• Weight: 10.5Kg
• Choice of colours: Grey Wash (also available in Natural)

Is Cold Frame a mini-Greenhouse?

A Cold Frame is effectively a miniature Greenhouse. It helps to extend the growing season by creating the required ambient conditions for plant growth by trapping the much needed heat & light. The roofs of a Greenhouse and a Cold Frame let the natural sunlight penetrate which builds the warmth inside these enclosures.

While large Greenhouses are used by farmers for commercial off-season crop cultivation, Cold Frames are a more suitable option for backyard garden enthusiasts with limited space to grow smaller plants such as Lettuce (or other greens), Radishes (or other roots) or herbs.

What are the environmental factors that affect plant growth?

Managing the growth and development of plants involves providing it with an appropriate growing environment. Factors such as light, temperature, and relative humidity levels help to promote photosynthesis, high yields, and generative growth.

• Temperature: As temperature increases, photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration increase. When combined with day length, temperature also affects the change from vegetative (leafy) to reproductive (flowering) growth. Plants grow best when daytime temperature is about 10 to 15 degrees higher than nighttime temperature. Under these conditions, plants photosynthesize (build up) and respire (break down) during optimum daytime temperatures and then curtail respiration at night. Daytime temperatures that are too low often produce poor growth by slowing down photosynthesis. The result is reduced yield.

• Humidity: This is a primary component of plant’s photosynthesis and respiration process. It is the source of pressure to move roots through the soil and the medium for biochemical reactions. High humidity reduces the water usage by the plant. Likewise, if humidity is very low, the plant closes its stomatal openings to minimise water loss. This reduces photosynthesis and subsequently plant growth. The optimal levels of temperature and humidity to promote plant growth are 24-28 degree Celsius and 70-80% humidity.

See here for a Temperature / Humidity / Soil pH meter reader

• Air circulation & Carbon Dioxide (CO2) level: Ample available CO2 in the surrounding atmosphere allows plants to meet their photosynthesis potential. As plants transpire or breathe, the humidity in the air saturates its leaves with water vapor. When relative humidity levels are too high or there is a lack of air circulation, a plant cannot draw nutrients from the soil. When this occurs for a prolonged period, a plant eventually rots. As long as there is good ventilation and airflow surrounding the plants there will be plenty of carbon dioxide for the plants to use.