Simple Cold Frame

While walking around the back of our yard, I found this old window which I thought would be perfect for a cold frame. 10 minutes later, I had set up some bricks to frame the window, threw a little compost into it and... voila!

It was a little bit cold, as it was only March 19th but I decided that I would take a chance and plant into it. As a new gardener in Ontario, I don't know much about when it is too early to start the seeds. A few people told me mid-March was too early even for a cold frame - but I've heard of people growing year round in ON, in unheated greenhouses (I have no idea how that is possible) but if that works, then March should be fine.

And it is!

This picture was taken this morning! It seems as though one row didn't come up but the red mustard, mixed lettuce and spinach have done just fine. Obviously their growth has been a bit slow if they're only this far along but in all fairness, the week after I planted, it turned back to winter, full of snow, ice and frozen ground for at least half the week.

In the world of gardening, I truly believe that experimenting produces all kinds of results you weren't expecting and that usually the 'rules' are meant more as general guidelines.... and as a result hopefully we'll end up with greens weeks ahead of the game!