Unfortunately my coldframe was full of planted lettuce this spring so that meant no room to put my starter plants out to harden them off. Looking around I decided to use my window wells as cold frames and they worked beautifully.
Sunken window well protects plants from cold winds and the gravel bottom makes for easy watering.
Plants covered by plastic mini-greenhouse on cold nights
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I had a question I would like to ask. We live in the mountains of Colorado. The summers are gorgeous, though global warming is making it hot. Here’s my question to you. I would like to make a basement window well into a hothouse. I would insulate the metal around it and use a plexiglass top to ensure it gets good light. It would also be getting the warmth from the room. But in winter it gets pretty cold
The summers are no problem (though the heat lately make take a toll), but the winters can get get bitterly cold with lots of snow. Will this work?
I have not tried using the window well through the winter however we have successfully overwintered spinach under the little greenhouses you see in the picture in our regular garden. A couple thoughts on making it work …
I’d try and make the top cover not only the well but the entire window (which is what I think you are planning if I can picture it right) and have it sealed around the edges to keep out cold & wind. That way you can open the window from the inside to let in heat.
If it is sealed you could also try using a heat mat (I use them to propogate seed starts in spring) on the floor of your mini greenhouse. If it is on a timer to come on at night that would help provide some heat as well.
During severe cold periods could you bring the plants in at night if needed?
Good luck and I’d love to hear if that works as I might try it too.
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