Specialty Crop

Hotbeds are used most often for starting and growing young plants in late winter and spring. Seedlings are often started in a greenhouse, and moved to a hotbed when they fill the available space. Hotbeds provide an economical way to grow plants until they are transplanted to their permanent outdoor locations. Cold frames work as solar heat traps to warm soil and plants during late fall and early spring. They can also improve the growth of cold-sensitive crops such as tomatoes when they are grown in areas with low summer temperatures. This UW Extension bulletin teaches readers how to construct, cover, heat, and manage hotbeds, and how to build, shelter, and manage cold frames.