This NebGuide explains uses, construction, and management. Coldframes and hotbeds can help the home gardener start, grow and maintain plant material and the commercial grower propagate and display plant material. The main difference between hotbeds and coldframes is that hotbeds have a supplemental heat source. This supplemental heat source may be organic, such as manure, or non-organic, such as an electric heating cable.
Construction can be simple and inexpensive or quite sophisticated.
Providing protection for some plants in the fall. Overwinter semihardy plants. Dry fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Force flowering bulbs. Stratify seeds, nuts, and acorns.