Preserving

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Baby It's COLD Outside!

At 8 AM this morning it was a brisk 4 degrees outside! That means it was a little colder at 7 AM.!! The temperature in the cold frames was a nice warm 31! I looked at the cold frame thermometer at 6 AM and it was 30.


That's not a bad temperature. It seems like the cold frame temperatures stay more consistent when there is snow on them. I have noticed on days when the temperatures are more normal, the cold frames stay about 37 with the snow on them. When there is no snow, the temperatures can fluctuate from the high 20's at night and can go as high as the 60's during the day when the sun is shining on them. I really try to pay attention and open them on sunny days to keep the temperatures lower.



12 comments:

  1. Yep, woke up to -3 today on my end of the state. I am ready for Spring for sure.

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  2. We're at 5 degrees here in Michigan, but those folks up further near Sault Ste Marie, MI are WAY below zero. I don't mind winter, but that is crazy cold!

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  3. Do you think that keeping snow on the cold frame glass will have negative impact on the plants, as they are in the dark then? I always thought that there should be enough light, especially as days are still so short.

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  4. Snow is indeed a good insulator from the cold. I don't know how it works I just know that it does. The ground can even not be frozen under big piles of snow in the winter even when the temperatures are way below freezing. I've been reading many blogs about winter gardening and may just try it next winter. This blog has been a great help with the ligistics of how it's done.

    Have a great winter garden day.

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  5. Are your cold frames heated at all? That's great that its warmer in there than outside.

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  6. Jane, It's going to be really cold for a couple of days. It is supposed to be -0 tonight...I think it's time for spring.

    Sue. We're not quite that cold. The temperatures are supposed to get better on Tuesday with a high of 29!

    Mojo, I have those rope lights in the cold frame so, they will be getting some light. I will remove the snow on Tuesday when the temperatures rise a bit.

    David, I am happy that my blog has been of some help to you. I noticed that my herbs stay greener in the winter when they are buried in the snow. I just go out there, remove some snow and clip them for cooking.

    Mimi, I have a set of rope lights on the ground which does help the soil temperature a bit. I did that beccause I did not plant my winter crops on time. I don't know if I will use the rope lights next winter though.

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  7. Similar temps here this morning. I don't have a remote thermometer in the cold frames, but I do have an extra one in the attic I could put out there. I am curious now as to how the temps really are. I do keep one in the greenhouse all the time. It was 28F in there this morning.

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  8. It's times like this that I'm glad I live in zone 9! Course, when the temps get into the triple digit for days on end in the summer, well, we won't talk about that!
    ~~Lori

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  9. Snow is a great insulator. Curious as to why you might not use the rope lights next year though...

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  10. There have been no snow in my place fortunately but the temperature is severely cold but judging from your post it seems to be a colder winter in your place. Today I've set up 4 vinyl tunnels for komatunas and spinaches working as coldframe. I know my tunnel can keep the air warm inside like your coldframes

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  11. Villager, It's interesting to see the actual temperatures out there. My thermometer can accomodate up to three remote sensors. I think we are going to get an additional sensor when we put the greenhouse up.

    Lori, Although it would be nice to live in a warmer climate in the winter. I could not handle the hot temperatures in the summer.

    Jenn, The main reason I put the rope lights in there was because I didn't plant my winter crops at the proper time. Maybe next year I will have one cold frame with the lights and one without. We will see.

    takaeko, It is very very cold year, much colder then normal. I will be curious to see how your vinyl tunnels work for you.

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  12. It is hitting -11f here tonight... glade it will only be for one night. Is it March yet?

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