Difference between Hot Bed and Cold Frame
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Hot Bed
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Cold Frame
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1. A hot bed is generally a mass of well-prepared manure placed out doors with a glass or polythene frame placed on top to it.
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1. A cold frame is an outdoor growing “area” built without a bottom but with a solid-sided frame of wood, cement or brick, and a removable hinged top, glazed with glass, Fiberglas, or plastic.
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2. Hot beds are used for starting the plants.
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2. Cold frames are used for tempering or hardening plants to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
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3. Hot beds have a heat source.
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3. Cold frame has no heat source.
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4. Hotbeds are heated with electric soil cables, stable manure or steam, or hot water heated with flues.
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4. Cold frames receive all of their heat directly from the sun.
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5. Present-day hot beds are built even with or slightly below ground level and covered by glass sash.
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5. Present-day frames are often completely above ground and plastic covered.
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6. Hotbed can be used earlier in the spring and later in fall and early winter than the cold frame.
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6. Cold frame used later in the spring and earlier in fall and later winter than the hot beds.
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