Cold frame and snow.

Hi all,

I made a cold frame last year from a double glazed window my inlaws were replacing and wooden gravel boards. It is now covered in snow, is it better to clear it off or leave it for extra insulation?

Rusty

 

Ideally put some carpet, or something else thick that will keep the cold out, over the cold frame during very cold weather - e.g. if night is -3C or lower, or if night is 0C or lower if you have more temperature sensitive plants in there

I would clear the snow during the day so that any sunlight raises the temperature, although a covering of snow will be warmed from below by ground temperature

My greenhouse is rising 3C or so during the day, even though we have had the greyist of grey days. So I think it is worth letting the light in unless the day temperature is perishingly cold

 

I usually leave snow for a couple of days, if its still there after that I clear it to let more light in.
I do have a couple of layers of bubble wrap that I roll down overnight when its cold.

 

In my opinion it depends upon what you have in it and what time of year it is!

For instance I am over wintering a few perennial cuttings which have not set off yet so I will be leaving the snow on as an extra insulation layer.

Had my stuff been producing new growth then I would have removed it!

Now whether that is good practice or not I am not sure!