How To Get Started With Hot Bed Gardening

Hot bed gardening is a centuries old way of cultivating plants in colder weather areas. It is once again gaining in popularity, with gardening enthusiasts seeking new earth-friendly techniques. 

Curious how “hot beds” came into existence? Hot beds were common in the Victorian era. It is a method to grow plants in cooler than normal temperatures, without the use of conventional greenhouses.

Growing fruits and vegetables out of season requires ingenuity. Popular fruits and vegetables such as greens for salads, melons, cucumbers, and strawberries are in demand year round and hot beds can increase their growing season. Plants are blanketed by layers of manure and straw, which generates heat.

To utilize the hot bed technique, arrange the manure in a pile, for a stretch of 9 days. Turn over the mound every 3 days. If local conditions are not humid, sprinkle the pile with water. This allows for the even distribution of heat.

There are various methods to construct a hot bed outdoors or in an unheated greenhouse. Outdoors, one way is to create a wooden frame to be placed over the manure mound. The frame should be sloped and fitted with a glass lid, which helps to retain heat.
 
An alternative way is the pit method, for those lacking a greenhouse or not desiring to construct a frame. Essentially you dig a hole in the ground to a depth of approximately 6 feet. The first half of this depth will be filled with the prepared straw and manure mixture. Press the mixture down tightly. Compressing and packing the mix down is important, so essential heat will be generated. Next a foot or so of topsoil and nutrient rich compost is placed on top. The remaining 2 feet form a natural protective recess.  Fit the pit with a glass lid. This will ensure that the heat will be retained within the pit. Proper heat retention will help the process.

You can then begin to plant, using seeds placed right into the layer of top soil. Use of seedling trays are also an option. Beginning in January, you can plant radishes, lettuces and other salad greens. The manure will need to be replaced every 2 months. After this period, the manure will lose it ability to retain heat. Heat retention is essential to hot bed gardening. After harvesting the vegetables, remove the manure and replace with a fresh new layer.

In the spring months, April or May, you can begin planting other varieties of produce. Many plant families exist. Try you hand at any that interest you. Apiaceae family includes carrots, celery, and parsnip. Brassicaceae includes cabbage. Cucurbitaceae plants are comprised of cucumbers, melons and zucchini.