David Kuchta, Ph.D. has 10 years of experience in gardening and has read widely in environmental history and the energy transition. An environmental activist since the 1970s, he is also a historian, ...

Discover the different types of cold frames. These valuable tools extend the growing season and protect plants from frost.

Cold frames are an ingenious way to shield plants from cold weather while creating the perfect microclimate for growth. Building your own cold frame from recycled materials is an eco-conscious, ...

You can make a DIY cold frame by stacking bricks against the south-facing wall of your home and covering the new garden bed with glass. I wanted a cold frame in my tiny Zone 5 garden, but I lacked the ...

Figure 1: The basic PVC pipe frame is 5.5 feet cubed. Need a small greenhouse? A DIY greenhouse made out of PVC might be just what you’re looking for. Learn how to build a PVC greenhouse using plastic ...

Cold frames are season-extending covers constructed over vegetable beds to keep the frost off. Like a miniature, temporary greenhouse, they are employed in early spring to create a warm space for ...

POP Projects is a collection of new and classic projects from more than a century of Popular Mechanics. Master skills, get tool recommendations, and, most importantly, build something of your very own ...

As winter approaches, frost becomes an issue for late-harvest plants, or those you're nursing into spring. Cold frames and hoop tunnels help keep plants toasty.

With subfreezing temperatures and snow-covered soil, the gift of green emerging from the ground can seem miraculous. Just like in summer, when your own sun-warmed tomatoes seem far superior than ...