“How to Construct a Hot Bed”
The making of a hotbed frame is a simple piece of carpentry. At the back it should be about eighteen inches high. If it is six feet wide there should be a slope of six or eight inches towards the sun. This would make the front ten or twelve inches deep, according to the slope decided on.
The slope is one of the important things to consider, for the sash should be just the right angle to receive the fullest possible exposure from the sun. If too flat, or too upright, you fail to get the warmth desired. Therefore be sure to adjust the angle giving you the optimum benefit of the sun.
Bevel the back and front of the boards of the frame, so the sash will hug closely and fit snugly all around. Care should be taken, in putting the frame together, to have every joint perfect, otherwise poor joints and ill fitting sash will allow heat to escape more rapidly than it is generated, thus making the hotbed a failure.
If more than one sash is used for each frame or section, a sturdy piece of wood should run from the front to the back so the pieces of the sash can rest on the sturdy piece of wood where they meet. If large pieces of sash are used, you will find them to be quite heavy, therefore the frame and its cross-strips should in turn be be made of strong construction.
It pays to take the time to do the job right for a good hot bed frame will last for many seasons if well constructed and properly cared for after it is emptied of its seedlings.
It often happens that we have severe weather after we get the hot-bed in operation. In such cases we must cover the sash with something that will prevent frost from forming on the glass and radiating cold down upon the delicate young plants. Strips of matting, old carpet, straw, or blankets, will work well in preventing damage to these young plants.
If the weather is bright and warm, it will be necessary to allow a little bit of air into the hotbed for the seedlings during the middle of the day; but do not lift the sash too much, and be sure that no cold wind can blow in upon the tender plants.
To facilitate this part of the work, it is a good idea to have the sash hung with hinges, at the back of the frame. If this is done, the sash can be raised or lowered without slipping out of place, as they will be quite likely to do, if simply placed over the frame without fastening.
When sowing seed in the hotbed, cover the seeds lightly with soil and press the soil down enough to make it somewhat firm, but do not pack it solidly. Water can be applied, as needed, with a hose having a spray nozzle. Never use a stream of water when watering plants in the hotbed, as this will wash the soil away from the roots of the plants.
If the glass becomes covered with moisture, after watering or from evaporation at any time during the day, lift the sash a little to allow the surplus moisture to pass off, and clear the glass so that the rays of the sun will shine on the plants freely.
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