Hotbed Gardening Basics For Beginners

Though colonists were limited in their food options during winter months, in spring they could rely on growing their own produce with help from hotbeds made out of brick and wood that helped manipulate Mother Nature’s frozen grip on gardens by creating heat with layers of fresh manure topped with straw that provided warmth needed to grow crops out-of-season.

How to build a hotbed

A hotbed is an underground trench filled with organic material and covered by a mound of topsoil, consisting of layers of manure or compost at its base, where microbes play their magic to break down decomposing matter into heat that keeps your seedlings warm and comfortable in their new home. You may need to experiment with various combinations until you find one that best meets your needs – however don’t overload your bed as this could prove detrimental!