How to Construct Hotbeds for Tomatoes

A variety of garden structures can extend the growing seasons in spring and fall. Greenhouses, cold frames, hoop houses, row covers and individual plant covers such as cloches give the gardener some control over the environmental conditions for plants. Tomatoes are one of the most common garden plants and need a long warm growing season. Gardeners can get a head start or extend the growing season by building a simple hotbed.

Concrete blocks
Old window
Measuring tape
Shovel
Wheelbarrow or large tarp
Gravel
Tamper
Fresh manure

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the size of the old windows to be used for the hotbed.
- 2
  Mark off an area the length and width of the windows, preferably near a water source.
- 3
  Dig the area of the hotbed down 2 feet, putting the soil you remove into a wheelbarrow or on a large tarp.
- 4
  Stack the cement blocks around the edge of the hotbed area, inside the excavated space. Build the back wall of the hotbed 3 feet above surface level and slope the left and right sides slightly downward. The front panel of the hotbed should only be about 1 foot high.
- 5
  Spread 2 inches of gravel at the bottom of the excavated area and tamp it down.
- 6
  Spread 1 foot of fresh manure on top of the gravel and tamp it down. Water the manure with a watering can or hose so that it is moistened by not waterlogged.
- 7
  Cover the manure layer with 2 feet of rich loam soil.
- 8
  Mound the excavated soil up around the outside of the hotbed walls for insulation.
- 9
  Plant tomato seeds or seedlings in the soil or on top of the soil in pots, and place the old window on top of the cement block walls of the hotbed.

How to Grow Bean Sprout Roots

How to Grow Cantaloupe in the Shade

Vegetable Garden