![]() ![]() For example, last summer, the gardeners used the hotbed to provide a space for growing flax. We still use the hotbed for this purpose at Pennsbury (see below). ![]() If prepared properly, the hotbed could retain its heat for several weeks.Īlthough its main purpose was to jumpstart vegetables in the cold weather, colonial gardeners would have used the hotbed year round to grow a variety of plants. Straw placed on top provided additional protection from the elements. Once the manure cooled to about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, the bed was ready for seeds. Colonial gardeners would have layered soil over fresh manure from the barn to create the heat source. A brick and wood structure, the hotbed protects seedlings from the bitter cold and provides the perfect environment for out-of-season growth. In Pennsbury’s garden, the hotbed is located opposite the riverside next to the cold frames. Hot beds were a variation on the standard raised bed frame. Raised bed allowed gardeners to adjust the composition of the soil, adding or lessening acidity depending on the plant being cultivated. 16th-century engraving of a gardener working on his raised garden beds (“The Gardener’s Labyrinth,” Thomas Hill). ![]()
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