Bill’s Cold Frame

Materials Needed: 24” x 39” two track storm window * 1” x 8” x 8’ green treated lumber 1” x 12” x 8’ green treated lumber 1” x 4” x 8’ green treated lumber 24” x 36” sheet of aluminum 1 1/2” outdoor deck screws, need 22 3/4” outdoor deck screws, need 10 Brass tack nails 2” hinge w/screws, need 2 or 3 General purpose handle w/screws 4’ x 8’ x 1” thick building styrofoam Ruler or tape measure Pencil Electric saw Sliding bevel square Screwdriver Drill w/bits Hammer Metal snipers White house paint Paintbrush Shovel Tarp Heating coil (optional) 24” x 36” aluminum wire mesh (optional) Electrical outlet (optional) Trellis and supports (optional)

* Window opening (inside dimensions) should be 22” x 37” with removable sliding windows.This window is available at most home improvement stores.

Note: If you cannot get this sliding window size, than you will need to recalculate the dimensions for constructing the wood frame.

Instructions:

Note: Before cutting out the pieces, check to see if the inside window frame will fit in the dimensions shown below.

1) Refer to the cutting diagram above to measure and cut out your wood pieces for the frame.

2) Set up the pieces of wood on a flat surface. See illustration A. Line up the sliding bevel square to the angle of the side piece, mark with a pencil the angle onto the back piece and the front piece. With an electrical saw, cut the angle off of the front and back pieces of wood. Optional: To reflect more light into the cold frame, paint the upper frame inside with white house paint.

3) Refer to the cutting diagram above, cut out the metal reflectors with a tins snips. Center the reflectors onto the back and sides as shown in illustration B. Predrill holes and hammer into place with tack nails.

4) Assemble upper frame wood pieces as shown in illustration B. Predrill holes in wood and screw wood pieces together with 1 1/2” deck screws.

5) Assemble lower box wood pieces as shown in illustration C. Predrill holes in wood and screw wood pieces together with 1 1/2” deck screws.

6) Place window on top of upper wood frame as shown in illustration D. Predrill holes in wood and screw window to wood frame with 3/4” deck screws. If the existing holes in the window frame do not align on top of the wood, you will need to predrill a new set of holes.

7) Center and screw on the handle to the front wood piece of frame as shown in illustration D.

8) Put upper frame on top of lower box. Attach hinges to back side of upper frame and lower box.

9) Precut the Styrofoam as shown in cutting diagram above.

10) Find a place along side your house or in your back yard that has direct sunlight coming from the south. Dig a hole in the ground approximately 6 or 7-inches down x 41” wide x 25” deep. Pile the soil on a tarp to use later. Place the lower box portion of the cold frame into the hole. Than place Styrofoam along the outside of lower box. Fill soil around the outside of the lower box.

Optional heating coil (Note: You will need to supply an electrical outlet for the heating coil.)
Run the heating coil along the bottom of the hole. Follow the manufacturers instructions on installing the coil. Measure the inside of the lower box and cut a piece of aluminum wire mesh to this size. Place on top of coil.

11) Fill the inside of the lower box with fresh seed starter soil or recondition soil that was dug up from the hole.

Optional trellis
Take advantage of the cold frame during the summer months by inserting a trellis into the ground behind the frame. This works the best if the cold frame is located along side the house. Remove the windows and run some strings from the trellis to the frame of the cold frame. Than plant a crop of climbing beans or pickles.

If the window comes with screens, remove the glass windows and grow a crop of lettuce in the cold frame. The screens will prevent the bunnies from nibbling your lettuce.