homemade cold frame

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spagettyjoe Jasper, GA Mar 01, 2011

I want to start some seedlings in early April and keep them warmer than the average 42 degree nights... but I don't want them to get too hot in the day either. I thought I'd build a simple 3'x3'x2' frame, cover it with clear plastic but with one innovation. I want to use a foot thick of leaves for the north wall and possibly two walls, held in place with chicken wire (no plastic on these walls). My idea is that the leaves will absorb some heat in the day while still insulating at night, and will also help the cold frame to breathe. Does it make sense to try this?

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1997 Ossian, IN(Zone 5a) Mar 03, 2011

My dad and I made a cold frame this winter out of an old window. It has 4 sides of wood and the window is on top. I think this sounds like a good idea.

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seran72 Bozeman, MT Mar 07, 2011

I have been watching craigslist to get some old windows to make a cold frame. Does anyone else have any experience doing that?

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bobberman Latrobe, PA Mar 14, 2011

I have 9 cold frames and all have plants up! Make one out of anything that will make a box of any size. Mine are 4 by 8 and a few smaller ones. I usually dig mine down below the box and strain about 6 inches of the dirt. I put leaves and blood meal or urea ontop of the leaves. you can use any type manure top the leaves then cover with your 6 to 9 inches of strained dirt. Plant your seeds then cover with a weedless potting soil! Make a top for the cold frame with windows or make a 4 by 8 frame with furing strips and wrap a 2 to 4 mill plastic completely arouns it to have a double layer.. Punch a few pencil hole through both layers for drainage. Use the same bed for a raised bed in june or thin the plants and leave a few to mature.! Its the only way to garden early! This works especially well for cole crops peas, radish lettuce and plants that will tolarate some cold! I have had mine in for 3 weeks now!

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