How to Make a Cold Frame from Scratch (Easy Instructions)

How to make a Cold Frame: In this video, I use a spare piece of polythene roofing and leftover wood from other projects to make a DIY cold frame. Cold frames are extremely useful garden tools and help you extend the season and harden off seedlings before planting outdoors. Use these easy and adaptable instructions to make your own version using whatever materials and upcycled lid you can find. Let me know that you liked this video by giving it a thumbs up.

MATERIALS
- an old window, a piece of polycarbonate panel, or another clear piece to use as a lid
- 6" wide wood planks (pressure-treated if possible); I used about 34.5 feet of them
- 1.5" wood stakes; I used about 4.5 feet of them
- screws (or nails)
- three hinges
- a latch or hooks

EQUIPMENT
- measuring tape
- a wood cutting tool: jigsaw, chop saw, or hand saw
- drill/driver (or hammer)

👉 If you want to see more more DIY projects like this, I'd love to hear from you with a comment 😊

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to how to make a cold frame
01:10 Measuring the cold frame lid
01:51 Cutting five planks for the front and back
03:02 Determining how wide to make the sides
04:03 Cutting five planks for the sides
04:20 Cutting a side plank into two diagonal pieces
04:49 Creating stakes for the inner corners
08:04 Building the cold frame
08:22 Building the side panels
09:39 Attaching the front and back planks
10:22 Putting hinges on the lid
10:57 Attaching the lid to the cold frame
11:20 Adding latches to keep the cold frame closed
12:00 Ways to Use a Cold Frame
12:42 Wrap up of the project

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[gailcollins]

Thank you for taking the time to post this. The clear instructions gave me the confidence to use up old fence posts and some thick plastic sheeting to make my own …..after thinking and wondering if I could for long!. I completed it in a few hours including occasions where I would run inside and check your instructions 😂. Very much appreciated from an almost 70 yr grandma!

[christinaanderson]

This gave me so much confidence in making a diy cold frame. I have old windows just hanging around.

[simplifygardening]

Great video Tanya. I would use the rams from the boot of an old car it will hold it up perfectly.

[BlessingsfromNorthIdaho]

Perfect! I have 3 old windows I’ve been wanting to do this with and now you’ve shown me how. Thank you! Blessings from north Idaho, TeresaSue.

[stevendowden]

i made a few over the years very handy for the garden

[marygorchidsmore]

Great work Tanya, love the cold frame! I always wondered why those DIY ones are so expensive! However, you made it very easy. Thanks for sharing and happy growing.

[peterjohnson]

Nicely done Tanya! I made a cold frame a few years ago to an almost identical design. Simple but very effective. I rescued a perspex sheet from a skip and made the sides from pallet wood. I used cable ties to make simple hinges. It's held up really well against the worst our weather could throw at it (Essex UK)
A stick loosely screwed in (to allow it to pivot) will work well to prop the lid up.

[barbcottingham]

Just made 2 cold frames today from old windows and wood. Your instructions were perfection and made the process fun and easy. Thank you! 💚

[lisagoldberg]

Such a great idea for so many of the random things I have saved over the years in case someday I needed them! Thanks to you, I now have a an actual purpose for them. The only thing I need is the various hardware. Great to have the cold frame right outside the kitchen door! I like the idea of trying salad greens, or herbs. You are such a wealth of knowledge. Thank you!

[renatehaeckler]

My cold frame last winter (on the ground) was so successful that I picked up a few more windows to make some more this year. They're doing well. For those who don't want to do the long diagonal cut, you can just put a board across diagonally, that works too.

[fergusdangerfield]

Superb job Tanya! I'm building one at the moment using an old window from a skip.
The batten screwed just tight enough on the inside, will provide my proper x.

[philtaylor]

I was going to suggest greenhouse auto window opener. But you've thought of it already still great video. Will it be Maggie proof safe she gets everywhere.

[stonestreaker]

Very nice, and similar to one I made from a salvaged uPVC window. I've also lined the inside of mine with skip-salvaged Kingspan insulation board. 🌱🌱🌱

[magspies]

great vid. inspired to make one as it seems very doable! random question, what model is your dewalt screwdriver and are you still happy with it?

[happyliving]

Thankyou for this video, I just realised I got a huge piece of plastic which I can use as a cold frame❤

[ufoman]

Hello Tanya Lovely Greens . That cold frame is great. Such a simple yet quite a clever idea for spare bits and bobs of materials. Well done you .😄👍👍☘🌲🪴

[sandrajohnson]

Will you prop the lid up with a stick? I like this design.
Thank you.
Cheers.

[LucySterling]

How do you attach the battons to the polycarbone? I need to replace my polycarbon as my fat cat fell through my flimsy one! TQ

[mhawang]

Thank you for this video! I want to make a cold frame, and it seems less imitating now. A question: Is it safe to use pressure treated wood for raise beds and the cold frame, though?

[patriciaokafor]

Thank you for sharing
What’s the name of the drill you used