cold frame construction cool window

GWN 5/12/2012, 10:03 am

A neighbour of ours is always dropping off stuff, and yesterday he came by with some windows that someone was taking to the dump because they had come in the wrong size.
They are new, unused, double pane windows with wood frames.
They do have a peak, but I am thinking of making them into a cold frame, but would like some advise (thoughts) from those with cold frames.
We could make a bed the shape of the windows the way they are laying now with hinges on both sides. OR we could make a long narrow bed and have the angled pieces meet.

THOUGHTS?

quiltbea 5/12/2012, 10:14 am

From my own personal experience, the narrower the coldframe the better (from 1 1/ 2 to 2 /12 feet). Easier to reach in and out toward the rear section. That would mean the two windows lenthwise side by side with angled pieces meeting. I'd make the coldframe with the opening in the front so it can lift up and be laid back behind when not in use.

Edited to add: That's some nice neighbor to think of leaving you those windows. Great find.

GWN 5/12/2012, 10:24 am

Thanks
He also dropped off two very old grape vines a month ago, he just wanted to get rid of them
They survived the transplant are are budding now... Smile

boffer 5/12/2012, 10:28 am

SCORE!

+1 for long and narrow. I put a T post on the hinge side, and ran a cord to the middle front side that opens. I can stand by the post, pull on the cord to open, then secure the glass vertically to the post so that it doesn't collect rain.

You can just see the post in this pic. I used to take the glass off, but it was a pain. I just leave it secured in the open position all summer.

cold frame construction cool window Dscn1712

cold frame construction cool window Dscn1712

GWN 5/12/2012, 10:36 am

boffer
Now is the window left so that hinge is on the north side?
From the picture, your window does not seem to be the exact size of the bed frame, does the window sit right on the bed frame, or does the window frame sit on the bed frame?

I tried this once before and the window frame was metal and did not fit quite tight, and it did not seem to help at all.

boffer 5/12/2012, 10:56 am

This picture is from the other end. The boxes are about 2 inches smaller in all directions so that the glass lays directly on the box. When they were new, I put foam tape (used for sealing canopies to pickup beds, or weather sealing houses, in general) on the top of the box to seal against the glass. Over the years, the foam has disappeared, and I don't notice a difference without it.

cold frame construction cool window Dscn0512

cold frame construction cool window Dscn0512

My second cold frame, in the back, is two boxes high. I start it first around Feb 1. It's tall enough that I can keep it closed until the worst weather is over. I plant the short one mid-late Feb, and sometimes the plants still out grow the height.

GWN 5/12/2012, 11:01 am

buffer thanks..
DO you do anything in the fall with them?

boffer 5/12/2012, 11:39 am

Nah, they're too short. All my fall gardening is done in hoop houses.

GWN 5/12/2012, 12:44 pm

another question about cold frames
If you have a place to put it that slopes a bit to the south, would that be equivalent of having a south slanting window.?

Sponsored content

cold frame construction cool window

cold frame construction cool window

Re: cold frame construction cool window

Re: cold frame construction cool window

Re: cold frame construction cool window

Re: cold frame construction cool window

Re: cold frame construction cool window

Re: cold frame construction cool window

Re: cold frame construction cool window

Re: cold frame construction cool window

Re: cold frame construction cool window


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.