Cold frame covers are normally made out of storm doors, old and framed windows. The size of your cold frame depends upon the proportion of the cover you want.
When selecting wood for the sides of your cold frame, make sure that you choose a wood that has high levels of tolerance to dampness like cedar, redwood or pine. Now paint your cold frame and make sure that you have provided sufficient protection to the wooden surfaces also.
Once you have completed this, install the cold frame. Then add well composted soil deep enough to allow sufficient growing space for the roots. Remember that a cold frame is normally built at an angle with the back portion of the frame being almost fifty percent higher than the front.
This is built in such a manner to provide a slope for the covers. Make sure that you have proper ventilation inside your cold frame so as to maintain the required heat levels in freezing conditions outside.
Next, with the help of wooden pieces or concrete blocks, lift up the cover so as to allow the hot air inside the cold frame to escape. If your covers have sliding panels, open them to allow the heat to escape.
Remember to close the covers during the nights when temperatures can go below freezing points. In such situations, cover your cold frame with blankets or burlap covers to ensure sufficient heat is retained inside.
