How to make a cold frame
In this guide, find out how to make a cold frame from plastic bottles, old windows or pallets. Learn the benefits of making a cold frame and how to use a cold frame to improve your gardening.
What is a cold frame?
A cold frame is a box-shaped structure, typically made of a wooden frame with either glass or plastic panels.
Cold frames are used in gardening to protect seedlings and young plants from the cold and other harsh weather conditions – they’re particularly popular for use in small gardens and outdoor spaces.
They’re usually built low to the ground and use the warmth of the sun to trap heat inside the frame.
Benefits of making a cold frame for gardening
There are a number of reasons why you might want to make a cold frame to enhance your gardening:
- Ideal for small gardening spaces where you don’t have room for a greenhouse
- Extend the growing season for your crops (with either an early start or prolonging ‘summer’ – or both!)
- Protect dormant plants until spring arrives
- Generally smaller and cheaper that a greenhouse
- A mobile gardening accessory that you can move around your garden to wherever you need it at the time
If you have a large gardening space, then you might want to check out our guides to greenhouse installation costs and polytunnel costs.
How to make a cold frame from plastic bottles
One of the best garden hacks that also helps make use of wasted plastic is to make a cold frame from plastic bottles.
This is a pretty quick and easy way of making a cold frame for your gardening without having to spend a lot of money.
1. Clean and prepare your plastic bottles
For a small cold frame use 500ml bottles (for a large cold frame you might want to opt for 2-litre bottles, depending on the size). Remove their labels and bottle tops, and then cut holes in the bottom of the bottles.
2. Create the structure for your frame
The super quick way to do this is to simply use a wooden box and remove the lid.
Alternatively, you’ll need to build your own box-shaped frame by fixing together lengths of timber. Don’t forget to work out how big you want your cold frame to be and use your lengths of timber to create those dimensions.
3. Assemble the cold frame lid
Start by creating a simple wooden frame to fit the top of your cold frame structure. Then you’ll need your plastic bottles…
Thread the bottles onto garden canes (bamboo canes are ideal or other similar size rods) that are cut to match the width of your cold frame lid.
The number of canes you’ll need will depend on the size of your cold frame. Once you have enough canes with plastic bottles threaded, fix the canes to the lid of your cold frame.
4. Attach your lid
For the best results, you want your cold frame lid to be hinged so that it’s easy to open and close.
First, attach hinges to the lid itself and then fix them to the cold frame structure – ideally the back edge of the frame. Job done!
Need help making a cold frame? Call upon the help of a gardener or handyperson and hire a professional to make a cold frame for you.
Making a cold frame from old windows
Old windows can be perfect for creating a cold frame, as they already have the frame and the glass in place – all you need to do is assemble them into a box structure.
Remember to attach the top panel with hinges so that you can open and close your cold frame as needed.
Making a cold frame from pallets
Pallets are one of those versatile materials that can have so many uses in the garden, and making a cold frame is one of them.
You can use pallets to build the majority of your cold frame structure (base and 4 sides), and then simply attach a glass or plastic lid and your cold frame is ready to use.
Making a cold frame greenhouse
If you have the space, you can always be more ambitious with the size of your cold frame and make it as large as a greenhouse.
To achieve the proper greenhouse effect, remember to use side panels that are made of glass or plastic (not just the lid) – to let in as much sunlight and warmth as possible.
How to use a cold frame in gardening
There are a number of ways to use a cold frame, but here’s how we like to use a cold frame in gardening:
- Give your seedlings an early start – Get a head start on spring by using a cold frame to help your seedlings grow earlier in the year and protect them from any harsh weather.
- Help tender plants to be dormant over winter – If you have any tender or tropical plants in your garden then a cold frame will give them the right conditions to be gently dormant through the colder winter months.
- Enjoy a longer growing season past the first frost – Autumn frost can be a downer for many gardeners, but with a cold frame you can extend your growing season into the cooler periods of the year.
- Harden off young seedlings – When you move plants from indoors or from a greenhouse to the outdoors of your garden, a cold frame can help them gradually acclimatise to changes in temperature, sunlight, moisture, and exposure.
For ideas on how best to use a cold frame in your garden, speak to local gardeners for their professional advice and guidance.
Hire a local professional
If you’re struggling to make a cold frame yourself, or you don’t have the time and interest, hire a local tradesperson to build it for you.
You’ll often find that an experienced local gardener or handyperson can help by making a cold frame for you to assist with your gardening.
As with any home improvement project, we always recommend obtaining at least three quotes from our trusted Checkatrade members.
Our request a quote feature is perfect for getting quotes – you post details about the job you want doing and we’ll send it out to skilled local tradespeople in your area. Try it out today!
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