On Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:51:24 -0400, Ohioguy wrote:

I recently found 8 double paned roughly 32" by 34" windows that a
friend gave me about 10 years ago. I always meant to build a cold
frame, but never got around to it.

We just recently moved to a new house, and I have a wonderful south
facing side of the house with no shade that gets a small heat island
even without being enclosed. It is close enough to the property line
that I can't build a proper greenhouse, but I would be able to put in
something small like a cold frame.

I would like to do something with insulated walls that will let me
grow some greens in the Fall and early Spring. I live in SW Ohio, USA.
(between zone 5 & zone 6) First frost is usually in mid to late
October, and last frost is usually end of April to mid May.

Do any of you have experiences with cold frames that you feel would
save me some headaches? Can you point me to some simple and heavy duty
plans that I might be able to use? I think I'd like to make this my
fall project.

It's difficult to give explicit directions when one already has
existing parts they want to use but there is plenty of info on line
and I'm sure at your local library.

I wouldn't attempt anything too involved, expensive, or of a permanent
nature, not right away. About forty five years ago I built a
coldframe at my first house... I also was given someones old windows
but I invested a lot of money in lumber and hardware and made it too
large... I only used it one season and without much success... caring
for coldframe plantings requires more attention than one might think.
If I had it to do over again I'd forego the coldframe and go directly
to greenhouse.

http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/r...ex.php?cat=388