A Glassless Cold Frame / Mini-greenhouse

This describes how I made a cold frame, or a bottomless mini-greenhouse if you will, using an old skylight dome for the top. It's a simple process really, too simple to warrant a full step-by-step.

1. Acquire skylight dome, recycled of course
2. Measure the size of the frame that will fit inside
3. Make frame from plywood: 30 cm high, and almost as wide and long as the dome
4. Paint the frame so it will be durable. I used two coats of white primer for outdoors
5. Place frame in your garden on a patch of good clean soil
6. Sow your herbs.

As an extra, you'll see how I made markers from disposable forks, using a label writer.
Over time, my skylight dome acquired a border of black ductape, which looks neat and hides some cracks; I also added some luggage ties so I can cover the dome with something translucent to shield my herbs from too-bright sun.

What are the advantages of building this cold frame?

• You can sow your herbs and veggies earlier in the season, capturing the sun's heat to boost them
• There is no glass involved. It's safe for children and pets
• It keeps your seedlings safe from birds, snails, hail and Godzilla
• It's a great way to reuse an old skylight dome
• It's very easy to build

My kitchen herbs are doing well. I'm getting hungry just writing this and looking at the pics.

Comments

[truckingman]

I have some old mobile home skylights that I can conver into cold frames this winter.

[flyingpuppy]

Aha. I recognized the skylight dome. We have one that needs replacing. Now I'm even more motivated to replace it and recycle the old one. Thanks for the idea!

[Moem]

Nice! Please post a pic when you're done.