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Proper use of a GreenHouse

10 years ago

I realize this might sound silly, but can someone give me pointers on the proper usage of a greenhouse? More specifically, I have read a lot of reviews of cheap, portable type greenhouses where people say they start using them outside late winter / early spring.

I live in Minnesota and late winter / early spring can still bring really cold, crappy weather. I have invested in a lot of seeds, some heat mats and a couple grow lights. I'd hate to screw up by taking stuff outside too early.

The type of greenhouse I am looking at is the under $50 version that is around 4 to 5 feet tall with four shelves and the rollup Velcro or zippered door (wife is tired of me spending money). Do these retain enough heat that seedlings can stay outside overnight if weather drops into the high 30's / low 40's??

Thanks.

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Comments (6)

seysonn
10 years ago
Those cheap so-called mini greenhouses are just some plastic hoops. I prefer my cold frame to those. They are somewhat ok for early season to shelter plants overnight or germinate some cool crops, very much like cold frame. JMO
tomt226
10 years ago
Basically, a GH controls the wild swings in temperature and humidity, and allows plants to receive some solar radiation when outside temps are too cold for survival. I wouldn't recommend putting pepper seedlings in an unheated GH.
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sandysgardens
10 years ago
Greetings,
I wouldn't use the shelf/plastic cover setup outside in MN. I have one that I use inside in front of South patio doors as I need more room. it would not contain heat at night.

I live just outside the twin cities and use a Harbor Freight 6 X 8 greenhouse beginning mid/late march... depending on weather and the need to get pepper plants out of my grow room as I start Tomatoes.... I have a small $30 heater that's setup on a thermostat that kicks in if it goes below 49. Once outside temps become warmer the vents automatically open & close according to temp, misters water, etc. I really like my little setup.

John is an electrician so he's monitored the energy use and it's no more expensive as running a few of my light fixtures in the grow room.

Sandy
sjetski
10 years ago
Those 4 shelf greenhouses tack on an extra 20-30f degrees over outside daytime temps. The first sunny 70 degree day would kill them. And as mentioned prior, they offer no protection from the night time chill, and the temps don't have to be freezing for them to get yellowed and sick.

Long story short, they require too much monitoring and effort to make them work well outside imho.

Steve
tomt226
10 years ago
sjetski,
Heck, my 12'X24' GH will get 90 degrees on a sunny 70 degree day before the exhaust fan kicks in. Right now the thermostat is at 50 degrees and the RH varies around 50% and they're doing fine.
gjcore
10 years ago
You will get some protection with the cheap greenhouses but probably not enough to have peppers out on a 30 degree night. So you would need active or passive heating which maybe isn't something that would work well in one of those units. The few that I've seen around start falling apart during the first season so I wouldn't put much faith in one.

The best and cheapest thing for your situation might be a low tunnel that was secured to the ground fairly well. You could use milk jugs with food dye for passive heat, active heat you could use incandescent Christmas lights. More protection could be had with an old sleeping bag and space blanket thrown over the tunnel on most nights.

Alternatively just wait until night time temps will be consistently warm enough.

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