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Greenhouse

InTheMoorlandsInTheMoorlands Posts: 161
in Problem solving
I've finally got a few plants growing in the greenhouse and wondered when the weather is colder and wetter how important is it to ventilate a greenhouse.  I've had it shut up for the last few days and notice that the windows inside seem to 'steam up' as it were.  During this time I'm surprised at how warm it gets during the day.
At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines.  Clay soil.  

Posts

  • minadineEX5aBZAsminadineEX5aBZAs Posts: 6
    It depends what kind of plants you have growing in your greenhouse. I have mostly hardy/half-hardy plants in the greenhouse and normally leave the door more or less open all year for ventilation apart from in deep winter and when frosty weather is forecast. I also have an automatic window opener which opens the window at 20C (inside the greenhouse). I find, especially in a wet autumn, that without good ventilation plants often suffer from mould, especially grey mould, which can kill whole plants.
  • InTheMoorlandsInTheMoorlands Posts: 161
    I find, especially in a wet autumn, that without good ventilation plants often suffer from mould, especially grey mould, which can kill whole plants.

    Thanks for that.  I remember reading something about this but couldn't find it.  I'll leave the door open a few inches until it gets too cold.
    At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines.  Clay soil.  
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    You need to watch Charles Dowding and/or buy his book on Winter Gardening.
    It is a toss-up between losing heat and keeping damp and mould off, but ventilation does seem to be the one more important than the other.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I start a lot of seeds off in my g/h in Autumn and find I lose them over Winter, unless I keep the g/h well ventilated, even when it is cold.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I keep one of the vents full open all the time over winter or it does get very damp.
    I only grow a few parsley plants in the tomato bed - nothing else.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    At this time of year you need lots of ventilation. When it gets colder you can close doors and windows overnight or on very chilly days and once frost is a problem,  you may want to add some heating as well as closing everything and maybe insulating.

     A lot depends on what you are growing. Exotics like high humidity but cacti rot. Half-hardies don't cope with low temperatures. During a sunny day temperatures can shoot up and frizzle your delicate seedlings. Cold damp air encourages mould and once you've got it, it just spreads.

    It's well worth a bit of research about your plants and close observation of your greenhouse conditions.  A maxi - minimum thermometer is worth its weight in gold, especially if you are out at work all day.

    It's great fun and you will learn loads but I would advise a gentle start. Don't spend a fortune on difficult plants, practise on the tough common ones while you learn.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    There are many tender plants that will survive the cold quite readily, what they will not survive is being cold and wet, so a g/h even unheated allows you to grow really quite tender plants, if you look after them well.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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