Hi Valerie, I see you're new so welcome I'm sure it's not an advertisement.....it's just pure coincidence that on all three of your posts you mention the same company.
I started my tomato seeds off in March and had them under one of those growlights in my utility. They went down to a heated greenhouse a couple of weeks ago when they were about 8 inches tall. Once they get to a decent size and the weather is good they will be outside on deck against a wall that gets sun for most of the day. I did this last year and got some really good sized Costolutos and Tigerellas.
Hi orchid lady, it's a simple matter of physics... Black attracts heat so a black bucket or two filled with water will heat up in sunshine... Try showering with water from a black hosepipe in the summer... Ouch... Next.. Water will absorb the solar energy and heat up in the greenhouse... At night, as the water cools it is giving off its energy... Should the temperature drop below freezing, water is still giving off energy as it freezes hence the internal temp of greenhouse should remain frost free... It was a trick used to stop frost damage to fruit in store in the old days when my great uncle was head gardener at Sandringham. A big tank of water in the fruit store.
Mind you I cleared out my greenhouse here in Hertfordshire two weeks ago and found that last years tomatoes were still growing albeit slowly and there were some edible fruit! What a mild winter...
Notcutts had those big fruit tree planters in black on buy one get one free. I only wanted one so didn't purchase but might go back as now I now what to do with the other! Thanks for the tip, John!
That's ok... Of course if you get one of those home composters and fill with a barrow full of fresh horse manure and put in corner of a 6ft by 8ft greenhouse it should keep it pleasantly warm and smelly all winter... Lol
Orchid Lady Hello, it has been a busy time although as some friends contacted me on the personal message board I thought it best to assure them all I had not gone to the big parade ground in the sky.
Depends on your greenhouse really, a free standing greenhouse of what ever size takes a lot of heating, mine is wall mounted an a south facing brick wall that takes in the heat even in winter and gives it back at night. My reason for several buckets of water is to use them on the plants, our water is very soft and the rain over Teesside quite acidic. The water warms up and gasses off lovely for young and tender plants, in hard water area's I would use rain water from my butts.
A sand bed takes care of seeds and seedlings, shelving on the brick wall takes care of plants a bit tender and fleece or bubble wrap keeps the warmth where I need it, add a frost guard fan heater just in case and it is a belt and braces job.
We all had to learn and asking questions is the way to do that, do not be shy and you can bet someone else will be looking for the same answer, that is the beauty of this forum, mainly friendly.
I have found it very friendly Frank and thanks both Frank and John, I have a black bucket (currently turned upside down as a 'table' for my begonias!!) so I will fill. It up in the morning.
My GH is new, I've only had it up a couple of weeks and it has auto-opening vents, what temperature is ideal to have them pending at? At the moment it's about 25-26c.
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Hi Valerie, I see you're new so welcome
I'm sure it's not an advertisement.....it's just pure coincidence that on all three of your posts you mention the same company. 
I started my tomato seeds off in March and had them under one of those growlights in my utility. They went down to a heated greenhouse a couple of weeks ago when they were about 8 inches tall. Once they get to a decent size and the weather is good they will be outside on deck against a wall that gets sun for most of the day. I did this last year and got some really good sized Costolutos and Tigerellas.
Hi orchid lady, it's a simple matter of physics... Black attracts heat so a black bucket or two filled with water will heat up in sunshine... Try showering with water from a black hosepipe in the summer... Ouch... Next.. Water will absorb the solar energy and heat up in the greenhouse... At night, as the water cools it is giving off its energy... Should the temperature drop below freezing, water is still giving off energy as it freezes hence the internal temp of greenhouse should remain frost free... It was a trick used to stop frost damage to fruit in store in the old days when my great uncle was head gardener at Sandringham. A big tank of water in the fruit store.
Mind you I cleared out my greenhouse here in Hertfordshire two weeks ago and found that last years tomatoes were still growing albeit slowly and there were some edible fruit! What a mild winter...
I expected dried out plants to burn for the potash... Still green!
Notcutts had those big fruit tree planters in black on buy one get one free. I only wanted one so didn't purchase but might go back as now I now what to do with the other! Thanks for the tip, John!
That's ok... Of course if you get one of those home composters and fill with a barrow full of fresh horse manure and put in corner of a 6ft by 8ft greenhouse it should keep it pleasantly warm and smelly all winter... Lol
Err, thanks.
Orchid Lady Hello, it has been a busy time although as some friends contacted me on the personal message board I thought it best to assure them all I had not gone to the big parade ground in the sky.
Depends on your greenhouse really, a free standing greenhouse of what ever size takes a lot of heating, mine is wall mounted an a south facing brick wall that takes in the heat even in winter and gives it back at night. My reason for several buckets of water is to use them on the plants, our water is very soft and the rain over Teesside quite acidic. The water warms up and gasses off lovely for young and tender plants, in hard water area's I would use rain water from my butts.
A sand bed takes care of seeds and seedlings, shelving on the brick wall takes care of plants a bit tender and fleece or bubble wrap keeps the warmth where I need it, add a frost guard fan heater just in case and it is a belt and braces job.
We all had to learn and asking questions is the way to do that, do not be shy and you can bet someone else will be looking for the same answer, that is the beauty of this forum, mainly friendly.
Regards Frank.
I have found it very friendly Frank and thanks both Frank and John, I have a black bucket (currently turned upside down as a 'table' for my begonias!!) so I will fill. It up in the morning.
My GH is new, I've only had it up a couple of weeks and it has auto-opening vents, what temperature is ideal to have them pending at? At the moment it's about 25-26c.
Thanks OL