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Greenhouse shading?

missclarechmissclarech Posts: 6
in Tools and techniques

hi everyone, ok only few more weeks to wait for the greenhouse to arrive (secretly can't wait I'm like a school kid in a sweetie shop) ???? Anyway been discussing what base to do and originaly was cement then bricks for base to sit on but have decided on just cement for the base to sit on as time is an issue of the greenhouse does take 5 weeks to arrive meaning the OH won't have time to erect it befor he goes off on his travels for work so hopefully high base of cement is good? Anyway brings me to my question ......... Do I need to buy shading for the greenhouse or do we let full sun hit? Bearing in mind the greenhouse will be in full sun all day so ideas please, I should say when I go to work I will be at work all day long hours so although I will open the windows and door of green house before I go to work im wondering if the sun will be too hot for the plants?  Would rather get it now and get in place in case rather then leave and I got to put it up what you think what do you guys do?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    In addition to opening doors for ventilation etc.,  in summer you'll need shading. Even in spring, direct sun will create a lot of heat, so it's best to have it. Plants will fry very quickly, especially if you won't be around to adjust vents and dampen down, or move plants outside. There are several options including painted on and netting/screening you attach on the inside.

    I take it when you say cement, you actually mean concrete for the base? Cement wouldn't be suitable. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • missclarechmissclarech Posts: 6

    Hi Fairygirl

    sorry i ment concrete ? I don't like the look of the paint on stuff not good for my OCD ? So what type of shading do I get. Someone said to me you got to be careful what you get as some keep heat in and some heat out and rays out I'm very confused ? What type do I need please ?

  • The tattooed gardenerThe tattooed gardener Posts: 59

    I noticed Wilkinsons do green house shading fabric at silly cheap prices, worth a look

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Yes - it's a fabric/netting type of material that's most commonly available. It's essential to ventilate even if you have shading. Perhaps the people that have said it insulates have assumed you don't need to open doors and vents.

    You also need to move some plants outside during the day - depending on what you're growing of course. For instance,  plants that are being hardened off to plant outside. Very few plants will stay in a greenhouse all the time. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Chrissy the gardenerChrissy the gardener Posts: 1,072

    I wouldn't be without my automatic window arms, I believe there is a sort of gel inside the arm and when the weather warms up this gel expands and pushes the window open and when the weather cools down  the gel contracts and the window shuts. I've used this method for years and I can go out for the day and not worry about the windows being open or closed if the weather turns warm / or cold.

    I hate the painted on shading it looks such a mess when you try to get it back off the glass, I use greenhouse shade netting, but what ever shading you use remember when in place it cuts down the light level so don't put it up too soon.

    most of all enjoy your greenhouse, happy growing. ?

  • missclarechmissclarech Posts: 6

    I wouldn't have a clue when it's too soon as new for greenhouse growing, I've had a raised bed and that's it.

    we are just re-doing garden again, we got a 10 X 8 GH coming, we just doing a rockery at the moment swiftly moving on to the Concrete base so when the GH comes we can put base up straight away and then drill that into the Concrete so it won't budge, followed by problems I'm sure with the GH and trying to out that up as neither of us have ever done this before (Could sell tickets for a laugh if your interested) ? The GH we got cost us over £500 so automatic windows wasn't an option at the time due to money and the amount of money we have spent on sand & shingle so far is a shock with more to get, we got some weed mat from a previous project hopefully enough left? We are then putting shingle down for the beds wasn't going to leave soil but after reading replies about it we decided not to and stick to shingle and buckets for pots at moment so the shading was just a thought as I have no idea about it, the one I got is black with little holes in I'm hoping this is the right one?

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