HarrodHorticultural: What will you require?

November 22, 2005

What will you require?

To gain the full benefit of a greenhouse, a source of heat (other than the sun) is essential. This level of heat varies greatly, from the bare necessity of preventing frost damage, to the expense of providing high temperatures for exotic plants.

The greenhouse climate requires careful management as it is not only the plants that enjoy the benefits of winter heat. A long line of pests will be queuing to enter the greenhouse – if they are not inside already - and the extra heat can hasten the outbreak of plant diseases. It’s like a knock-on effect; introducing heat means that an adequate ventilation system is required; watering equipment, possibly automated, will be required and some kind of staging/benching to utilise the limited space is desirable. Shading from the full heat and glare of the midsummer sun is also a need to be addressed.

Of course, there are many, many products in circulation to help us achieve our aims greenhouse-wise, but are they all effective…?

Posted by harrod at 04:51 PM

Comments

I totally agree with your introduction above - I have just bought a new greenhouse measuring 8ft x 10ft and I want to kit it out properly so I can get the maximum use out of it. I want to start - as you say above - by introducing a heater but there are absolutely loads to choose from!

I require frost protection up to medium heat levels in my new greenhouse, so nothing too dramatic, but I would love someone to recommend a heater to me, rather than trawl through the many models available and take pot luck!
My preference is an electric heater but I'll listen to anyone with good words to say about their particular heater.
Please help!

Posted by: Percy Hawkins at January 7, 2006 12:12 PM

I am a fact-checker for a magazine in the U.S., and I have a question about greenhouse thermometers. Our reporter was told by a gentleman in the U.K. that his greenhouse thermometer "topped out a 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit), and it blew the top off it." I haven't found a greenhouse thermometer that goes over 50 degrees Celsius. Do any exist? If so, what is the brand name? Also: Could a thermometer actually break if it exceeded the maximum temperature? Many thanks, Kathy Maher

Posted by: Kathy Maher at January 31, 2006 03:02 PM

I have two replies - one for Kathy and one for Percy. My friend works for a company who manufacture greenhouse thermometers and he says that the maximum range - in the UK - is 50C. Apparently they used to make them with a greater range but there was no market for them. Perhaps the chap whose blew up at 60C had an old version, which may be another reason for it exploding.

Percy - a greenhouse measuring 8ft x 10ft needs 2kw of heat so any heater with this rating will do a good job. I am lucky enough to have electricity supplied to my greenhouse - it was there when I moved in - and I would always recommend an electric heater.

Great weblog - I'll be visting regularly!

Posted by: J. Hargreaves, Barnet at February 2, 2006 03:47 PM

A message for Kathy: try this link for thermometers up to +70c http://www.cmsgardens.co.uk/thermometer.htm
Hope this helps

Posted by: Mary at February 11, 2006 10:42 PM

Interesting...

Posted by: at May 18, 2007 09:27 PM

Nice!

Posted by: at May 19, 2007 07:02 AM