Installing a piece of heating equipment and as simple as insulating with bubble wraps are just some of the tricks on how to keep a greenhouse warm in winter. In this article, we will discuss the different ways to keep your fresh produce even when the temperature is extremely low.
As an edible garden is in trend nowadays, many people opted to grow their vegetables and herbs. However, most of them are anxious about the dormancy that the winter may bring.
Now that greenhouses are increasing in popularity, growers realized how it could ensure year-round crop development. As the cold nights cause the temperature to drop, greenhouse farmers have found a trick to keep it ideally warm in these cold seasons.
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Ways In Keeping Your Greenhouse Warm
We gathered these tips from an experienced greenhouse farmer on how to keep a greenhouse warm in winter. We also included affordable and effortless ways to deal with the chilly weather. Let’s dig on!
#1 Let the sun in
The location of your greenhouse is important. It must always have at least 6 hours of sun exposure during winter. So if it is a smart position where it gets the most sunlight, then you can face the situation easily.
If trees and shade started to grow around the greenhouse, then it is time to cut them down. These will create shadows that will filter the sun. Reducing these canopy will increase the sunlight going into the greenhouse.
#2 Adding insulation
Aside from keeping your packages safe, bubble wraps are also a good insulator of heat. You can install it in the interior walls of the greenhouse. It can reduce heat loss and block winter drafts from getting in.
Although the traditional bubble wrap can do the job, a horticultural bubble wrap is still a good investment. These wraps are UV stabilized and designed for the sole purpose of keeping the greenhouse warm when necessary.
#3 Using heating equipment
There are various tools you can use to regulate the temperature inside the greenhouse when it is freezing outside. The most common is the heater. Heaters heat the surroundings as soon as it is switched on. And since you don’t always use it, running cost is relatively low.
You also need to install a thermostat that will go along with your heater. It will make sure that the temperature inside is ideal. If you have an extra budget, you can upgrade your heater into thermostatically controlled. That way, your heater will not run when unnecessary, thereby reducing your heating costs.
However, sometimes a heater is not enough since it tends to warm up the area closest to its location. Therefore an air circulator is a good investment too. It will ensure that the room has an even distribution of warmth.
#4 Ventilating the plants
Winter means wet surfaces all day throughout the season. This can cause mold, mildew, and fungi growth which can threaten the plants. So it is important to keep the greenhouse ventilated to prevent the plants from growing in humid.
You can control the ventilation by simply opening up the roof vents, side vents, or the door. But these vents need to be closed at night to avoid crops from frosting. Installing automatic vets can also be of big help to reduce your workload.
#5 Adding of a heat sink
Thermal mass is one of the easiest and affordable techniques for warming the greenhouse. By simply putting objects such as stones and water can absorb heat in the morning and release it at night can make a one or two degree in the temperature.
You can simply place containers of water in the greenhouse to regulate the warmth. For a small family greenhouse, a gallon of plastic jugs placed among plants throughout the place is enough. If you have a larger space, 55-gallon barrels should be enough.
Place these containers under the sun in the morning to absorb heat energy. To increase its absorbency rate, you can paint it black or add black food color in the water. At nightfall, they will release the absorbed heat in the greenhouse.
#6 Moving the compost in
Compost is a must in every garden, and the wet winter is not a good time for keeping it in great shape. Moving it in the middle of the greenhouse could solve two problems. First, keeping the compost dry and warm. The second is to provide warmth to the plants.
When springtime comes, you will have a pile of black gold readily available. However, if the greenhouse is attached to the main house, this option is not recommended because it can attract mice and rats.
#7 Covering the plants
You can be straightforward or highly structured when it comes to covering the plants during the, particularly cold night. It can add up extra degrees and warm up your crops.
Any cover that can hold moisture can be used, such as tarps, horticultural fleece, and row covers. In installing the covers, you will need a pole or rod to keep it from touching the plants itself. Also, always remove all coverings in the daytime as the humidity gets high.
Final Words
Winter should not stop you from using your green thumb. How to keep a greenhouse warm in winter is very simple. Follow the guide in this article, and surely you will yield plentiful of fresh harvest all through the cold season.