Ginny May

Unheated/uninsulated greenhouse

On looking for solar heating for greenhouses, I came across a suggestion for painting a lot of cans black and sticking them together as a heat harvester

Unheated/uninsulated greenhouse

Thanks, artjak, will look into them and maybe drop strong hints to Father Christmas!

Unheated/uninsulated greenhouse

I like the ideas for plastic bottles and upturned terracotta pots, plumstrudle. My greenhouse dosen't have an electric supply, and have shied away from oil heaters as I don't want to bother with an oil supply, so will try this. I wondered about a small solar panel; have not seen one marketed for greenhouses, though I did get a solar-powered water pump which worked well for 2 years then packed in. Though I guess if you don't insulate, these might all be a bit futile. Perhaps a double-glazed greenhouse............

Unheated/uninsulated greenhouse

I spent  lot of money and time last year in trying to insulate our aluminium green house with bubblewrap. It's quite an old one, and the glazing bars don't take clips, so I painstakingly shaped it to the inside, like lining a dress, then fixed it in place with a combination of wire stretched across the green house and duck-tape. What a waste of time. Hardly any of my plants made it through the winter, I'd have been better off saving the money I spent on the bubble wrap and buying new plants in the spring! I did wonder if there might be any mileage in trying to stick the bubble wrap on the outside, but I guess the wind would tear it off. Half the trouble was that I couldn't get at plants to tend them. Anyone tried that?

Talkback: How to insulate a greenhouse

I agree; 30 minutes? Make that several hours if your green house is aluminium, as most are round our way, by the way. I suspect wooden greenhouses are an expensive luxury. Last year, I strung twister wire across the greenhouse and tented the bubble over it, then stuck shaped pieces either end with wide duct tape. Wasn't easy to get it to stick, and getting around the greenhouse shelf and door was very tricky. The bubble wrap (from a local garden centre) was quite expensive, and the method of fixing means that I am unlikely to be able to use it this year again. Not sure it was worth it, to be honest. Lost several nice plants which I would normally have kept indoors, had I not insulated the greenhouse, though it was an unusually cold winter. Did manage to overwinter a few herbs, but for the price of the bubble wrap, not to mention the time it took, I could have bought new herb plants this year instead

Talkback: Chitting seed potatoes

Juliesayers, the reason given for using seed potatoes is that you are more likely to spread diseases such as potato virus to your crop from potatoes intended for eating, but I have no idea why they should be more prone to disease than seed potatoes, perhaps someone can tell us.

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