Greenhouse newbie...got info?

[The Gardenfather]

Just set up my very 1st greenhouse...ok, it's actually a "coldhouse" but was looking for any insight into maintaining temp/humidity etc.

It's a 6x8 alum frame with polycarb panels have it mouted on 4x4 beams with gravel for a floor.

I live in zone 6, NW corner of AR in the Ozark Plateau...we've had a nice 2 week spell of 60/70' days and 40/50' nites but have a little cold front coming thru tonite sending temps a little back to normal mid 50 days and mid 30 nites...my other question is if I were to put out some Tomato seedlings that I just potted up in the past few days...do I need to worry about nite time temps in the mid to low 30's without a heat source?

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!

[Bobberman]

Simple just add some water storage or even a pile of bricks that will absorbe the day heat! Place the bricks on a insulated surface so the ground does not absorbe their heat! it makes a big difference at night!

[The Gardenfather]

Are you saying, put the bricks inside the greenhouse to allow them to warm up or leaving them outside and then putting them inside each day?

Thanks!

[Bobberman]

You could make your table out of all brick inside the greenhouse and they will hold the heat just like fire brik do in a heater!. Block also work great! Brick heat up faster than water depending on the size of the container!

[ozark_rocks]

I'm a greenhouse newbie too. I live in zone 7, but in a micro-climate that gets lower temperatures. I've had tomatoes, and a few other things in my greenhouse for about a week.I do have water to store solar heat, and am still keeping watch on night and day temps.

I don't think I would risk putting tomatoes in the low 30's without a heat source. If it did get that cold, could you put them under a heat lamp, or use a small heater?

Your greenhouse will heat up really fast when the sun hits it, so keep an eye on your day time temperatures too. I have seen my daytime temperatures rise to 107 with it opened up. You will also get different temperature reading, in different locations of your greenhouse.


Hope this helps some.

[Bobberman]

The water and bricks helps absorbe some of the day heat alo and keep it down some.so it does two things! I have over 500 gallons of water and if the water temp is 50 or more I do not worry about the night outside tempbut I have double plastic which you must have to hold the heat. One layer will not hold it!