Greenhouse - Winter Power Savers ?

Hi,

With the expected power price increases this Autumn and Winter we are considering delaying our usual earlish start to the 2023 season and looking a ways to reduce the electricity used in the greenhouse.

This will probably involve keeping fewer tender plants over Winter and starting things off much later like April instead of early March under heat.

Also sectioning off half the greenhouse with bubble wrap so its cheaper to keep the remainder frost free.

Wonder what others are thinking of doing ?

 

Good thinking, I don't grow up here in the winter, just plunge pots in the soil and cover everything with fleece. I'm fortunate to have a nice double glazed conservatory to keep the delicates in and also start things off like the Onion seeds in the propagator in there.

 

Not really sure yet, to be honest for years now my greenhouses have been full to bursting with frost tender plants every winter.
I keep them at about 3c, just to keep the frost off, not wanting any thing to actually grow until late February when I get the propagator going.

I've got the conservatory that I heat but since replacing the roof the light is not what it was.
Might have to set up grow lights in there for any thing special.

 

I'm hoping for a mild winter, it could make a big difference cost wise and what plants survive.
Lets face it , it wasn't until WW1 that they found out Camellias are pretty much totally hardy.

 

I left a brug cutting on the allotment last winter , I just piled chipping round the base, it survived but came back far too late to flower this this year, losing all top growth.

I'm giving up on brugs anyway, they just seem to be lots of hassle for a big mess on the ground mostly. I know they look good when in full flower but I'm having a rest from them.

 

I've always lined the bottom panes of my greenhouse with house insulation batts (I would have preferred a half walled one but they are costly). The heated section was kept below 5 last year - I'll set the thermostat even lower this year, and ensure I get big bubble plastic for lining it.

 

I won't use the heat mats in my potting shed this winter. I will start things later under the LED lights.

 

Still on a fix but next year will be buying a big round straw bale to wrap any delicates in. This year its the quality big bubblewrap again, reflective insulation on north facing wall and all gaps taped up.

 

A roof, now that sounds like a good idea.

 

Don't think I would have room for anything like that.
Often I can hardly get in the door.