Keeping Seedlings Warm at Night

JWK mentioned that he had a "blow-away" [4-shelf flimsy plastic Grow-House on a frame] in his greenhouse with some soil warming cables as a means of keeping his seedlings warm enough at night (at this time of the year), (but was getting some condensation issues)

I have used a couple of "blow-aways" in my unheated conservatory in previous years. However, last year I put my Grow Lamp (which I had used to bring-on some plants over the winter) in the utility corridor and brought the plants in each night. Bit of a cigarette ... and it wasn't very warm in the corridor as there is a large gap under the outside door but it did bring the Toms / Peppers on a lot.

I've been told the utility corridor is out of bounds this year!

So ... what I think would be better is to erect the growing lamp over the seedlings, in the conservatory, and run it at night, and then "throw" something over the lot to insulate them. The Grow lamp is a 400W Metal Halide, so I suspect that will produce enough heat by itself ...

What's easy to throw over it?

I wondered about tihs:



1.9M Wide x 3M Long (and 1.9M High). There was some foul-up in manufacture and the stictching is "Not up to the usual standard" and "The vents are made such that they cannot open". Provided the stitching doesn't come apart in my hand! I reckon it will be OK. Its reduced from £55 to £27.50

I'm not sure how effective it will be at insulating ?? nor how easy it will be to get on/off the plants and light (although, apart from the daylight reduction, it could stay on).

I suppose if the polythene rips I can just use the frame and chuck some good insulating material over the top (at night).

I did wonder about a "box" made from insulating board, but I reckon that would be quite fragile to keep erecting / dismantling every day ?

 

It'll only keep the lightest of frosts off Kristen & then no guarantees.

Did you get the seeds I sent you?

 

Its in my unheated conservatory (which will be a good 5C maybe 10C above outside temperature [cold is usually short, this time of year][/quote]

Don't think so ... what might there have been?

 

Don't think so ... what might there have been?[/quote]

Parsley mainly. Might have got the wrong house then

 

I figured my 400W Metal Halide would chuck some heat out, but I can stick Gas or Electric fan in there. But I don't want to do that if all the heat will just go straight through the polythene, I'd prefer to insulate more first.

Is there something that I can chuck over it to improve the insulation? Would a couple of blankets make a difference? I'm just looking for a bit of a "steer" so I can put my best-food-forwards.

 

Nah, you're pulling my leg. There is no way you've flogged all the way up to Suffolk ... unless you've been putting yet ANOTHER tower on the cathedral? :D

 

Not got any bubblewrap "on site", but if my blankets only do half-a-job I'll get a roll in.

Thanks, I'll buy the mini-house and report back how it goes (Might get a little Parsene fan heater too, to make sure I have enough heat)

I suppose if I'm going to go to that much trouble I could get a decent thermostat - the hysteresis on those little heaters is appalling (and thus expensive, quite apart from the plants not enjoying the see-saw of temperatures)

 

A blanket would work well - but a very cheap king sized duvet would work even better. It keeps me warm at night, and a person only gives off 100 watts, compared to your 400 watt lamp.

 

Depends, does your gaff begin with a B and end with an S ?

 

Nope. No Ollock here

 

Not on a road begining with W either then? Someone will be scratching their head & wondering who the seed fairy is then

 

Nope ... were you in the right county Ziggy?

 

Bildeston?