polycarbon greenhouse

I am new at green house gardening so after buying a polycarbon greenhouse last spring i thought that over the winter i could still sow and produce seedlings because i was under the impression that these type of greenhouses were warmer than glass. i had no success with the seedlings.
i did not have any heating last year but i have recently installed electric. would i need bubble wrap to keep the heat in my greenhouse or with the installation of heat be enough this year. thanks :confused:

 

I think the thread http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000089 will answer most things about bubble wrap. IMO - yes it would help!

 

it mite be helpfull to get a min/max thermometer to record your temps, some seeds require temps of 65 F to germinate eg lobelia, tomato
while some like sweet pea and leek will be ok with temps of 50F or so, with outside temps of 32F, there is no way you are going to do much more than provide a sheletered environment for semi - hardy plants eg geranium, even if polycarb is subjesct to less temp flutuations than glass because it has a better U value ie some insulative propeties, i dont expect you could expect to raise seedlings be4 late march without heating

[ 11. March 2006, 12:21 AM: Message edited by: Lady Gardener ]

 

LG - On the subject of thermometers, I can't seem to find a place in my g/h where it's not affected by the sun. I have even hung it under the staging in permanent shade and still get false readings at times! Tried putting a hood round it but to no avail, I think the plastic case absorbs the heat somehow.

Does anyone else have this problem?

 

Thanks MF, I see your point and I will do that in future.

You have a good day too!

 

i am more interested in the overnight temperature than any peak during daylight hours, its the min not the max that dictates growth imo

 

Veglady, have a look at some of the other posts in this greenhouse section. To sum up:-

It is the minimum temperature that is the most important. A greenhouse does provide some protection. But unless it is heated, the minimum inside the greenhouse can be as low as the minimum outside.

If you have electric heating and a thermostat, your can ensure the minimum temperature does not drop below any value you care to set. The higher the value you set the more expensive it will be to heat.

Insulation will not alter the minimum temperature - you set that with the thermostat. But insulation will reduce your electricity bill. In exactly the same way as insulating your house makes heating it cheaper.

 

Hi All
Thankyou for your advice its been a great help.
this forum is great i am understanding things better. I have a pile of gardening books but they just confuse matters they are full of good advice but to a newbie gardener like me its to much advice to take in
thanks again all

 

This is the first year that I have used a poly tunnel and I am plagued with greenfly/whitefly - I have sprayed and sprayed to no avail - there used to be some greenhouse bombs - do you know if they are still available? If not any suggestions.
Also all the leaves are falling off my fuschia cuttings - only have to touch the plant and they fall off - help!

 

Yes, I got some fairly recently - will check out the name for you - watch this space. I thought they were off limits too, but I found these in a very reputable GC - I think it's called a sulphur candle.

 

brilliant - thanks for your quick reply - will watch for your reply.

 

Hi, there!
It is a suplhur candle, and the brand I have is called "Deadfast" - the tin I have is sufficient for a g/house 3mx2m - sorry, but no price on it. If you google it, or just "sulphur candle" I'm sure you'll get the info on how to get it too. Good luck - + read the instructions!! Nasty stuff!!

 

http://www.twowests.co.uk/TwoWestsSite/product/BPSC.htm - they've got it here!

 

Thank- have found it on the internet - fingers crossed that it works - will let you know