greenhouse heater

Perhaps an old query but I need help with new greenhouse heating for the winter months.
I am aiming to use the first winter getting to know how things grow and more importantly how to look after the fuschias and pelargoniums, cannas and dahlias/etc.
I would be grateful for any help you can give to selecting a heater which will keep the place frost free - I like the idea of the separate plug in thermostat.
Electrics have been laid on using appropriate equipment for external use.

 

Hi Barnaby.
No expert here but just a few observations.
If you want to heat a greenhouse electricity is the way to go. I found things like paraffin created more problems than they solved.
Heating a greenhouse over the winter can be expensive , but if that's your hobby and you want to pay for it then fine.
I don't know what all you want to keep in there - seems to be fuchsias etc.
All I will say is it not all about temperature. Sometimes it is about damp. And sometimes it is about a growing temperature which is about 5 degrees.
If I was heating a greenhouse over the winter I would want my moneys worth and pack it to the maximum'
As I said no greenhouse expert here, they will be along.

 

Thank you Woo and Alice. Never had a greenhouse before and thought it would be a help in overcoming the boredom of getting old and inactive in the winter (on the days when I'm not on the golf course).
I appreciate the comment about dampness and the idea of packing it to the roof - we shall see.

 

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Hi!

Forget about keeping dahlia tubers in a GH overwinter as the tubers need to be dried out completly before storage!

If they get damp or the temps fall below freezing a few time they will rot or at least get mildew and mouldy, then they are useless!

They need to be kept dry and frost free t all times.

To help conserve heat, line the GH with bubble wrap ( large bubbles).

cheers!

 

Thank you to everyone for their valued contributions, I did not expect/anticipate the sort of problems which clearly exist in relation to heating the greenhouse. Am away for a short holiday next week and will decide on what route to follow when I return - will inform you of the outcome later..................

Thanks again