help with greenhouses!

[Feistywidget]

NOTES: Haven't ever used greenhouse; will not be main form of gardening, only for transplants (veggies + herbs). Also the whole 'soil being too cold for warm weather crops' doesn't apply as much to me, because I do container gardening.

Greenhouse used will be lean to or mini portable one. Can't make any permanent changes to plot; land isn't mine.

Questions are....


Does greenhouse need to be heated w/heater? If so, what kind and what wattage (must be cordless no outlets in greenhouse).


Are grow lights required or no so long as the area gets enough sun?

Do seedlings grown in greenhouse need to be hardened off? Know they're in protected area, but they're still technically outside.

Was told is getting late to do eggplant; however how old should eggplant seedlings be when transplanted (in weeks/months plz)? I'm also using early maturing varieties (50-60 days).
Same questions regarding pepper seedlings transplants.

 

[The Mama Chicken]

It will be easier to answer if we know what zone you're in. I can tell you that both peppers and eggplant should be about 6 weeks old before they go out into the garden (even in containers.)

 

[digitS']

Does greenhouse need to be heated w/heater? If so, what kind and what wattage (must be cordless no outlets in greenhouse).

○ You can carry plants back inside the house on cold nights. Plants can also be covered but very cool growing conditions will set the plants back. Are you thinking about propane heaters? Cordless electric heaters? I don't have any experience here . . .

Are grow lights required or no so long as the area gets enough sun?

○ No. I was reading not all that long ago that about 90% of all commercial greenhouses do not have supplemental lighting. They grow plants for profit.

Do seedlings grown in greenhouse need to be hardened off? Know they're in protected area, but they're still technically outside.

○ Yes. UV light does not pass thru glass to any great extent. Greenhouse workers lose their tans every winter. A greenhouse is an environment protected from low temperatures and wind, also. Outdoors, things are different.

Was told is getting late to do eggplant; however how old should eggplant seedlings be when transplanted (in weeks/months plz)? I'm also using early maturing varieties (50-60 days). Same questions regarding pepper seedlings transplants

○ TMC goes for 6 weeks; I go for 8 weeks before set-out date - probably because both the indoor and the garden environment will be cooler than for her. I can easily push it a couple more weeks and pot-up to 4" containers for the eggplants, especially. With such big leaves, they don't fit into a crowd very well.

. . . my 2 and I hope it was of some help .

Steve

 

[kathiesgarden]

Hi
I am experimenting with my new greenhouse (built last year, but not used much) this year. I started my seedlings inside, but moved them out to the greenhouse this week, just in time for a couple of days of freezing weather (woops). I have them on heat mats and have added a little bit of extra heat (I am not sure if that is necessary or effective). This morning at 5:30 am the temp was 36 in the greenhouse and 30 outside. I think the plants probably made it, but will check them later today. I am anxiously waiting for the sun to shine.
This is fun, I am learning a lot from this forum, thanks all.
Kathie :rainbow-sun

 

[Feistywidget]

Thanks for advice and taking time to post on thread. Live in northern part of lower peninsula in MI; gardening zone is 4b/5a.

How many flats in greenhouse? It's a 3' x 3' mini greenhouse and coldframe (yes it's both).

Light won't go thru glass, but what about plastic?

Heater would be portable.

Some questions w/heating; if using heater w/greenhouse should it be opened during the day or kept closed? This is for newly germinated seedlings and warm weather stuff (peppers etc.); want them to be warm, not overheated. Know seedlings are more sensitive w/everything.....temps, light, etc. than established plants.

 

[NwMtGardener]

I think my advice is just gonna be kinda general here - you're going to have to keep a close eye on things and see how it goes! I guess i'm wondering if, instead of a heater, you could just bring this portable greenhouse inside at night? Seems like that would sure save you hassle and money for the heater. And during the day is really going to depend on the weather conditions right at that second. You dont want it to get too hot, so you'll have to monitor closely to know what the temp is. If its full sun right on that thing, it can easily overheat and cook your plants without having the flaps open for ventilation. What's the majic temp? Not sure, but i get nervous if my greenhouse gets in the 90s, and open more holes for ventilation. Hi/low temps that might kill a plant will depend on the plant too, so as far as how cold is too cold, it depends. Peppers are sensitive to cold, so i'd add heat or bring them inside if it was going to get below 40.

As far as how many flats, i'd say as many as fit in there. Steve (digits) would surely tell you to pack em in nice and tight!

As far as light, i'm confused by your question, because of course light goes thru glass and plastic, but i think you're worried about the different parts of the spectrum that get blocked. Your plants arent going to be in there forever, they'll be fine as long as you dont cook or freeze them!

This is what i would do (this is what i'm DOING in my own greenhouse): get a nice fancy theremometer that tells you how HIGH the temp was that day, and how LOW, and the current temp. Put it in your greenhouse with no plants, and keep track every day with different conditions what the highs and lows were. Was it direct sun that day? Were the vents open on the greenhouse? Start getting a baseline, without any danger to your plants. Then figure out how to regulate it within a moderate range. My nice fancy thermometer has the sensor out in the greenhouse, and it wirelessly sends to the readout in the house, so i can keep track from inside.

And juat know that its gonna be a bit of an exciting experiment, and things might happen and maybe a plant might die! Not the end of the world, we've all done it (you will find numerous threads here discussing all of our mistakes!) AND HAVE FUN!