Here is the Deal

[digitS']

I started a thread last year and, as is typical of me , I got a little too wordy to clearly make my point.

In a couple of hours, I will be back to this thread for an update. Here is the deal:

It was 26 outdoors at dawn. In my unheated greenhouse, it was 30.

This isn't one of those optimistic, spring-is-here, recitals. This is Cold, Hard reality, Momma!

It is freezing outdoors and only 4 warmer - but still freezing - in my greenhouse.

Steve

last year's thread

 

[April Manier]

Help me out here. Is there a question in this?

 

[digitS']

No question April . . . but I do see a remarkable amount of optimism about what a greenhouse can do or, what is hoped it can do.

I am just recording my gardening experiences. I think that it is great when I can read what others are up to and whether they are successful or not. For this day, allow me to record what is happening in the greenhouse. The issue of solar heating becomes somewhat moot when the forced air, natural gas furnace is on in there. I will turn on the heat in just a couple of weeks.

I have already set a few flats of soil with onion seeds in there. The onions don't really need the furnace altho' they can be a little bit slow.

It is a sunny day with almost no wind.

At 11 am, after just over 4 hours of sun, the inside temperature was 100F. Outdoors, the thermometer was 40.

I have opened the vent near the peak of the house and cracked open the door an inch.

The inside temperature has fallen to 88.

S'

 

[Collector]

Wow the temp rose quickly, I'm suprized. Off course I do not know much about green houses, but the temps probably goes back down rather fast with the setting sun.

 

[beavis]

Steve, ever thought about starting a blog? Its a great way to have an ongoing dialogue on subjects such as your greenhouse.

I agree that after the sun goes down, the temperature probably goes down rather fast.

They sell remote temperature sensors that you can read from the comfort of your house what the greenhouse temperature is in the middle of the night.

April, cool website, I linked your site to my blog....

 

[digitS']

Yes, there is a remote sensor in the greenhouse and one under the porch roof to show outdoor temperatures.

In the afternoon the wind picked up a little. The outdoor temperature did not warm above 40 today.

At 2pm, it was 82 in the greenhouse and I closed the door, leaving the vent open. The temperature quickly rose to 89 but then began slowly dropping again.

By 4pm, the temperature was 75 and I closed the vent and outside air is fairly well excluded for the night.

At 5pm, it is 65 in the greenhouse. The outside temperature is 37. Sunset is officially at 5:20.

The flats with onion seed will be set on the floor tonight and be covered with a tarp. The Weather Service says that it will be 22 by tomorrow morning so it may be a little colder in there than this morning. Onions are tough, there isn't anything else I'd be willing to treat like this over the next 6 weeks. And, it isn't all that great for the onions either but I hate to have flats of soil inside the house.

S'

 

[beavis]

curious what the temperature is in the middle of the night or just before sunrise, typically the coldest part of a 24-hr day.

I have stuff in my hoophouse and am also curious what the nighttime temps are dropping too.

 

[digitS']

Well Beavis, it was 30 in the greenhouse at sunrise this morning.

At 6pm, it is now 54 in the greenhouse so the temperature in there is dropping like the proverbial stone . . . .

I haven't set up the hoop house but it is much worse at retaining warmth than the greenhouse. The greenhouse is actually a sunshed in that it has an insulated north wall and roof.

Blog? I once had a blog but it was 10 years ago . . . my, how time flies!! I couldn't post a picture on it. One day - the whole blog service was suddenly gone!

Steve

 

[digitS']

Four hours after sunset (9:20pm), it is now 27F outdoors and there is no wind.

The greenhouse temperature is 38.

S'

 

[beavis]

Brrrrrrrrrrr