Hot boxes

[Snadger]

Two weeks in now and temps have stabilised to between 7/10 degrees at night and 10/19 daytime. it was turned over 3 days ago after a noticable drop and quickly rose back. i put some strawberry runners in the box and killed them. this was when the box was roaring hot, it was probably the heat that killed them but stench of ammonia is still worrying me maybe the fumes killed them? its not so bad now it has settled but its still a nag.

From what I remember in the victorian kitchen garden the hotboxes were cold frames with removable lights. The fresh manure was covered with soil and the temperature of the soil was monitored until it was sowing temperature. Most plants require a higher initial temperature for the seeds to germinate but can survive at a lot lower temp once germinated.

Just as an aside I've started filling a small water butt with chicken poo as I clean the chooks out each day. First one is nearly full now and I intend putting the lid on it and taking it down to my greenhouse to try and capitalise on the heat as it decomposes. It's still cold at the mo but I'm sure I can kick start it by watering it with a strong solution of sulphate of ammonia?..........watch this space!

[nick the grief]

I found an interesting bit in an old book I acquired from the local charity shop on Saturday (CONTINUOUS FLOWER GROWING BY W.E. SHEWELL COOPER cost me 75p and describes how to have cut flowers year round - Circa 1953 I think). He says about using hot beds to start cuttings off and I think with a bit of adaptation it could be dual purpose. It looked like this



Only rather than stack it up it was a 2ft deep hole(trench) with 18" of fresh manure or pine needles and capped with 6" soil then the cold frame on top. Now my evil mind imediatley thought

"Ah ha! hot bed for winter, Bean trench for summer"

[Two_Sheds]

Isn't the main problem with hot boxes, not being able to maintain a steady even temperature?

[nick the grief]

it is TS but rather than above ground this one is below ground so it gets a bit of insulation