Greenhouse within a greenhouse?

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi everyone! I think I read somewhere that you could put one of those small, plastic greenhouses inside your normal greenhouse over winter and use it as extra insulation against the cold.
I still have the mini plastic greenhouse I raised all my seedlings in earlier this year and was thinking of doing this.
What does everyone think?
Thanks! DDL
PS I also have some spare large sheets of corrugated plastic (used before I got my greenhouse) could I use those to line the inside of the greenhouse, or do I really have to use "bubble wrap"/fleece?

[Debs]

Hi DDL,

I was thinking exactly the same thing! Well very similar, I have a large plastic greenhouse and two of the small plastic ones. Cleared the large one at the weekend (Picked my final cuke sadly) and have placed one of the smaller ones inside as an experiment to see if I can continue with my mixed salad leaf crops! Here's hoping

[Alison]

Have a small plastic framed thing which I use for protecting plants which are being hardened off in the spring which I errect in the greenhouse most winters. I also put polystyrene insulation boards against the bottom section of the main greenhouse walls and bubble wrap round the rest of it which keeps down the heating costs - I try to keep it frost free and can get a bit more protection in the secondary greenhouse if you see what I mean. The only problem is with lack of ventilation / light so you need to keep an eye on it all and if it's a warm day make sure that nothing sweats overheats.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks for your advice. Much appreciated. DDL

[Alice]

I find the problem in the greenhouse in winter is damp and botrittus. But your theory is correct. you can put insulation within insulation with good results. I don't heat my greenhouse over the whole winter (too expensive) but in the spring once I have enough stuff to justify the expense I put the heating on (electric fan heating). The greenhouse can be divided by hanging bubble wrap sheets to form an internal compartment which can be heated without heating the whole space. Maybe I'm just an old skin flint. I just like to think prudent. Try your insulation within your insulatin. Don't forget you can use fleece and hot water bottles to help the situation. If you find techniques which really work for you, do share it with us. We are all here to learn from each other.

[love green]

Hi
I'm also doing the greenhouse in a greenhouse thing (are we all expecting a really cold winter?). I have just bought a heated propagator that you can make bigger (you put extra height extensions on top). It's heated and I'm going to use it as a triple layer for my orchids (yeah I know not very edible) over winter and then I'm going to use it as a single layer to propagate my chilli seeds in Feb. I got mine from Greenhouse Sensation - their on the web.

[burnie]

This is pure theory at the moment(I've just come out of hospital so I've idle time on my hands),but I'd planned to get some fresh horse manure and make a hot bed in my poly tunnel and then stand one of those mini plastics on top of it.Theory is free heat from the bottom and then use the hot bed when it's rotted down as a raised bed next year.I'll let you know how it goes,it'll be too late for me to use through the winter so it's planned for a propogator in the spring,hope it's not too smelly in confined spaces.

[dexterdoglancashire]

HI LG - and welcome to the Vine! It will be interested to see what all our "experiments" do over winter! Looking forward to hearing how you get on. DDL

[Snadger]

I find the problem in the greenhouse in winter is damp and botrittus. But your theory is correct. you can put insulation within insulation with good results. I don't heat my greenhouse over the whole winter (too expensive) but in the spring once I have enough stuff to justify the expense I put the heating on (electric fan heating). The greenhouse can be divided by hanging bubble wrap sheets to form an internal compartment which can be heated without heating the whole space. Maybe I'm just an old skin flint. I just like to think prudent. Try your insulation within your insulatin. Don't forget you can use fleece and hot water bottles to help the situation. If you find techniques which really work for you, do share it with us. We are all here to learn from each other.

What a brilliant idea using hot water bottles! I have an improvised cold frame made from polythene around some Jersey Royal potatoes. I have straw around them and had fleece on top but have just made a frame for top and covered with polythene as the straw was getting wet. If a sharp frost is forecast a hot water bottle may be just what is needed to keep it frost free!

Thanks very much Alice...just goes to prove 'you're never to old to learn'

[dexterdoglancashire]

Exactly how "old" are you Snadger? DDL

[Lesley Jay]

DDL you shouldn't ask questions like that!!

[bramble]

LJ, do you really think she's going to get an answer?

[Snadger]

Exactly how "old" are you Snadger? DDL

You're not telling me you've had central heating that long you can't remember what a hot water bottle looks like!

Do you remember the stone ones DDL?

How old do I seem to be?

[Lesley Jay]

Snadger I think you sound just about right to me!!!

[shirlthegirl43]

You're not telling me you've had central heating that long you can't remember what a hot water bottle looks like!

Do you remember the stone ones DDL?

How old do I seem to be?

I use a stone hot water bottle every winter to keep my tootsies warm in bed!!! It is way better than the rubber ones as it doesn't perish and leak and it stays hot most of the night - brill when OH is working abroad and I don't have him to put my cold feet on.