Greenhouse heaters

[mummymonkey]

Im looking to get a 6x8 greenhouse, but has anyone got any advice on what heater to get for it, there just seems so many on the market.

Thanks

[chris]

Do you have electricity to the greenhouse? Why are you wanting to heat it? To grow exotics or keep it frost free?

[Alison]

Brilliant news re the greenhouse but as said above, what are you wanting to grow in there. If you want it to be a hot house it will cost a fortune is to be honest is a bit of a waste. If you want it to be frost free then there are various which should always be done with insulation too. I have an electric heater in mine (one of those rod type ones) but haven't used it for about 5 years as I don't think it's necessary. I use mine to keep stuff drier and with some protection over winter but prefer to minimise what I overwinter in the house and protect as necessary with fleece if there is a late frost after I've put stuff out there in the spring.

[mummymonkey]

Cheers for the advice :-)

Im looking to grow peppers, chilli and herbs in the greenhouse and also to start seedlings growing. I don't have areas in the house for propergators (sp) as i have a very curious toddler who will pull them off the windowsills

[chris]

It's still really early in the growing season, so there is ample time yet to get things started off.. I'd personally say that it'd be wasting your money by trying to heat your greenhouse to get some seeds started off. Herbs are fine, but I guess peppers/aubergines - yes you can start them off now as they need a long growing season to ripen in time, but a couple 3 inch pots, with a clear plastic bag over them will help germinate them now, when they're ready to be potted on you can do the trip in/out of the house to the greenhouse in the day if you wanted to gradually harden them off.

I've got around the fact from my little one trying to pull the propagators down by actively encouraging her to sow the seeds with me and check on them daily - she likes "baby" (little) things, so these baby plants are really of interest to her She says things like "aww baby plant, hello, stroke your hair" etc - as she touches the seedlings. It might not work for you but could be worth a shot ?

[mummymonkey]

Brilliant advice :-) and you have saved me money in the long run

It has been quite amusing on the allotment with the LO, whilst i dig he toddling off, i drag him back, he toddles off again, despite me buying him his own tools, so now i go to the allotment on my own unless hubby is with us

[Madasafish]

I have a 6x8. Don't heat before March.. too cold. And then overnight only to keep frost off. Paraffin heater.. uses 4 litres /week i.e. £6+. Reckon on 6 weeks till mid April then odd frosty nights.

I also cover all inside at night with fleece and put tender plants inside a mini greenhouse on the bench...

[Currysniffa]

My greenhouses are on my plots so no heating in them but my friends is on his back garden and he has a 12ft long heated bench he starts something's off really early.

[chris]

Brilliant advice :-) and you have saved me money in the long run

It has been quite amusing on the allotment with the LO, whilst i dig he toddling off, i drag him back, he toddles off again, despite me buying him his own tools, so now i go to the allotment on my own unless hubby is with us

I had the same, but as mine is getting a bit older now (just over 2) she's getting more and more interested in snails and such things. she always plays with dandelions and other weeds. I did buy a small swing off amazon that folds down and she goes in if she's bored

[Two_Sheds]

Im looking to grow peppers, chilli and herbs in the greenhouse and also to start seedlings growing.

I do that, in an unheated gh.

I just wait until spring, rather than trying to start in midwinter

[The Large One]

picking up on this thread has anyone used a calor gas heater (mobile) with the large bottles in the back to heat/keep frost free ?
i have the oppurtunity to get a heater FOC and have a redundant gas bottle from a BBQ looking for another life
greenhouse is 16x8 (just putting up) as i have a double parrafin heater but been told its not big enough to keep the frost off
i bring on chillis and toms etc in big heated props indoors but want to transfer some outside as back and middle bedroom are full of 9cm potted seedlings under engery saving bulbs

TIA

[Madasafish]

I had a gas heater. Gave it away.

Very expensive to use and you MUST use propane. (red bottle)

On cold nights, butane does not evaporate: no heater.. Waste of time. (blue bottle)

[roitelet]

I bought a gas heater for the poly tunnel and have screened off and lined the far end which is where the heater is. Only just got it in action and it has kept it above freezing with outside temps. at -11. It has a thermostat and runs on propane, it's the first year I have used it so will have to see what the running costs are.

[The Large One]

thank you, will see if i can get the heater and swap the bottle as it is a blue

[Potstubsdustbins]

You cannot just go swapping bottles the fire will be set up for a particular gas and to swap the gas you will have to change the injector and regulator so the gas is delivered at the correct pressure. On the fire somewhere will be a data plate this will tell you what gas the fire is set up to use.


Colin