Humid greenhouse

[trebellangeminired]

Hi grapes,

Got a dilemma. I'm lucky to have a 6 by 8 greenhouse to dedicate to cucumbers and melons. I have 8 cucumber plants down one side and 7 melon plants down the other. In between there is a 3 x 2ft gap begging to be planted with something. The general advice seems to be that aubergines enjoy same humid environment as cucumbers and melons but I think they would be shaded by the growing plants. Has anyone got any other suggestions?

Also, I'm unsure about ventilation. At the moment, the plants are planted through black plastic into a raised bed. I water them lightly first thing every morning and mist the whole greenhouse at the same time. Do I open the window all day and reduce humidity or do I leave it shut? I'm concerned about what diseases I might get in there because of the lack of ventilation and of course creating an ideal environment for some pests. I have set up slug traps as it will be slug heaven but is there any thing else I should be aware of?

Hope you can help.

TGR

[Kristen]

Generally I go for high humidity and combat any consequential fungus / pest infestations. I reckon that the plants get less stress if I keep the humidity up.

Secondly I watch the temperature. I reckon in a 6 x 8 (assuming that is feet, and not metres ) you will have a very high temperatures if you don't open it up, but I could be wrong. But I think the draft from vents causes the most stress to my plants, and I only open the vents on the leeward side, and then not by much. I open the door a crack too, to allow some air circulation (I think a louvre would be better, but I don't have one ... something for me to add to Santa's list )

My Cues are at the back end of the GHouse, and I don't open the vents at that end at all. Toms either site of the path, melons against the glass on one side and sweet peppers and aubergines the other. I have considered putting a sheet of polythene across the end to keep the Cues in their own environment, but haven't needed to yet.

[trebellangeminired]

Thanks Kristen. Yes it is 6x8ft! The greenhouse is oriented east/west with the door on the west side and one window on the north side. I got cold feet and opened it today and hey presto, no humidity. It did have an auto opener but that died last year. As you say, something for my Santa list! I'm lucky in that this year I don't have to worry about accomodating peppers and tomatoes as they are in the other greenhouse (not as grand as it sounds, long story). Maybe I should replace the window with a louvre? I suppose it would give more control. Hmm...will put it to OH.

Thanks again

TGR

[Kristen]

"Maybe I should replace the window with a louvre?"

Don't think so. You need a roof opening to let the hot air out of the top, and somewhere towards the bottom to let cooler air in. Short of kicking a pane of glass out!! I reckon that's either opening the door a few inches, or fitting a louvre.

I was going to get automatic openers for mine, but actually its proving better to open the windows leeward side only, and thus I think auto-openers are not for me. Anyways, I'll wait until I've used it through the heat of my first summer before deciding. If you are away from home much then I reckon auto-openers would be a god-send.

[trebellangeminired]

Ok, understand the principles of the louvre now, will open door. I'm at home alot at the moment so no probs opening/closing windows/doors as necessary. We have also tried to construct a unit like the one on "it's not easy being green" where they collected the hot air during the day and stored it in a heat sink to be released at night but we've had problems getting the fan to work. The heat sink alone definately creates a more even soil temperature. As with alot of things, it's a work in progress.

TGR