Will One Auto Vent be Enough?

[vikkib]

We're needing to go away for a couple of weeks in March so some work can be done on our house.

I've got nearly 200 shallot seedlings currently under lights which I'm going to have to be turfing out into an unheated greenhouse as the work means the power in the house will be off a lot of the time (so no lights) and I don't have enough windowsills for them all!

I'm going to start hardening them off now so they can cope with the cold but I'm also worried about the high temp in the GH during the day. Sadly the max bit on my min/max thermometer has stopped working so I don't know exactly how hot it's getting but it's pretty warm!

As I won't be here to open and close the door to the GH each day I am planning on getting an auto vent but I'm wondering if that will provide enough ventilation and reduce the temp enough?

I've also got some other stuff (toms, chillis, aubergines etc.) on the go but I'm thinking I can take my small grow light with me as they need a bit more attention than the shallots!

Eeeek! I've just realised the time... you can guess who woke up at 4.30am thinking about this can't you?!

[Bigmallly]

I would be more concerned if it was a couple of weeks in July Vikki. My auto vent is set to open around 17-18 degrees. I think last year was a one off and can't imaging getting to dizzy heights again. Having said that, one auto vent should be fine. As hot air rises, place them on the floor or a low area. Are you keeping them stood in water?

[vikkib]

I would be more concerned if it was a couple of weeks in July Vikki. My auto vent is set to open around 17-18 degrees. I think last year was a one off and can't imaging getting to dizzy heights again. Having said that, one auto vent should be fine.

Phew! That is fantastic to hear! Never again shall I moan about the temperate English spring... well... maybe never! ; )

Are you keeping them stood in water?

I was thinking of giving them a good water before we go and then popping them on soaking wet towels. I'll be able to come back and check on them/water them again at the weekend in between the two weeks so I guess it will be a max of 6-7 days in between.

I'm nervous of keeping them in trays of water in case they get way too soggy though.

Sadly the work also involves turning off the water else I'd be rigging up some drip watering from the garden tap! I think I like to over engineer!

[SarzWix]

How big is the greenhouse and how many roof vents does it have? And does it have any louvres? If it's big enough to have more than one roof vent then I would consider putting one on both of them, or one on a louvre if you have one of those. Shallots aren't really going to be that happy in a baking hot greenhouse I don't think? You could rig some shading up as well!

[veggiechicken]

On my 8x10 GH I have 2 automatic openers, one on a louvre at ground level, one in the roof and both were open to their widest a few days ago. Not sure how that helps you though, sorry.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I have automatic openers on the two roof vents of my 8 x 10 and on my 8 x 12. I also have louvres fitted on each greenhouse but operate these manually. Size matters .

[vikkib]

How big is the greenhouse and how many roof vents does it have? And does it have any louvres? If it's big enough to have more than one roof vent then I would consider putting one on both of them, or one on a louvre if you have one of those. Shallots aren't really going to be that happy in a baking hot greenhouse I don't think?

I have automatic openers on the two roof vents of my 8 x 10 and on my 8 x 12. I also have louvres fitted on each greenhouse but operate these manually. Size matters .

Hehehe!

It's only 6 x 8 and it has two opening vents in the roof; one with a bar on it so you can prop it open and one without which is where I was planning on putting the auto vent.

It hasn't got any louvres, it has the fittings for them at one end but when I got it (from freecycle) the glass for them was missing and I just popped a single piece of poly carbonate in that bit.

I've just been to the garden centre and Aldi and I'm now the proud owner of a new min/max thermometer, an auto vent and some capillary matting.

You could rig some shading up as well!

I can certainly put up some shading.

[Aberdeenplotter]

sounds as though you've got it sorted

[Potstubsdustbins]

With the weather forecast for March I would not be to worried. Supposed to be quite reasonable to start with then going really cold again.


Potty

[vikkib]

Righty!

I braved the freezing cold yesterday and fitted the auto vent.

No idea what temperature it's set to open on at the moment... guess I'll have to wait for a warm day when I'm at home and keep running out to check it!



The shallots are being hardened off and I need to work out what will be in the GH by the time we're away to figure out if I have enough capillary matting as I think the shallots alone will take up nearly half of it!

Might need another bit to leave on the drainer in the kitchen for the overwintered chillies... I'd be more than a bit miffed if I managed to get them this far for them to drop dead in March!

[Jimmy]

I have had an 8x6 greenhouse with auto roof vent for 40 years.
The auto vent is still going strong.
I have another auto ventilation device sat in the house, the wife!
When she sees the roof vent open she goes outside and opens the door.

I think an auto louver vent in the end opposite the door would be good, might do that one day. Perhaps not.

Jimmy