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I bit long, but may be of interest.
I got given an old Crittal greenhouse (about 2500 x 1000) back in January. Moving it (assembled but without glass) is a whole other story - shame there isn't video...
Knew nothing about greenhouses but research indicated bottom heat was the way to go.
We dug a long side and the adjacent short side to 150mm; lined with 50mm sand then laid a 120W cable and back filled with mixture of sterilized topsoil and general purpose compost.
Raised melon, tomato and aubergine seeds (in same greenhouse) and planted them in the bed.
Now have a mass of tomatoes, the first of which are just turning red; half a dozen Galia melons well on the way (about 75mm) and the Cantaloupes are just setting. We have harvested four or five sizable aubergines already. Odd spaces are yielding spinach (which comes up fast but goes to seed fast), Florence fennel and chillis.
Energy costs: the heating cable is controlled at 20C by a small computer, which also records when it switches on an off so I have a good idea of running costs. We are on Economy 7. Cost of energy about £3.70 per month on average; dropping now that the "on" period is shortening and almost entirely at overnight Eco 7 rate.
We are in Cornwall where the climate is mild but, since I have no previous greenhouse experience, I don't know where we would have been with produce had the greenhouse been unheated.
We never expected the produce to compete with supermarket prices but the quality is great and cost not extortionate.
I got given an old Crittal greenhouse (about 2500 x 1000) back in January. Moving it (assembled but without glass) is a whole other story - shame there isn't video...
Knew nothing about greenhouses but research indicated bottom heat was the way to go.
We dug a long side and the adjacent short side to 150mm; lined with 50mm sand then laid a 120W cable and back filled with mixture of sterilized topsoil and general purpose compost.
Raised melon, tomato and aubergine seeds (in same greenhouse) and planted them in the bed.
Now have a mass of tomatoes, the first of which are just turning red; half a dozen Galia melons well on the way (about 75mm) and the Cantaloupes are just setting. We have harvested four or five sizable aubergines already. Odd spaces are yielding spinach (which comes up fast but goes to seed fast), Florence fennel and chillis.
Energy costs: the heating cable is controlled at 20C by a small computer, which also records when it switches on an off so I have a good idea of running costs. We are on Economy 7. Cost of energy about £3.70 per month on average; dropping now that the "on" period is shortening and almost entirely at overnight Eco 7 rate.
We are in Cornwall where the climate is mild but, since I have no previous greenhouse experience, I don't know where we would have been with produce had the greenhouse been unheated.
We never expected the produce to compete with supermarket prices but the quality is great and cost not extortionate.
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