[cjskts]

We have an 8x6 greenhouse. We got it in late spring last year, so it was after we had the chance to grow anything in it other than the tomatoes.

So, can i chit potatoes in there and start seeds off? its unheated so i dont know if it will be too cold. I am hoping that i can do some in there to save the house being taken over again like last year. We have plenty of shelving etc, but i just wasnt sure if it was too cold to do stuff outside.

[Nikkithefoot]

Unless its heated I personally wouldn't use it to chit my potatoes as there is a real risk of frost killing them off, especially where you are living. It also wouldn't be any use for seeds that require heat to germinate.
I guess it depends what else you want to grow.

[DD.]

As Nikki.

I chit my spuds in the greenhouse, but have just enough heat to keep the frost off, later on I will wind it up a bit to raise things like flower seeds that need a bit more warmth, without being over the top and then move the tomatoes in there about April time that have been growing inside the house.

In a couple of months, you should be able to start off things like leeks & brassicas with no heat, but without any, you are quite limited to the very hardy stuff.

[Kristen]

Suggest you get a Max / Min thermometer so you know how cold it is getting in there (ideally get another for outside too, so you can see how many degrees the greenhouse will retain).

As the days get longer, and warmer, the greenhouse will warm up more ... so at night it has more heat to "lose" before it gets down to the temperature outside ... and by the time it is getting to dangerous levels dawn is breaking and temperatures outside will be rising again.

In the depths of winter cold and frost lasts for days, so not so good - and that's likely to be a problem for your spuds.

In the recent cold snap my thermometer in the glasshouse went down to -6C - outside was -10C - that would have finished off any seed spuds though!

(I'm assuming Glass? if your have a polythene tunnel that will hold temperature less well)

[cjskts]

Thanks everyone.

Yes, its glass. We were up there yesterday and it was 10oc in the greenhouse which feels tropical! lol. Outside was 5oc.

So i think i'll just bring all the shelving we have (its that green one Wilko's sold so dismantles easy) and set it all up in spare back bedroom. At least it'll be out of my kitchen then. lol

[thecakebaker]

As everyone on hear says unless you have heating for the greenhouse you would be waiting your time trying to grow anything.

I grow 1000s of flower seeds starting November but I do have gas heater in mine. I have just started some of my veg seeds off this weekend.