To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap

  • 16 Replies
  • 9834 Views
*

Yana

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Dartford, Kent
  • 1362
To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« on: April 15, 2012, 07:48 »
I can understand that bubble wrap insulates a greenhouse but what I don't understand is why no one mentions that it cuts down the light............ Or does it?
I have never insulated my greenhouse, but given that I now need to move stuff to the greenhouse and the nights are still cold (frost expected tonight), should I be insulating to gain maximum use of the greenhouse at this time of year?
I have my own cement mixer and not afraid to use it!!

*

8doubles

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Hakin Pembrokeshire
  • 5266
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2012, 08:19 »
My advice is to bubble wrap, the fact that the sunlight gets diffused is a big help as it stop plants getting scortched when the sun is too bright.

*

mumofstig

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 57877
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2012, 08:57 »
I agree with 8doubles...insulate.

I do and then don't need shading in summer  :)

*

sunshineband

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Reading, Berkshire
  • 32056
  • Tallest Sunflower prizewinner 2014
    • A Little Bit of Sunshine
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2012, 09:01 »
Bubble wrap imho does cut down the light significantly enough to affect the growth of seedlings in early spring.

Great insulation in winter, can provide shade in summer (if ventilation is possible) .... I only use it on part of the greenhouse and take it down as soon as the depths of the winter are over, then use it as a 'lay over' supported on upright kitchen roll tubes whenneeded over anything past then --- really really cold I also add fleece, but take it off agina each day when things have warmed up
Wisdom is knowing what to ignore - be comfortable in your own skin.
My Blog
My Diary
My Diary Comments

*

GrannieAnnie

  • Grandmother of the Forums
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 21104
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2012, 09:24 »
My little 6x6 greenhouse is bubblewrapped all year.  My seeds have germinated well, albeit they took a little longer than the packets say.  Then when bigger, they go into the tunnel and bigger greenhouse.  

I'm lucky that way I suppose.

Then once the young plants have been moved, I will keep my indoor cucumbers in there.  I did have 6 tomatoes in it last year and they still did well.


(edited 2nd to last line as it didn't sound right!)
« Last Edit: April 15, 2012, 09:32 by GrannieAnnie »

*

sunshineband

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Reading, Berkshire
  • 32056
  • Tallest Sunflower prizewinner 2014
    • A Little Bit of Sunshine
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #5 on: April 15, 2012, 09:26 »
My little 6x6 greenhouse is bubblewrapped all year.  My seeds have germinated well, albeit they took a little longer than the packets say.  Then when bigger, they go into the tunnel and bigger greenhouse. 

I'm lucky that way I suppose.

Then once the young plants are in there, I will keep my indoor cucumbers in there.  I did have 6 tomatoes in it last year and they still did well.

The key there for me would be in moving the seedlings fairly soon after they come up, to somewhere brighter, so that they are not too leggy. (My greenhouse is not in full sun all day)

*

GrannieAnnie

  • Grandmother of the Forums
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 21104
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2012, 09:30 »
Again I'm lucky Sunny.  Our garden is south facing and gets sun almost all day.  My  tomatoes are still in there, are about 3 inches tall and lovely strong plants.

But you are right, it depends on people's personal situation doesn't it?  

Something I did the other year when my seeds were in the bigger greenhouse, was to fix up a coccoon on top of my staging with bubble wrap that had flaps at the front where I could get to my seedlings to water, and one man in a magazine article once had bubble wrapped the back half of his greenhouse so he could keep that bit warmer, then moved stuff to the sunnier cooler bit.

There are so many ways to keep stuff happy!   ;)
« Last Edit: April 15, 2012, 09:35 by GrannieAnnie »

*

sunshineband

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Reading, Berkshire
  • 32056
  • Tallest Sunflower prizewinner 2014
    • A Little Bit of Sunshine
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2012, 09:32 »
Again I'm lucky Sunny.  Our garden is south facing and gets sun almost all day.  My  tomatoes are still in there, are about 3 inches tall and lovely strong plants.

But you are right, it depends on people's personal situation doesn't it? 

Which is why there is rarely a 'one-size-fits -all answer to questions asked  :D :D :D

*

mumofstig

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 57877
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #8 on: April 15, 2012, 09:36 »
My seedlings do perfectly well in my bubblewrapped greenhouse, no problems here ;)

In fact I would say there's more light inside the bubblewrapped glass house than there is inside the polycarb with the double layered roof.

The Polytunnel plastic also reduced light a little, but there was never a problem with seedling growth in there either.


*

sunshineband

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Reading, Berkshire
  • 32056
  • Tallest Sunflower prizewinner 2014
    • A Little Bit of Sunshine
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #9 on: April 15, 2012, 10:14 »
OK, so it's just me then  :lol: :lol: :lol:

Not to worry, because I found a way round it

and if anyone else does have issues they can always read what I do

*

mumofstig

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 57877
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #10 on: April 15, 2012, 10:50 »
 :lol: obviously you have to work with what light you have in the first place  ;)

warning! science bit - I think the wrap refracts light rather than reducing it  :blush:

*

GrannieAnnie

  • Grandmother of the Forums
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 21104
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #11 on: April 15, 2012, 11:17 »
OK, so it's just me then  :lol: :lol: :lol:

Not to worry, because I found a way round it

and if anyone else does have issues they can always read what I do

Hopefully reading all our posts, people will try different things and find their own perfect solution  :)  That's what's good about this forum, so many ideas to try out!

*

Yana

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Dartford, Kent
  • 1362
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #12 on: April 15, 2012, 19:45 »
I've only been away from the forum for a few hours and there are soooooooooo many useful replies. Thanks everyone.

So, if have read GrannieAnnnie's reply correctly, and my greenhouse is on an SW-NE axis, and I bubble wrap, I can move my tomato plants in now?

*

mumofstig

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 57877
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #13 on: April 15, 2012, 21:09 »
I'd actually wait a week if you possibly can - this week's forecast is for below average cold all week  ::)

*

Yana

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Dartford, Kent
  • 1362
Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
« Reply #14 on: April 15, 2012, 22:36 »
Okie dokie will do.  ::)



xx
Bubble wrap

Started by Caretaker on Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels

6 Replies
6864 Views
Last post May 17, 2012, 23:14
by rcf100
xx
Bubble wrap

Started by gremlin on Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels

6 Replies
3283 Views
Last post March 29, 2015, 16:58
by sunshineband
xx
Bubble wrap

Started by hiccup on Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels

4 Replies
2423 Views
Last post October 24, 2015, 17:39
by sunshineband
xx
Bubble wrap

Started by taytors on Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels

10 Replies
5116 Views
Last post May 24, 2013, 21:36
by Headgardener22
 

Page created in 0.117 seconds with 41 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |