Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Benandbill on May 09, 2011, 07:11

Title: Small plastic cloche / greenhouses..
Post by: Benandbill on May 09, 2011, 07:11

I have healthy but young tomato plants in these and some turnip seedlings that I've rescued from trays but are just now perking up a bit.  My better half is suggesting that when we're out in work in the day, if I'm leaving them in the placky greenhouses that I should unzip them so that air gets in as the condensation is bad for them or something?  I'm thinking this defeats the object as they're well watered and keeping them closed will absorb the heat they need to grow?  If we were away for the weekend maybe I'd unzip it a little bit?

Can anyone offer any advice on this?

Title: Re: Small plastic cloche / greenhouses..
Post by: DD. on May 09, 2011, 07:15

Listen to your OH!

Title: Re: Small plastic cloche / greenhouses..
Post by: bigben on May 09, 2011, 09:10

The little plastic things are useful at times but present their own problems. They "cook" stuff easily by overheating, and need careful monitoring. I would keep the door open at present unless there is a risk of it getting really cold.

My brother in law lost a crop to damping off after keeping the door shut all the time a few weeks ago. He resowed stuff and then managed to almost lose a lot of toms that looked very stressed after some of the really hot days we have been having.