[Heifer73]

Hi

What is the best way to heat a greenhouse if you have no electricity to the greenhouse? :?

Thank you

[WG.]

Move it to Spain.    

Maybe if you could explain "when and what" you want to grow please?

[Heifer73]

Hi

That sounds like a good idea. Fingers crossed for a Lottery win

Chillies and tomotoes will be in there during the summer months  :shock: , but it will probably mainly be used for starting seeds early before they are transplanted in to the Lotty.

Not sure what I can have in there over winter.

[WG.]

Not sure what I can have in there over winter.

That is why I asked - heating for winter is a waste of money IMHO.  Try carrot, lettuce, radish, coriander in unheated GH.

For springtime, my mate swears by a small propane gas heater on an auto-thermostat on a very low setting (in his polytunnel).  This to keep night-time temperatures from dropping too low (we are both in the Highlands).

I use an unheated conservatory for seedlings since there is a real danger of getting too much soft growth which cannot then easily make the transition to outdoor conditions.  Soft growth is more prone to slugs, disease, etc too.

So, in summary and IMHO, the little or no heating is the best way to go.   There is also the risk of damping off seedlings to bear in mind.

[Sadgit]

I have a paraffin heater and tbh it is useless

[David.]

I have 2 "Fir Tree" propane powered heaters and have never had a problem with them in over 15 years (except when a rubber supply tube split near the heater and the escaping gas ignited, but that was my fault for not checking and trimming it back a bit each year).

With parafin (Alladin) I found constant wick trimming a pain (and kept losing the trimmer) and had to make sure I always had a replacement wick or 2 in hand as the local shop would be out of stock.

I have electric power to my greenhouse but never considered electric heating as every time there is a gale or thunderstorm the electric cuts out.

The only occasional damping off problem I have had has only been with celery  and parsley seedlings, but I normally have so many of these that it isn't a problem.

[agapanthus]

I have a paraffin heater and tbh it is useless

...and they smell awful!!!!

[Sadgit]

I have a paraffin heater and tbh it is useless

...and they smell awful!!!!

true.. very true

[mkhenry]

I have a paraffin heater and tbh it is useless

Years ago I used to sit in a greenhouse in the middle of winter sharing a cuppa with the head gardener.
He used to make it very comfortable by lighting two candles partly covered by big old flower pots.It was surprising how long they lasted and how warm and cosy the greenhouse was. A good tip for when you just need a warm up.

[richyrich7]

I can remember Geoff Hamilton constructing a cold frame like thing in a greenhouse, and putting some of those insulation beads in the bottom,lining the sides with polystyrene tiles, followed by a couple of plastic milk bottles filled with hot water. Enough to keep the frosts off through the night.