Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: Yana on April 15, 2012, 07:48

Title: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: Yana 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?
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: 8doubles 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.
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: mumofstig on April 15, 2012, 08:57
I agree with 8doubles...insulate.

I do and then don't need shading in summer  :)
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: sunshineband 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
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: GrannieAnnie 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!)
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: sunshineband 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)
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: GrannieAnnie 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!   ;)
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: sunshineband 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
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: mumofstig 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.

Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: sunshineband 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
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: mumofstig 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:
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: GrannieAnnie 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!
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: Yana 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?
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: mumofstig 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  ::)
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: Yana on April 15, 2012, 22:36
Okie dokie will do.  ::)
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: GrannieAnnie on April 15, 2012, 23:09
Yeah, best to wait a little while as yours have been inside until now.  My toms have been in the greenhouse since they were sown.

However, I hope everything will be okay on its own.  We are going away tomorrow for a few days, so I've opened the BW greenhouse window a little bit so it doesn't get too hot, but I've tied the bubblewrap over the opening to hopefully stop too much cold getting in.  Then everything has had a good soaking, then covered with fleece!

I'll let you know how it all gets on at the weekend!  My coldframe is bubblewrapped too, and my spring onions which are in a big plastic box has an old double glazed window over it.

Fingers crossed!
Title: Re: To bubble wrap or not to bubble wrap
Post by: Yana on April 16, 2012, 18:33
Is your greenhouse heated?