[The Norfolk Turkey]

The newly constructed greenhouse reached a record high of 30 in the week - what a scorcher (this is Bradford  ). Weve not fitted the autovent yet, so I was wondering how hot is too hot? Weve got cucs, toms, peppers and chillis. Ta!

[gillie]

You will probably find  yourself having to water twice a day to stop things wilting.

I have put the shading up!

Gillie

[The Norfolk Turkey]

What temp do you try to keep it at gillie?

[Aidy]

I would suggest that you either paint cool glass or as you are from yorkshire  dilute a couple of tablespoons of white matt emulsion to a gallon of water, you want a very thin milky colour and paint that on. Come autumn time a bit of soapy water and a sponge and it will clean a treat. Oh and get yourself a auto vent opener.

[Lardman]

I was wondering the same thing - even with the door and both windows open my greenhouse is currently 41 degrees... 

I was wondering if I should paint something on (knowing next week its could to be cold again) or string some debris netting up.

[penance]

Where are these temperature measurements being taken?
If in direct sun it wont be a true temp reading.

I have to thermometers in my g/h one on the end wall that recieves sun the other low in a corner out of direct sun light.
Currently the one in sun is reading 38, the other is reading 25.
I would worry to much so long as you have some air movement, if the sun is scorching then wack some shade up.

[gillie]

The problem is that you will get a huge difference in day and night temperature, and that, together with any wilting, will make your tomatoes prone to blossom end rot.

I aim for no more than 25 deg.  I don't find the auto vent opener much good, it does not open at a low enough temperature and as far as I know there are no adjustable ones on the market.  I use green shade netting on the  outside which I can easily take down if the weather turns cloudy.

Gillie

[penance]

My auto opener is variable, from 16 - 28 degrees (i think), I thought most are. Its a simple screw knob to adjust.
Admitedly it is trial and errors to set up but once done thats it.

[mumofstig]

I wouldn't get too worried folks, remember tomatoes grow in places where it gets a lot hotter than it does in the UK  As long as you can water them enough they'll be fine.
IMO It's not really a question of heat, the problem is to stop them getting burned through the glass, that's what the shading is for
As far as I'm aware blossom end rot is a direct result of erratic watering..so it's the watering that is important not the temperature

[DD.]

Strictly speaking, blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium.

The most common cause is indeed erratic watering, but there are other causes.

[gillie]

As far as I'm aware blossom end rot is a direct result of erratic watering..so it's the watering that is important not the temperature

Yes indeed, but at high temperatures that might mean watering three times a day or more.  Some varieties are much more prone to blossom end rot than others.  The worst I  have come across is San Marzano. 

I have heard of a couple of ingenious methods of water tomatoes:

A nurse who put each plant on a drip.
An 'old boy' who scrounged the automatic flush mechanism from a gent's toilet that was being demolished.

Take your pick!

Gillie

[strangerachael]

Have you got a couple of old sheets you could hang over the top? The fitted ones attach quite well, I find them very effective at shading. If it cools down then you can pull them aside like curtains!

[barbarella]

I have just got my greenhouse shading sorted.  I bought two packs of shade netting from Homebase.  TOH put some small galvanised hooks on the outside on the south and west side and hooked netting to them at intervals, top and bottom.  Then he put two hooks each end of the inside at roof level and we hung a length of netting centrally.  The netting is about four feet wide - but we may put more hooks up so we can move it about or we could put two lengths side by side if the shade isn't enough -  at the moment it is okay just in the centre.

I can put the netting up in a couple of minutes so can put it up or down according to the weather.  It is a cedar greenhouse, but I am sure you can get suitable hooks for an aluminium greenhouse. 

(see attached photos - if I can manage to upload them )