[Dorset Boy]

Hi Guys,

I have just finished building my Greenhouse ! Yehhaaaaa !

Put my young Tomato Seedlings inside Yesterday morning and last night they had all wilted, and look nearly dead. :cry:

I am assuming the greenhouse got too hot yesterday here in sunny Bournemouth.

What is the best method of controlling the temperature whilst I am at work etc. and what is the ideal growing temperature for Toms, Cucumbers, Chillies etc.

Any other good advice ?

Thanks in advance,

[wellingtons]

That's all I do with mine.

One of the best things for your greenhouse is a max/min thermometer so you can see what's happening when you're not there.  

But you may need shading too.

[Salkeela]

Auto vents.  Also I open the doors each morning and shut them at night (except on really cold or windy days when they stay shut).  My toms have been out since end feb.  I also have a large water container inside the greenhouse that acts as a temp buffer.

[Sadgit]

I put my toms/chillis in for the 1st time the other day and the next morning they looked terrible, but after another sunny day they picked up and after the following evening which was colder the survived fine. It is just a shock to their system going from 35C down to 4 or 5C after being in a mainly constant heat in the house.

make sure you have good ventilation during the day, auto vents, door open etc.. and close the door at night.

note to self... start removing to tons of bubble wrap from inside the greenhouse and get some shade paint

[WG.]

35degs!! ... now I can see why you wanted to move to Abu Dhabi

[Sadgit]

35degs!! ... now I can see why you wanted to move to Abu Dhabi

that is in the greenhouse not the house mind you

[WG.]

Aaah, good.   Hope the Middle East thing does come good for you though.

[Aidy]

as said before, the auto vents are worth their money and very easy to fit but remember if you do get one to take the piston of in winter as you dont want your window opening on a nice sunny day with a hooligan blowing, I use fleece to take the direct sunlight off my plants, its cheap and kepps the greenhouse nice and light.

[ruffmesiter_69]

yes i would agree that its the drops in temperature, really hot in the day and really cold at night, just imagine if that happend to you, you would look ill :-)

[GrannieAnnie]

I've got an auto vent in my small greenhouse, but can't afford another one for the big greenhouse.  I try to open the door and windows first thing, but if I have to go straight out early in the morning, and don't get back til lunchtime, everything is wilted!  But after a drop of water most things come back okay.  I really must get the thing painted.

One tip, one of Munty's plus other pees, water down some cheap old emulsion 1 part emulsion to 10 parts water and paint that on.  That's what I'm going to try.  I do have a bit of shading, but it won't fit the big greenhouse.

Polytunnel was 50°C today when I opened the doors.  Good thing I've got nothing in there yet!!!!

[Dorset Boy]

Thanks Everybody, some great advice.

I will do as you suggest and let you know how I get on.

Thanks again  

[Sadgit]

Thanks Everybody, some great advice.

I will do as you suggest and let you know how I get on.

Thanks again  

I suggest we all go to Tesco and forget about this growing lark *ducks runs and hides*

[wellingtons]

... and the size of my garden at home my greenhouse is a lean-to affair, and has a purpose built red brick wall to lean against.  None of my garden is in full sun all day, so neither is my greenhouse.

I thought initially this would be a disadvantage, but I've discovered that it's actually an advantage I don't get the same huge fluctuations of temperatures that others do.  It stays warmer at night because the bricks hold on to the heat of the day, so if you're considering getting a greenhouse a lean-to in a sun/shade setting has it's advantages.