7 Greenhouse Tips for Beginners
All the greenhouse tips for winter below are general enough to be used in all different growing climates. The only exception is with how much heat you have. Cold winters will call for more insulation and possibly a heat source. Hot summers will call for a greater ventilation option.
Yes, without these tips below you are able to grow fruits and vegetables but if you are looking to capitalize on year-round growing then you should follow each tip.
1. Place Your Greenhouse So It Faces West/East
The majority of your solar energy will be coming from the south, especially in the northern hemisphere where greenhouses are needed.
2. Prevent Heat Loss In The Winter
Your north, roof, west, and east walls are all major heat losing areas. Your job with a greenhouse is to capture as much solar energy and trap it efficiently during the cold months.
By insulating all walls other than the south side and installing glaze to the south you are eliminating much of the heat loss.
3. Insulate Your Flooring
By using insulation or a thermal layer on your greenhouse floor, you can further prevent heat loss and will result in more consistent room temperature.
You can do this by adding standard housing insulation, stone, cob, cycling water or many other forms.
4. Keep Your South Facing Wall At Around 45 Degrees
With the perfect south facing wall you can increase the amount of solar energy and trap it in your greenhouse at the same time.
You will have less reflection off the glazing and be able to grow your fruits and vegetables better.
5. Proper Ventilation In Your Greenhouse For Heat Regulations
Ventilation whether you are winter or summer grower is essential. The rule of thumb is to provide 30% of your glazing surface with ventilation.
Simply take the surface area of the glaze and multiple by 30%. That should be how much ventilation your greenhouse needs.
6. Use Thermal Mass Material
Thermal mass such as 55 gallon drums filled with water is a great way to use thermal energy to keep your greenhouse warm.
Water can store 4 times as much heat as air and depending on where you live, you can fill each drum up with rain water.
During the summer you can double the water you stored as a free way to water your plants depending on where you live.
Other options are stone, rocks, cement, or using soil by digging deeper.
7. Place Intake Vents Lower & Exhaust Vents Higher
By placing a vent higher will allow hot air to escape and bring in cooler air with the lower intake vent.
This is a great cheap way to naturally circulate and regulate the air inside your greenhouse. Another great tip is to buy automatic heat-sensing vent openers which will limit you from doing it daily.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are starting out or trying to learn better greenhouse tips for winter, the above information will help. You will get better results because of it.