I don’t have experience growing in a greenhouse. I wanted to understand if the gaps I have in my current greenhouse should be filled in.
Iv built a green house from mostly free materials against a shed. There’s gaps as depicted in the images. Reducing or filling in these gaps is easily achievable I just want to know how important it’s likely to be. The plastic traps the heat pretty well; it’s off cuts from commercial greenhouses.
Climate zone is 10b. It can get quite hot in summer average 25C but can hit 30-32C. I’m not sure if the door by itself will be adequate ventilation in summer. Am I better to fill in the gaps for winter and add in a fan for summer?
The door I can rebuild, the sides and top fill in without water issues no worries
by Which_Indication169
4 Comments
I am not super experienced but I live somewhere with cold summers and I have a hard time not cooking plants in my glass greenhouse, which is also not sealed super well, not big gaps but small openings. I think for you the concern with gaps would mostly be pests, but they’ll also allow it to vent and possibly help good bugs like pollinators get in. It’s going to get really really hot in there even with the gaps, you almost for sure will need a fan even with the door open. Less likely to struggle with mold also. Which is a battle here no matter what in 6b but with 50-60 degree summers.
The gaps shouldn’t matter. You are definitely going to need ventilation.
Put board flat against crack, expanding foam, and some paint?
In zone 10b (mild winters ~0°C, hot summers 25-32°C), fill the greenhouse gaps to retain heat in winter and control airflow year-round. Use durable sealants (e.g., greenhouse tape) to prevent leaks. The door alone won’t ventilate enough in summer; add a fan or roof/side vents. Rebuild the door with a vent or screen for better airflow.