First winter with this greenhouse. Had a great summer with it and now I want to continue.
It’s an 8×12 in zone 6a. Automatic roof vent and I added an automatic exhaust fan for temperature and humidity.
Now for winter!!!
The beds are each 10’ long and 2’ wide.
I have 15 amp electric service ran out to the shed. I was going to use insulated foam or bubble sheets below the shelf to help insulate the walls and maybe a mat for the floors as it’s well ventilated rock as a floor.
Heater? (I’ll be adding a black 55 gal drum in the middle if it fits in the center)
I was looking at the VEVOR 1500W heater.
Thoughts or suggestions?
Grow lights?
Suggestions for lights to mount to the ceiling and under the top beds for the bottom.
Was thinking LED tubes but don’t want to block the natural sunlight. Or are circle bulbs better to hang?
Sooo many questions but I’d like to do it right the first time.
by walte1fr
3 Comments
I have my own question. Are those Trex deck planters? You might find this of interest if so. https://www.reddit.com/r/Construction/comments/1kd94ux/trex_planter_boxes/
Are you going for extended three seasons or all winter four seasons?
120V 15A will run a 1500W heater plus LED lights with no problem. That will give you long three seasons, but will not be enough heat if you get single digit or sub zero F nights in the dead of winter. Expect 1500W to boost inside temps by 20-25F in your 8×12 if it isn’t drafty. That’s what I have and I’ve had fresh tomatoes at Christmas. One such heater gets through all but the coldest weather. (I’m zone 5 Colorado urban corridor, so we get very cold weather occasionally, but it only takes once to zap your plants.)
A water reservoir will help but I’ve not done that and I doubt one barrel would last all night. 3000W of heat will get you through really cold winter weather, but would be expensive to run.
You definitely want lights. Winter sun will be low angle, so overhead lights won’t block much of that, and the days are so short that you really need the extra light. It’s also handy to have lights for you, because you’ll be out there on dark evenings if you are growing veggies or herbs.
Any cheap 1500W heater with a thermostat will do. The Vevor is inexpensive and looks better suited for a greenhouse than most hardware store or Walmart models.
For thermal mass, you need about 300gal of water storage to have much of an effect in a greenhouse that size.
For heat, any heater is only as good as the insulation you use. I use 2″ R13 foam board in my 6×8. My north wall is solid, my east and west walls are insulated up to the 4ft height where the roof meets the walls. South wall is uninsulated until it hits the teens. Then I add foam board there, as well as a an interior “roof” with more foam board, creating a 6x8x4ft insulated box. I heat to 42F.
No grow light recommendations, as I let all of my plants go dormant and adjust to the light naturally.