I have started quite a few trays of seeds in a small free standing greenhouse. I'[m happy to say the germination rate is high and the majority of the seedlings were up before the recent cold spell.
I originally put a candle under a terracotta pot but as the temperature has dropped this is not sufficient. The candles just don't last long enough. I have bought a fleece cover for the greenhouse which helps a bit. Because of the small space I now use an oil lamp, a bit like a Davey lamp. It seems very efficient and so far all the seedlings are doing well, in fact, the cabbages are going mad! It's good because I cam control the temperature a bit better.
I was just wondering how others are coping with the cold and what you're doing.
Hi PJW I have got most of my seeds germinated up to date (see http://www.freewebs.com/alanparkin/monthbymonth2007.htm ) and I am hoping that the cold spell here in Cumbria has not set them back to far, most of my seeds are in a large polytunnel and I think the heat from the soil is helping on a night to keep the temperature up a little, some of my seeds have been started off on top of a hot compost heap with a cover over them, get some realy good germination that way.
good luck for the coming season
I've had to put a lot of my germinated seeds into my plastic greenhouse as there is no room indoors.
The chillies are still alive, but not grown a great deal.
I've got a max/min thermometer and the temp has gone down to 2 degrees C at night.
But it may be slightly higher inside their propagators.
I've planted an Acer (from Woolies) and it is doing well, a fair bit of new growth.
I may have to bring them all indoors if we get the promised snow.
BTW it was snowing Cornwall today (according to my Mum).
My toms, chillis and aubs live in my conservatory until April. All of the other seedlings are in the greenhouse with the protection of an electric fan heater. I have it set on a frost free setting so it only comes on when it gets very nippy. I also fleece, and use sheets of newspaper if necessary. The peach tree I received for mothers day is in the conservatory as it is covered in blossom and I think the cold snap would finish all the buds off.
Put my fan heater on last night for the first time in over a year!
Managed to hold 37*F (3*C)
Aint done no seed trays yet. :(
wotcha :P
i've 200 chili plants outside in my polytunnel, for the last 4 days i've just covered over with bubble wrap, quite warm in there during the day, starting to warm up abit now though ;D
I'm running backwards and forwards from the greenhouse to the house like a raving banshee at the moment. But it's worth it to ensure my seedlings don't suffer. They are all looking pretty healthy right now. Gets to be little tight for time in the mornings when I should be leaving for work. Maybe next year I can persuade the other half to let me have a greenhouse heater.
It was -2 last night, and all my plants are still alive. :D
Not been really cold here, but my 6x4 plastic greenhouse has been heated the past couple of nights with an ebay special parasence double heater and the temp has been a couple of degrees above freezing, plants all look happy, although the fumes in the morning are something else. :)
Broad beans on allotment were covered with a fleece cloche and are looking fine, Onions and Garlic have been out in it all winter and again looking good!
Regards
Matt
I managed to nip down to the allotment quickly this afternoon, and sure enough it had frosted there; it's always colder than where I live. According to metcheck, though, it's due to warm up.
Everything this end seems ok. Only the peas I would be worried about as I planted them out on Saturday but they had been out in the elements in a seed tray. Most of my seeds are germinating well in the plastic greenhouse.
Broadbeans survived the other snow we had and so did the onions & garlic.
Living off my nerves with chilli and aubergine plants in an unheated propagating unit inside a cold greenhouse! ;D
My thermometer reads it goes as low as zero in there, hopefully the gravel bed they are on retains a bit of heat, plus a layer of fleece on top helps insulate them from the cold.
I'm potting on some tomatoes today, they will have to go out there too... :-\
Keep your fingers crossed Deb... are you down this weekend?
:)
Quote from: saddad on March 22, 2007, 23:29:24
Keep your fingers crossed Deb... are you down this weekend?
:)
Working both days I'm afraid, and next week (grrr) so will be going down today. OH has promised to go down and put my cordon apple supports up at last though so you will probably be able to hear him cursing at some point in the proceedure from your house.....! ::)
My neighbours must wonder what on earth is going on, as I get my torch and go up and check the temperature in the greenhouse when I get in form work (well dark by that time) in case I have to move my little vulnerables inside for the night!
Oooh we are so lucky here in the far south west. No snow and only one frost to speak of :D
Most of my seeds have germinated in the cold greenhouse or on a window cill and then moved to the greenhouse.
Things are loking good ;D
One thing to bear in mind is that your toms will not grow if the temp is under 54F/12C,they will take temps lower than that of course without dying ( not freezing, as even a light frost will cream them) but they will stand still if the temp does not go above the quote above. I think this is worth knowing for when they get planted out too.XX Jeannine
Well, its a thermal vest plus two jumpers and an old coat - and if the wind is blowing I will wear a hat.
Sorry.........!
Actually I cam home today and my central heating was on th blink, being fixed tomorrow,I am shivering and the tomatoes are all cosy ans warm in thir heated greenhouse,maybe I should sleep out there tonight XX Jeannine
The GH fan heater has kept the minimum to 5degC which it's set at, but judging by the germination pattern, that wasn't high enough for the electric propagators to keep a nice high steady temperature.
fleece, bubble wrap, newspaper all on standby, we put the plastic covers(69p from homebase), over the tray of seedlings, then bubble wrap, then fleece..potatoes are covered with newspaper then fleece, it seems to have worked in the cold snap..it's getting warmer though ;D
All my seeds and seedlings are in a warm and toasty south facing living room, taking up all the space. I need to move them somewhere cooler, but have no porch,conservatory or greenhouse. I have onions and potatoes outside, but my spuds don't seem to be doing anything in this weather. :-\
I'm lucky. I live on the south coast. Even so we've had a few frosts. My babies are outside in old enclosed rat cages that now pretend to be cold frames. My peas are sprouting , though!
Quote from: garlicgirl on March 26, 2007, 07:28:01
I'm lucky. I live on the south coast. Even so we've had a few frosts. My babies are outside in old enclosed rat cages that now pretend to be cold frames. My peas are sprouting , though!
That's a good idea! What do you cover them with? I have a budgie cage in the garden that could be utilised.
Ah Jeanne, thank you, was wondering why my toms inside were doing better than those in my green house/shed. hopefully the sunshine today will kick start them if not i'll put them in the heated propergator and see if they like that better!
Was away last week and left OH watering plants, lost a few toms and a chilli but the rest seem to be doing well i was wondering what i would do with all of them so a silver lining really!
parsnips seemed to have liked it though as its kicked started them germinating.
Lucy
all ok here, i'm still on 'northern time' so there's nothing in that can't do winter :D
The suns out, so I'm giving my seedlings a little holiday outside for a few hours. ;D ;D ;D
i,v got a heater set on frost control and the G/H is insulated with bubble wrap and it seems fine. i start some things off in a electric propagator and if the forcast is very cold i try to cover tender things up, marigolds have germinated with no extra heat
marg 8)