How Does a Greenhouse Work?

Greenhouses are great for many gardeners, but they are not a magical garden structure that makes growing plants easy. Understanding how a greenhouse works and its limitations can save gardener stress. Gardener Scott shows the daily changes in greenhouse temperatures and discusses how to use a greenhouse for best effect. (Video #330)

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[carolynsteele]

Really good explanation! I have a 15x20’ polycarbonate greenhouse in zone 7 Utah, and I start planting in February with a tiny space heater that’s thermostat controlled. By June I need to cover the greenhouse with shade cloth, keep the doors open, and keep a fan running during daytime hours. I take off the shade cloth in September and start closing the doors at night, then in October just leave them shut. Automatic windows regulate the temp ok. I put the little heater back in late October and am able to harvest tomatoes, peppers, and melons through December. The whole month of January I clean out all plants, remove the heater and throw the doors wide open to freeze out any pests and their eggs before planting again in February.

[marygrott]

As someone who eventually wants to have a greenhouse, I found this very informative. Thank you.

[simplifygardening]

Brilliant explanation of how greenhouses work and why we need to manipulate the temps. Great video Scott

[OrganicGreens]

You can get a 1000 CFM attic roof vent fan for 100 bucks. It has a thermostat and humidistat built in so you can set at what temp it comes on. That's what I use for my small greenhouse tho you do have to wire it and set up some intake holes. Also I use cheap aquarium heaters in a big plastic barrel to heat the greenhouse at night.

[classicrocklover]

I have a cold frame. I added foam board insulation and along the interior backside, on which the sun shines, I made a a wall of bricks. With the bricks, the cold frame was consistently 20-40 degrees F hotter than ambient air . I live in Michigan, zone 5.

[SeedfulMusic]

THANK YOU FOR THIS! You saved me from buying a greenhouse that would not have worked for me. Great information.

[darleneshe]

Thank you Gardener Scott, I live in NC, Zone 8A. Last summer I didn’t understand why my plants died in my small walk-in greenhouse and learned that keeping them closed in didn’t protect them from the heat, but just the opposite. Watching your video gave me a better perspective on how to maintain my plants throughout the year.

[primemacdstudio]

I think one method that you probably forgot is that you could create a compass thermal regulator that would produce heat from the compost that you could circulate through the greenhouse producing a more stable flow of heat even through the winter time.

[littlebrookreader]

Sand will also reportedly release its heat to warm a room or area. This is really surprising. Thank you so much!

[jimsonjohnson]

For keeping a better winter heat overnight thermal mass needs to be introduced to the system. Like water barrels or rocks. Possible have a partial dugout system or an air pipe system that stores or takes in heat/cool air from underground

[catfunksfabulousfinds]

Heat coils in soil or heat mats on a table are a good way to keep it warmer in winter. Water bottles or 55 gallon drums of water work wonders!

[LisadeKramer]

My friend sells produce at the winter farmers market and she uses Christmas lights in her hoop house. She is just north of Cortez and we are about 6200 ft. I love your little greenhouse.

[Austin_Boath]

Thank you for putting the temperatures in Fahrenheit

[robertray]

Great info. A greenhouse is more of a season extender than an all season growing unit the way I see it.

[NordeggSonya]

I live in Rocky Mountain House Alberta Canada and we are zone 3b. Freaking cold in the winter lemme tell ya. I have a 25 foot hoop house and am building a bigger one this summer. I will also be investigating compost heat (Jean Pain) and hoping to have more fruits like watermelon and other tender fruits. Our season is so short and we get brutal hail at least once a month. No protection = no garden. Thank you for the info!!! Well presented and easy to understand.

[stevetrivago]

27 seconds in and I’m excited already… pretty cool to find exactly what I was looking for with ease .. ty

[gregoryjohnston]

It's a good thing I did not just dive in and go at it. Scott opened my eyes to some issues I did not even think about, thanks Scott 🖖.

[middle-agedmacdonald]

I live in the desert zone 8a, built a south facing lean to greenhouse on the side of my garage. Rather than venting the hot air outside, I put a fan in the garage window at the top (which is part of the enclosed space of the greenhouse. The greenhouse heats the garage up to about 70f during the middle of the afternoon, and the garage retains enough heat to keep the greenhouse above freezing (when outside temps are in the mid to low 20's).

The garage would normally be around 50-55f without the greenhouse and it's so nice having it heated for free, other than the electricity to run the small fan.

[amandavhb]

You are the most educational youtube creator in gardening. Thank you so much for taking us on your greenhouse journey!

[austincoachk]

I'm so happy I discovered your channel. We just got our greenhouse this year and I've been pulling my hair out. This is so helpful. Thank you!!