fiberglass greenhouse in Montana

I have a small 6/8' fiberglass GH. I start my seeds in the house, under grow lights, with heat mats. Can I move the seedlings out to the GH since it is unheated. During the day, probably no problem, however it is still in the 20's at night sometimes. Would a heat mat be enough heat for the babies, or would I need a heater also. I also have ordered, for the first time, a flat of started plugs, ready for transplanting. Wanted to get a head start on hanging baskets, but now I am not sure where I will put the baskets until they are able to go outside. How warm would the greenhouse have to be to keep them growing? I am new to this site, and welcome any info. I also always have seeds to share, is there a special place to post them? Thanks

Hi Lee - I was born in Billings, I wouldn't move them out until the 40's at night. But you could take them out for the day and back in at night. I'm very cautious with seedlings, though.

We trade seeds by searching the Plant files and finding the plant, then at the bottom you can add that plant to your trade list. You will then be prompted to indicate if you have cuttings, bulbs, plants or seeds to share.

This message was edited Mar 22, 2009 12:46 PM

So you don't think the bottom heat would work for the GH. I have run out of room and need someplace for the baskets. Ideas would sure be helpful. The babies are up and running so much for the space provided :)

I live in Wyoming and I would not put the seedling out in the GH just yet. The only suggestion I can make it to buy the heating mat and make a tent over it with clear plastic. Then place an ordinary thermometer inside the tent and check the temperature at nights when it is cold. If the temperature don't go lower than 45F degrees, it is safe to put your plant in the GH under the tent. Also get a cheap timer from Walmart and hook up the heating mat to it so that it is turned off during the day when you don't need it. At the same time, open the tent during the day.

Thank you for the advice, I will try it.

Lee, you might want to ask this question over in the greenhouse forum, we are nice! I use 5 gallon buckets of water (with lids) to absorb heat during the day from the sun. It keeps my GH (8x8) about 10 degrees above the minimum night temp. I sit my flats right on top of them since heat rises. I agree, about 40 at night is as low as I trust without extra heat, and higher for tenders like impatiens and coleus.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/greenhouse/all/

Hi - can't add any better advice than what you've gotten, so I'll just say welcome!

cathy4
Consider that leebauch lives in Montana, not Missouri. There is a big difference in night temps between the 2 states. Your idea is good but wouldn't work in MT.

Sure it would, you could raise the temps 10 degrees above 40 below.... (I'm kidding!!!)

haha, I meant it as an example that there are lots of solutions, maybe put together it could reduce the cost of heat.

That is a good idea, but I wonder if the water froze, would it crack the buckets? That said, IME, seedlings can take some serious cold as long as the dirt doesn't freeze and there is no frost falling on them. However, they won't grow. They will just there. So it's kind of pointless, only a help if you have a lot of stuff to hold.

It might be hard to heat a whole greenhouse in MT, but what about a small section of it close to the floor with a covering over it, like heavy row cover, to preserve what heat there is in there?

A small section would take up the whole thing. I am talking about a 6x8 :) I think you all are right, I better just wait until the weather breaks. If worse comes to worse, I can always use the waterbed area, ;) Thanks to all

Hold on, if Joanna can do it in Alberta, so can you!!!! http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/959872/

cathy4, you might consider that you have to pay to use the greenhouse forum and the seed germination forum is free, so in my humble opinion, leebauch posted in the proper forum since her question did relate to seed germination AND greenhouses, so she had to pick one or the other. And if she had posted in the greenhouse forum, we all know sooner or later, one of the forum police would have suggested she post in the seed germination forum.

Do you have a thermometer in the greenhouse? If the outside temp is reliably in the 20s at night, maybe checking a thermometer inside the structure before bedtime and when you wake up would give you an idea of the average overnight temp. in there before taking a chance on setting seedlings in it.

Thank you everyone for your kind suggestions. I do have a thermometer and no it isn't staying above 20, so I will have to wait a bit longer, especially since we just got a bunch of snow again, and more on its way. My poor babies aren't doing so well, but maybe they will perk up once the sun comes out again, Lights are great, but sun is better!!!!!! I am sorry if I posted wrong, it is that newbie syndrome. I have since joined and am so happy with all the information you folks have posted. I am so glad the forum police didn't get mad at me :))

We're lucky to have you join us Lee!