Fall is here and your backyard gardening is about to face challenges, such as colder and colder temperatures and shorter and shorter light hours. Moving plants into a greenhouse will allow them to grow well even in the fall and winter.
It is essential to keep your greenhouse warm for your next gardening preparations. If you want a more flexible greenhouse, portable greenhouses are a popular choice.
How warm should a greenhouse be in the fall and winter?
Typically, the temperature inside a greenhouse is about 30 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than outside. However, the warmth of a greenhouse varies greatly in the fall and winter due to many factors.
According to UST standards, the greenhouse must remain at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit inside if it is to work properly, but it should not be so hot that excessive temperatures can put plants at risk.
Why choose a portable greenhouse?
Easy to move around. You are free to set up a portable greenhouse as you need it. In winter, a bulky greenhouse may not allow plants to receive sufficient sunlight. But with a portable greenhouse, you have the freedom to move around to ensure the best light conditions for your plants.
- Size: 19.7x9.8x6.6FT
- Total weight: 77.8pounds
- Benefits: Reinforced Top Structure, Two Doors in One, Adequate Ventilation
Take it with you. Due to work, family, or other reasons, you may move several times a year or over the years. But if you don't want to give up the fun of gardening, a portable mini greenhouse can be your temporary gardening option. You can easily put the portable mini greenhouse in your trunk.
Six ways to keep your portable greenhouse warm
1. Install a heater
Installing a heater is the easiest and most effective way for you to have a warm greenhouse. If you're in a good financial position to afford the high maintenance costs, a heater is a perfect choice. When choosing a heater, choose those types that are specifically designed for horticulture whenever possible; these types of heaters are more suitable for greenhouse use. For example, for a 71" x 36" x 36" Mini Greenhouse, you only need to buy a very small heater. While for a 25' x 10' x 7' Large Greenhouse, you may need to set up multiple heaters inside.
2. Using Insulation
Insulation materials like bubble wrap can be used not only to reinforce the outer packaging but also to protect your plants during the cold season. Bubble wrap is very easy to get and is gardener friendly for those on a budget.
The general practice of using bubble wrap is to line the inside walls of your greenhouse to reduce internal heat loss and block cold air from entering; larger bubble wrap works better. In addition, you can also choose an insulating material such as horticultural foam.
3. Scientific greenhouse ventilation
There will always be an illusion that sealing the greenhouse will allow the heat to stay inside. But this is a wrong idea. A completely closed state can harm plant growth, such as humidity problems. Plant growth requires the participation of circulating air in any season, but this does not conflict with keeping it warm.
If you are concerned that opening windows or vents will cause internal heat to be dissipated, it is wise to add a circulation fan, which will help the air circulation inside the greenhouse. We recommend the superbly designed Quictent portable greenhouse, such as the 20' x 10' x 7' Heavy Duty Large Greenhouse. This large greenhouse comes with two zippered doors to ensure good ventilation for fall and winter use.
Without a ventilation system, the cold air inside can settle down and cause damage to the plants.
4. Letting sunlight into the greenhouse
The benefits of sunlight for plants cannot be overstated. In winter, sunlight exposure can provide some of the heat for plant growth. You can set up solar panels in your backyard to get more sunlight to convert into energy for gardening. Experienced gardeners will adjust their gardening plans to the changing angle of sunlight in the northern hemisphere during winter.
One of the most prominent advantages of a portable greenhouse is that it can be moved freely, which means you can adjust the position of the greenhouse in your garden according to the changing angle of sunlight.
5. Set some compost
Compost is worth creating in any season. Don’t throw away chicken, duck, geese, etc. animal manure, collect it and deposit it for a while and you’ll get nutrient-rich compost. Also, remember to mix manure and soil in a one-to-one ratio.
The best container for storing compost is a raised garden bed, a wooden closed structure that retains the heat generated by the compost. To make compost work better for your greenhouse plants, move them into the greenhouse. Composting hotbeds can generate the heat your plants need, and you‘d better place them in the center of your greenhouse to benefit the surrounding plants.
6. Using garden fleece
Gardeners are no strangers to horticultural fleece during the fall and winter months, and they often use this material to protect their plants. Horticultural fleece is similar to but more effective than, plastic wrap.
Popular gardening fleece is horticultural fleece, a synthetic material made of polyester or polypropylene that feels similar to wool to the touch.
Horticultural fleece can help protect plants from the threat of frost during the cold season and provide additional protection. If your area has harsh fall and winter weather, covering plants with horticultural fleece will allow them to survive this winter.
Horticultural fleece is light and soft, so you can freely cut and use it as needed. Also, because of this feature, you will need to make some reinforcements (such as stakes and stones) to prevent the horticultural fleece from being blown away by high winds.
What else do you need to pay attention to?
1. Choose hardy plants
While we have provided you with some suggestions for keeping your greenhouse warm in the fall and winter, no one can be sure that other surprises will not happen in the fall and winter. Some plants are more demanding in terms of growing conditions and may require a lot of your time and money to protect. To make your fall and winter planting go smoothly, it is recommended that you choose hardy and drought-tolerant plants that are better able to withstand cold and dry climates.
2. Be prepared before you start gardening
Before your fall and winter gardening begins, prepare the tools you need, such as garden beds for composting, shovels, weeders, thermometer, etc. It's also your job to mow the lawn and clean up the weeds. Don't be lazy, weeds can affect the growth of your plants and you better make sure they are completely gone from your garden before planting.
In the fall and winter, gardeners face many complications (cold temperatures, bad weather, etc.). To avoid as much chaos as possible, do all the preparations you can think of.
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