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Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

What do you use to heat your hoop houses in the early part of the season? It gets pretty cool here in May and I'm thinking that this might be one of the things I need to push me over the 1000# barrier. I looking for an economical (cheap) way to do it. Any ideas?

Phil

1/31/2005 7:39:26 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

For the first time this year I am going to use a small ceramic heater with fan and thermostat to get a jump start in the early part of May.

On the economical side, perhaps just an overhead lamp or light like a mechanics trouble light.

1/31/2005 7:50:38 PM

Rhode Island

Hey Phil a few different options I'm toying with, small ceramic heaters with thermostats they also keep the air circulating when not heating...composted manure works well too, piled up inside the frame, or black ground cover inside the frame to heat the soil before hand will get the soil hot enough to keep the temp up....if mother nature provides...I've also seen heat lamps used. just my 2 cents on what I'm toying with

1/31/2005 7:56:29 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Space heater although You need to monitor the temperature. I think I went for 70 last year.
Check out your electrical meter and watch it spin.


Heating cables are worthless.

1/31/2005 7:59:33 PM

Phoenix, AZ

I found a research article on temperatures...if I remember correctly from New Zealand. What they found is that what made the difference in growth was not air temperature but soil temperature. I then followed that up with optimal soil temp research and found that mid 80's F is best.

Has to do with buggies working harder in the warmth and all. I guess I can be my own guinea pig this year. CEIS, why did the cables not work for you?

1/31/2005 8:06:00 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

I've used a Pelonis brand thermostaticly controlled heater
for the last 4-5 seasons for early season protection. It's been rained on, watered, and generally knocked about and I
still haven't killed it! It measures only 14" tallx 10"wide x6" deep. They're generally avail. at Home depots or Lowes and if I remember right they're only around $30. Definitely gonna get another for second hoop house this season!
Just gotta have juice in the patch.

1/31/2005 8:07:12 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Phil, Last year I used a 500 watt halogen trouble light on a timer, pointed into the ground. They give off a fair amount of heat and are cheap to buy at around 15 bucks each. I placed them in 6 x 8' hoop houses with the auto vent openers from Lee Valley. I was able to control the temperature with little effort. I also placed a 200 gallon drum of water in each hoop house to store the daytime heat. This approach was a great success as I beat Adrian to pollination time by over two weeks. In fact I was shocked one day in early July when he came knocking on my door for some pollen off the 1301. This year I plan to purchase a couple more lights so that I may baby my own 695* this spring to the "Green Jacket".
I hope that I can delay pollination time a bit later this year too as mid June was too early for my 812. The lights were purchased at Canadian Tire and Home Depot. I have attached a link to Lee Valley.

Heat-Activated Window Opener $49.50 Canadian
Controlling temperatures in a cold frame or greenhouse is straightforward with this automatic control

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=&cat=2,43224&p=10543

Good Luck and Good Growing

Russ L.

1/31/2005 8:09:24 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

As an aside, my heating cables are turned on about a week
before the plants go in, under the black weed block fabric that usually has provided some thermal warming. Thermometer
shows a very obvious temp differential fomr inside to outside the hoop house!

1/31/2005 8:13:28 PM

Indiana

I used a small reptile cage ceramic heater you can see it in my last years diary
Steve

1/31/2005 8:28:02 PM

Mulino, Oregon

Phil, Last year I used the red brooder lights and put them directly over the plant, that seemed to work very well. There was an obvious difference with the plants that had and the ones that didn't.

1/31/2005 8:35:23 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I put a grow light and heat lamp in my 4X4 houses and leave em on all night...usaully start em up about a week before I put the plants out and can definitey tell you the ones that get this treatment are much more advanced then the ones that don't..The ones that are covered without the heat and drow lights are much further behind...go about two weeks the switch the covers (heat/gro) to the others and it all evens out...

Darn wish I had room and covers for all!

1/31/2005 8:48:15 PM

Taber, Alberta

I put heating cables in the soil, and then cover the plant when it is young with a large cheapo styrofoam cooler upside down. This kept the temp inside no lower than 12celcius when it was -4 and freezing outside. In the morning, I just uncover it and the sun heats the hoophouse. When the sun was out and the door was closed, it was 25c above, while it was still around freezing inside. I've also used my trouble light and my old waterbed matress heater during the day when it was cold and cloudy. Once the plant gets too big for the cooler, then I just use the other stuff. I might try the ceramic heater this year as well.

1/31/2005 10:17:56 PM

Rhode Island

for the last couple years to keep the young plant warm at night and then again if its a cold day we rigged up a 60 watt black light bulb,to a ceiling receptacle ,then attached it on the inside of a clear plastic box (a box we bought at walmart approximately the size of a recycle bin )

at night we covered the plant with the box and if cool in the day time we laid the box next to the plant where it could warm the soil
works very well and is cheap to build if you have a lot of plants

if you need to use it longer than a couple weeks you can always lay it on its side with the opening facing the plant and this will keep it warm on cold nights

dick w

1/31/2005 11:54:46 PM

[email protected]

Russ's heat activated window opener is awesome. I plan to purchase a couple soon.

Heat cables alone aren't enough but combined with a $20 Home Cheapo thermostatically controlled milk house heater is a great setup.

1/31/2005 11:56:58 PM

big green flood lights.... and a space heater on the frost advisory nights

2/1/2005 12:16:50 AM

Knopp, Germany

My patch is to far away from the house for any electricity so I use hot water bottles. They have to be replaced every couple of hours on really cold nights, but it is bettern then doing nothing at all. Here is a link to check out:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=22921

2/1/2005 1:13:58 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

i use those cheap clamp on reflectors that you can buy at any hardware or home center store add a couple of 100 watt bulbs more reflectors can be added as needed, kept my plants warm through sub-freezing temps and late spring snow.

Glenn

2/1/2005 8:11:07 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Last year I used regular 100 watt light bulbs inside a 4 foot by 4 foot shelter covered with remay. I was too dumb to think what might happen to the bulbs if it rained. Water goes through Remay. It hit the bulbs and they exploded. Live and learn. I still can't believe I was that dumb.

2/1/2005 10:38:43 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Even in a plastic hoop house, the water droplets form on
the plastic and then fall, and if they hit a lit lightbulb
that can cause it to burst. I learned that...

On a cool night, sometimes I use protected lightbulbs. On a cold night,
I just go out and cover the plants with towels or blankets.
But then the problem is that I leave for work before I can
safely remove the covers. Anything that is electric, I can
put on a timer.

Heating cables will work for the root zone, if and only if
you also cover the soil with a weed mat or plastic. Without
the cover on the soil, your heat from the cables will
disappear into thin air. (I confirmed this experimentally.)
I also doubt that heating cables will do anything for
vines or foliage. They're strictly for the root zone.

2/1/2005 11:35:46 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Brigittes yard look like a scene from TommyKnockers last sprin..Eerie green glow...

2/1/2005 1:08:48 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Thanks for all your replies. I've got a few ideas how I'll heat them now. Thanks again.

Phil

2/3/2005 6:44:16 AM