From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Ideally, what overnight temperature do you strive for when adding heaters to your hoophouse/cloche?

I've always set mine to never to go below 50 degrees, however I am thinking of going with a little warmer overnight temps if that would help early season growth.

Thanks to Brooks and Craig S. for already replying to emails.

Glenn

4/25/2008 4:07:47 PM

Rhode Island

we dont let the plants get really cozy at night. we are happy if we have a temp 45 to 50 degrees.
the only goal early on is not to freeze them. its only for a couple weeks so no need getting them lazy.
cooler temps at night make for a better hardened off plant

4/25/2008 5:49:43 PM

kamloops, BC, Canada

what if yuo don't have heaters to put into the hoophouses. is there anything to help keep it a little warmer so the plants don't freeze at night?

4/25/2008 6:40:30 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks again Pap...always value your input.

Cheryllee...I don't want this to get off my initial question, however, you can use a trouble light or other source of light for a heat source but I live in the burbs and my neighbours don't like the lights too much in the back yard.

4/25/2008 7:13:29 PM

otherwise i have seen gallon jugs of water in near the plant and/or computer-mouse-sized rocks around the
base of the plant could store up SOME heat from the day and possibly radiate it through the night, but a
low (40-watt) wattage light bulb in there with the plant but not too close to it is what i usually do--eric g

4/25/2008 7:35:59 PM

Western PA

Cheryllee, If you have an extra cooler laying around you can throw that over it, just make sure it is secured to the ground that way the wind does not blow it into your plant. you can get cheap Styrofoam coolers and use some tent stakes to secure them. This will keep the temp up overnight. The only problem with this method if you plant really early the plant will prob. out grow the cooler. Also make sure you remove the coolers ASAP in the morning.

4/25/2008 7:37:10 PM

Glenn, I shoot for 55°min temp with the heaters and I also use cables to boost the root growth early on

cheryllee,coolers work great,,,or,,,heavy cardboard box blanketed,,increase the size as needed,,,fill gallon jugs with hot water next to the plants under the boxes...this works to 28°(tested here in hoops) if you are looking at lower temps then the light bulb does the trick

remove the box as soon as the sun comes up,,let the jugs warm again and use the warm water for the plants,,,

4/25/2008 8:12:14 PM

maine USA

I am going to have a small hoop house of about 11.5 x around four feet and have a heating cables along with a milk room heater. My concern was with over heating. Has anyone had this problem? So it sounds like the concensus is around 45 to 55 degrees is a good range. Glenn I am really glad that you asked this question. I just assumed that the temp should be around 60-70 degrees. thanks Kathy Truong

4/26/2008 9:40:24 AM

kamloops, BC, Canada

I will start saving my water bottles and leave them out to get warm. thanks for the advice.

4/26/2008 10:30:34 AM

Colorado

anything north of 32 is workable

4/26/2008 12:21:58 PM

Midwest

Gave my wife a new crockpot. Crockpot in the hoophouse with just about 2in of water will level the temp aroud 50-55 overnight.

4/26/2008 2:26:41 PM

Sandyutahusa

What about making a 5 gallon bucket of compost tea with a fish tank heater added and put this in the hoophouse to help with the cool nights?

4/27/2008 1:45:53 AM

Rhode Island

why have compost tea sitting dorment in a 5 gal bucket with heater ?
just put water in the bucket if thats the method you use

4/27/2008 7:27:34 AM

Carrollton, Ga.

I have painted 5 gallon buckets black before, filled them with water and put the top on. Then I put 4 of these around the plant. They would heat up during day and give heat off at night.
Doug
Jn. 3:16

4/27/2008 8:39:59 AM

Sandyutahusa

Sorry Pap, I was really refering to the whole process of making compost tea but use it in the hoop house.

4/27/2008 9:29:08 AM