From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Mill Bay, British Columbia

For those of you that use a thermostat regulated heater in your hoophouse, what overnight temperatures do you try to keep inside the hoop?

I've got mine set at 55 degrees and wondered if that is too cool for the young seedlings...they seem fine and have adjusted but wondered if a higher temperature would make a differance.

Thanks....

5/1/2011 12:02:55 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

I've never tried to keep the inside temperature at a specific number, like 55 degrees, I just fire up the heater if the forecast calls for temps near zero and monitor it with a remote sensor.

Just my opinion, I think cooling off to 55 or even lower helps to strengthen the seedling. Same rationale as letting the young plant go without water for a time so it will send out deeper roots.

5/1/2011 12:19:16 PM

Pataskala,OH

The soil temperature probably is more important since the seedlings are basically at ground level at this stage.

5/1/2011 1:03:43 PM

Buffalo, New York

i kept mine at 70 overnight back in 2009 and it seemed to work well.

5/1/2011 2:07:28 PM

Wi

Mine get below 40 air all the time.

5/1/2011 4:03:44 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Glenn,
Get a heat lamp for your hoop, it will help to bring the night time temps up a little.With the soil cables doing their job in the soil and the heat lamps doing their part, we usually can maintain 60-65 easily. If your hoops are huge (we use to have 24 x 13 ft, 6 ft tall) you may consider making a smaller hoop to go over the seedlings at night. A smaller area is easier to heat.
The plants slow down at 55 or below.

5/1/2011 7:43:42 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks. Yes Tom, the hoop is a bit large so I can house 2 plants. Neighbours would likely raise a fuss if I lit it up at night. Next year I'll try heat cables...when is your clear em out sale on for them?

5/1/2011 8:12:46 PM

Canada

This is my first year using a thermo controlled heater I'm also using heating cables this year I put the cables down a foot deep as pumking roots go deep and heat rises I wanted to heat a larger area and it works I have a meat prob and the soil is at a constant 72 The ceramic heater I have on lower 750 watt setting with temp at half way and the air temp is a constant 70 To 80 Range and my plants seem to love it hot day and night. Dave

5/1/2011 8:32:03 PM

canal winchester ohio

(we use to have 24 x 13 ft, 6 ft tall)
Damn Tom, that's bigger than my first apartment.

5/1/2011 10:01:22 PM

Weedville,pa

I'm a complete newcomer this year, but here is an observation of mine...I heat my home with an outdoor wood furnace. Water lines pass from the furnace inside a conduit pipe which is buried 3 feet deep. 2 years ago the conduit pipe developed holes in it and was allowing a fair amount of heat to escape into the ground. In the depths of a Pennsylvania winter I had grass growing like crazy, even in sub-zero air temps. i realize we aren't talking about growing grass, but if a grower is unable to heat the air inside his/her hoop house, heating the soil should help a great deal.

5/1/2011 10:23:56 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

lol Paul....lmao...it was actually nice to be abl to work on plant if it was raining, or hide for a while and just relax...lol

5/2/2011 8:33:52 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

What about the middle of July when my overnight temps are 45 F? lol...

5/2/2011 4:25:23 PM

Pei Springvale

I put a blanket over mine hoop house at night.helps
keep the heat inside the hoop house

5/2/2011 6:54:27 PM