Greenhouse Heaters?

Waterlily24

Any recommendations for greenhouse heaters please? It's a 16 x 10ft greenhouse. Not too sure what fuel to use either.


Thanks

Justagardener

Have you got power in the greenhouse?

Waterlily24

Hi justagardener, yes we have.

Justagardener

I have always used small frost protection fan heaters. They really don't cost a lot of money to run. I guess it depends how much heat you require but greenhouses are always best running cooler through the winter if you can. I wouldn't bother with the parafine type as you can guarantee it will run out of fuel on the coldest night! There are many tube greenhouse heaters but they tend to keep areas warm and not the whole greenhouse especially one of your size.
Just a little greenhouse fan heater ticking away on low blowing warm air round would be perfect.
https://theperfectgarden.co.uk/which-greenhouse-heater-should-i-buy/

Waterlily24

Thank you very much justagardener that's very helpful. Must admit it's not usually too cold here but I think we need one. The one we were using broke a couple of years ago.


Thanks again.

howardtog

Any greenhouse heating even to keep the temperature just off freezing is expensive. Are you growing orchids or fuchias? If you are not maybe consider using your greenhouse as a wind protector in winter.
I have two unheated greenhouses and grow tomatoes peppers and cucumber in summer. In winter I experiment with vegetables. Cabbage carrots and winter lettuce planted in autumn all do very well over winter. Others such as leeks seem to do better outside,
Strawberries in pots brought in end of Jan give an early crop.
Similar results with many flowers
I realise I'm not answering the question but really posing the question "Do you need to"
Hope this helps

kippers

I have a greenhouse heater which i only use in spring when i really can fit no more on my window sills inside my house , usually April time, as its so expensive to run. I grow salad leaves/ mizuna etc and hardy annuals, cuttings over winter that need no heat

Davesnave

The problem with most electric heaters is that the thermostat is set too high, at around 5c. For the majority of tenderish plants, like pelargoniums, you can get away with much lower than that; down to 0c in fact.

It's also best to build a bubble-wrap cage around the most sensitive plants to save on heating the whole space. Then keep 'em dry.

I re-calibrated the thermostat on my heater.... on the back doorstep when it was just about freezing! Saved a fortune, just by turning a little screw.

Nowadays, I don't sell tender stuff, so have no need to add to global warming which has already been a game-changer. My plants sit inside their bubble wrap cage. and most winters I get away with it.

Obviously, if you are on top of the Pennines or in the Highlands at 1000' you can cheerfully ignore this post!

Justagardener

Lining the greenhouse with bubble plastic really does help with keeping the heat in and the cold out. I used an energy plug to monitor how much electricity the heater used and I was surprised how little the heater clicked on and off throughout the night. If you are worried about runaway bills these little gadgets might put your mind at rest.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Energy-Consumption-Cost-Meter-Electricity/dp/B00SJI3FSO/ref=pd_ybh_a_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=TQXKDE8JDN1ERAJPCWC0

peter_the_piper

Personally, I prefer propane for the small greenhouse. Water, splashing about, and electricity don't mix.