Unheated Greenhouse Troubles. Our Solution!

When we purchased our greenhouse we thought it would retain at least a little heat overnight. We were naive, but we came up with a solution that has been working great and we want to share it with you.
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[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

Our greenhouse and greenhouse supplies are from www.growerssolution.com They are GREAT PEOPLE!!! Check them out and make sure to tell them we sent you!!! You can get 10% off your entire order by entering our coupon code "traditionalist10" at checkout!

[@daisystink1]

You guys are awesome and this video has been very helpful! 🤗

[@naturaljuicers3676]

what about a ventless gas heater

[@lynnbishop9493]

Did you ever decide to use that as a brooder as well,? The body heat of the ducks would add heat, since you have the light going anyway, seems like a good idea. You could just add woodchips or sawdust over the last lot to keep the bedding clean for the young birds. So you'll end up with lovely well rotted wood. When the ducks are grown. I didn't see if you are growing anything on the floor as well, but there could be a way to let the ducklings out into out during the day, warming up the tunnel house as well. When the weather and ducklings were ready to go outside and live, you will have lovely compost on the floor for summer crops.

[@karahines8063]

I have been trying to use the coupon code for a greenhouse. It will not accept it :(

[@user-zk1zy1fy7o]

Put milk jugs full of water into your green house water holds heat at night

[@danielgill1140]

I recommend watching this at x1.5 speed

[@BeeHash]

Perfect

[@MarcGyverIt]

Thanks, much better

[@jessicashive3836]

You’re awesome for suggesting this

[@sunrisehollowfarm]

😂

[@abstractcreations3525]

♥

[@RetreatfarmFarmvilleVirginia]

I Get the black 55 gallon barrels and lay them down against the outer walls and fill them with water and a little bit of glycol and during the day they heat up and create a thermal storage bank and will emit the heat over night. I Live in North eastern Maine with Canada and the bay of Fundy in my front yard. My greenhouse has a little over 500 Tomato seedlings growing and are nice and toasty.

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

How many barrels do you use and what size greenhouse? I've been thinking about doing this but didn't know how to figure out the number of barrels.

[@KansanWolf]

Why not just fill the barrels to a little less than 90% capacity (say, about 48 gallons) to save on the cost of the glycol? That way, you don't have to worry if they freeze.

[@russellborrego1689]

Tom Cook I was searching the comments to see if anyone made this suggestion already. Also, paint the barrels black. Cheap 32 gallon garbage cans work as well, and they're already black in most cases.

[@nguyentuan1990]

do you move those barrels inside too?

[@americaneden3090]

@@KansanWolf ....but the point is he doesnt WANT them to freeze but rather to retain AND transfer heat like thermal mass

[@janjones880]

I make a small make shift hoop house for winter greens. I use double plastic with pool noodles between the layers to create an air barrier. It has worked for me here in southern Indiana zone 7a. Blessings all around

[@clncaaquintero3595]

how do you make it work with the pool noodles and the plastic?

[@Davidg1t1]

Jan that is a brilliant idea! Thank you Kind sister 🙏🏻🌻

[@martysgarden]

From my experience of running an offgrid micro farm if you start to understand thermal mass you can trap heat and cool your greenhouse. Rock gravel floor are awesome thermal conductors as they warm up in winter and keep cool in summer. Also creating bottom and top airflow that you can open and close is vital to control humidity and warmth. The box looks super awesome,,,maybe throw some bricks in there to trap the heat as well,,, All the best with homestead Warm Regards Marty Ware (small space gardening Australia)

[@helpinghand6037]

very good idea will do that for sure

[@snuffoutrouge5109]

add concrete pavers painted black on top of the gravel and the north facing side put rock wall contained in wire frame.

[@stellablue7435]

We too moved from AZ to MO 1yr ago 😆 What a beautiful change! After 8 yrs of a truly hard struggle in northern AZ we have no regrets about our move. Just built our first greenhouse here this Oct. Looking forward to seeing what this winter brings. We bless you both and pray for your abundance🙏

[@doylezechman2899]

Find a local bakery/donut shop and see if they will let you have free 3.5/4.25/5 gallon buckets. Painted black they store a lot of free passive heat. A thermostat inside the grow box keeps you from over heating the plants. Love your rabbit raising videos. Will start ours this summer.

[@npecom]

Love this idea and that you are only heating the space necessary. Very efficient! I did something similar using straw bales for the box and no lamp. Worked as freeze protection but not as warm as many germinating seeds want. I've also seen designs that place the light in an enclosed chamber under a "false floor" for bottom heat.

[@pyr8at40]

it's a growing process.....love that ya show the setbacks and solutions.....keep going..love you guys

[@1949chefjojo]

We love your show. I am a senior citizen and take your advice. I am very happy for what you teach. You have great ideas. During this pandemic, I see that it is necessary.

[@d.t.4523]

Great video. Good work on the warmer. Heat the greenhouse with wood, using an external system, like a mass heater but with the fire tube outside. Run the flue underground into the heated space. The outdoor boiler system is good, but needs power to pump the antifreeze around. Good luck!

[@thomasdixon4857]

You did a great job on the heating to prevent freezing of plants. Keep up the good work. Thomas

[@flatlandah52]

Really appreciate your practical solutions and non-drama approach to things.

[@prospectorgem]

Check out the double plastic AND blower system. It works great! My greenhouse never drops below 57° f at night when it is 32° f

[@gardenpatchmama]

This is just something to think about when May comes around, but you WILL NEED a shade cloth over your greenhouse by then. We are 30 miles to your west, and have had our greenhouse for almost 10 years. By mid May the temp in the greenhouse will be so hot it will burn plants. We put the shade cloth on by the 2nd week in May and start running a huge fan. We also installed a mister across the ridge line that kicks on when the temp gets to warm to help cool. We have 2 layers of plastic on ours with a fan that keeps it inflated. Helps some in the winter with the 2 layers. We have raised beds in ours so in the winter we have hoops we put over them with freeze cloth. Most of the winter we grow lettuce, mustard, kale, spinach, etc...In the day we remove the freeze cloth over the hoops and recover before the sun goes down. Hope to get to Bakers Creek this weekend and meet you.

[@jerricroft937]

gardenpatchmama good info, shade cloth , I'm thinking white maybe 20/30%. Misters a must , how are your misters activated?

[@LittleMountainRanch]

What a great idea! This is something I've been thinking about as the time for starting my seeds is creeping up on me. Thanks so much for the great video!

[@swianecki]

You two are so ingenious. Can't wait to see what you come up with next.

[@madolyngilman-cobb6694]

We are in The Ozarks also and would absolutely love a Growers solution green house. We are a retired couple and are attempting to live as self sufficiently as possible. we could really use this to help us grow for market gardening! We have learned so much from you both! Huge congratulations on your program, yo are our number 1 show

[@1AcreHomestead]

Nice! I can only imagine how efficient it would be if insulated. Excellent idea guys!

[@bluewright9995]

Great idea guys! Might try it! I’ve been wheeling my handcuffed grandmother in my greenhouse and putting 3sets of clothes on her to make her heat up on frosty nights. Saves on electricity & it’s 100% organic 😁

[@catherinecastle8576]

😐😏😂

[@dimik3855]

Great enthusiasm. I would insulate the box with 1" rigid foam, double the patio door top lid (or use a plastic sheet as a second skin on the inside of the lid), and use four 60watt bulbs (on a thermostat) instead. I have an old water bed heater which can be used at the bottom.The thermostat will ensure that you don't heat needlessly. Just enough to do the job without you having to check the temps all the time. This what your ideas have inspired for me! Thank you!

[@benthere8051]

A hoop greenhouse made from cattle panels INSIDE your greenhouse might work. Your work surfaces along the sides of the big greenhouse could be made of black water containers that would store heat collected during the day. You could make cheap solar water heaters that you place outside the greenhouse that heat the water in your barrels.

[@MrToontuber]

You can use a mount of cowdung and place the seedlings on ore just over it. Than you can plant out sooner as wel. Greetz from Holland

[@zacharyolson1297]

I love how certain things are universal, my family in Wisconsin does this as well, and my Korean friend said said his family does the same! Love stuff like that!

[@migueltigrelazo]

What exactly would the cowdung do for the seeds?

[@davidvickers8425]

@@migueltigrelazo heat, as it decomposes and c02

[@fatmaxcat4761]

I've seen a greenhouse in Minnesota here on KZbin that basically installed a rocket mass heater and ran ductwork a couple feet down in the Earth. I believe they said they grow in the greenhouse 11 months out of the year.

[@markhemerick6263]

It's hard to express how asome your idea is. Well done! I'm taking notes . Thank you.

[@allencallender2205]

The humidity in a greenhouse is really high and that chipboard will delaminate in time. A coat of paint (white is best in a greenhouse) will make the box last longer. Just make sure the wood is dry before you paint it.

[@akiglesias]

A green house in a green house :) great work! Here in Canada I've seen a lot of raised beds in greenhouses with windows on hinges working in the same way. minus the heat lamp. looks great!

[@marthaadams8326]

Ground maintains a good temperature. I used it this winter. I put bales of hay around the outside of my actual greenhouse - did not want to use the heat from electric. It worked! The ground stays around 50 degrees in the winter. Now, I will put cinder blocks around the hay and start a raised bed around it and plant flowers in the summer. I now have a tunnel and may put a grow light in there in the cooler days until frozen days that come and go in TN and keep stuff as long as I can. In my greenhouse with the hay bales, the only thing that went dormant was the grow bag with cherry tomatoes in it and the tomatoes reseed themselves year after year, just have to fix up the soil. Great to have greens in the winter.

[@dougmc666]

I wanted something rot resistant and sturdy to hold up the counters, I use concrete blocks, they're great for absorbing heat during the day and giving it off at night.

[@jupiteradventure5284]

But water has a much greater thermal efficiency, much.

[@kenbrown438]

Thanks you for making this great KZbin video about heating green houses !!!! Shared with all 238 of MY down home NEWS followers on Twitter !!!!

[@mackmaciel1154]

I just love watching everything y'all do!

[@LorellaPlanBeeOrchardandFarm]

I remember seeing that and other videos, and wondering what you were going to do it in. Glad to hear it’s working out so well.

[@cindythomas681]

Wish I could come to Bakers Creek to meet up with you. I was baffled at how you were keeping the greenhouse warm at night. Great idea!

[@chiefchick]

Infrared or Ceramic heat lamps are the best way to go. Take it from us reptile keepers. We keep our tropical snakes and lizards warm through the winter. I would have mentioned it before but didn't think it was workable esp in a bigger enclosure like a greenhouse. So glad you guys did it and I will experiment on mine too! Thank you!!

[@ensign4Him]

Just love you two... you always make me smile! Always great common sense information. Thank You and God Bless!

[@christopherbaker7005]

Ya'll are adorable! Thank you for your help.

[@Mark-qe9mr]

put your seedlings in cold frames inside the greenhouse. I used a grow light above a glass door on the outside of a similar setup and it radiated a ton of heat into the box. If you're gonna spend the $$ on a light, trust me, just suspend a fluorescent grow light over the box outside the box. Glass has great transmittance so it lets all that heat in.

[@YelloLibra83]

I’m in SE MO…it’s finally nice to see gardeners from my state. Most channels I see are from people in zones 9 and up. I’m in zone 7.

[@rodnajean9508]

Thank you for doing this whole series! Can you guys do an updated one? How is your greenhouse holding up more things you’ve learned would do different, etc.?

[@jerryprewett5294]

Grateful for the code, building my first hoop house 10x20 with cattle panels was looking for plastic sheeting!Thank you

[@john1boggity56]

This sounds like our climate ("Lithgow" about 150kms west of Sydney NSW Australia - Global South) - 950 meters above sea level. Two new poly tunnels erected this week. Thanks so much for sharing your enthusiasm, experience and knowledge!!

[@goatgal7884]

What a great idea!Good job!

[@vasquezmarcos01]

Love it,love the green houses,love plants,love fruits and vegetables, love it,love it love it

It’s a great idea to keep the vegetables in winter. Thanks for sharing

[@mariewilliams1357]

Great solution! You guys are so clever, as always.

[@panch336]

Hey guys: Watched one of you videos and it helped me so much with my vegetables. Thank you for taking the time to upload your videos.

[@ChuckedProjects]

I am just finishing my green house build which I insulated well but maybe not well enough to extend the season as long as my wife would want. I will probably add something like this to the green house. I will be sure to give you credit for the idea in my videos. Thanks, this is great idea.

[@robinsnestfarm7322]

You all keep those vegetables a growing! We just signed a contract on a property in Webster County- so we will be almost neighbors-- And we are looking to you to be raising our veggies for us this year because I cant see us getting our garden in at this late date!

[@dougmac8904]

Thanks you guys. I'm learning so much from you

[@margaretsullivan2206]

Just getting my seeds planted for spring here in Tasmania. Wish I had a green house. Will have to check out what is in my area. Love the videos.

[@cherriemckinstry131]

I love your energy and matter of fact living. Great info about what to expect. Thanks for sharing. I'm saving some of your ideas for Garden of Hope project.

[@wjb9425]

It's all about what works for your climate.I'm in zone 5b and start everything inside then to a low tunnel inside a high tunnel like yours.As the weather warms then high tunnel until they go to their final spot.

[@saltlifegull4091]

LOL, this video resonates with me!~ Just got my greenhouse up with same expectations you had. THANKS so much. Love your videos. Subscriber from Florida.

[@loftyhoy480]

You could build compost boxes along the walls, and place the seedlings ontop. In England, this was very popular in Victorian times. Check out Charles dowling, and the success he has. Good video though 😃

[@MetalFreak187]

Didn't they manage to grow pineapples doing this, Amazing

[@chipfire]

Charles Dowding

[@roundmott]

Thanks for the discount information. Great job on that!

[@judyrobertson5564]

Love your videos always so informative. Thank you so much for making them and God bless you and yours.

[@jiaunmew878]

Good to know. Thank you so much for sharing. 💓

[@strive4impact]

Interestng idea. Thank you for sharing it!

[@datcampg9297]

A mini heating box is what I would need. I like the idea. I enjoyed watching both your videos. Thank you. 🌱

[@eduardosalcedosr1727]

It was a simple and cost effective idea to keep your little plans warm during the cold season. GOD🙏🙏BLESS YOU. EDUARDO MIAMI FL 🇺🇸

[@highroad3580]

Thank you for yet another great idea! We use warming pads under the seeds especially on cold nights and cover the trays with whatever will hold that heat inside. I don’t start the seeds until April first but our last frost dates are near the end of April so some measures are necessary.

[@rosejafari8917]

I like the box, suggest that you paint it white inside to help scatter the light and protect from excess moisture. I was thinking about putting a small greenhouse inside the bigger one to grow seedlings. You could use your rabbits to help keep it warm. They put off lots of heat from their ears. Enjoy and lots of luck to all of us.

[@thetwistedsisterme]

Awesome idea... I love finding ways to implement use of items that just hang around.... SORRY though, that I did use the subscriber suggestion to increase the speed.

[@michelaylwin105]

Hello. You guys are so intelligent and i Will built for my greenhouse. Super job. Im from North of Québec Canada and here night are cold.

[@osfbg9901]

Good idea. We have a 10x40 ft. greenhouse attached to the shop. This is to be its first year of growing. I’m going to buy several large wattage heat bulbs and put them in the regular lightbulb receptacles. In Alberta we regularly get winter nights (and days) of -35 c and colder but now in the spring it doesn’t seem to be much colder than -20. I’ll let you know how it works out. Thanks for the potential solution.

[@erikacronje8985]

That is a super idea and serves a dual purpose too. Great tip and I may actually build a "warm box" similar to this as a winter greenhouse as I do not think I am allowed to build a proper greenhouse in my Townhouse garden. I want to do a worm farm and can think of making 2 boxes, one for the worms and one for the seedlings or winter greens. You certainly got my grey cells working :-D

[@FensterfarmGreenhouse]

Great Idea on the use for that thing. I hope it continues to provide benefit to you there! Chuck

[@marytaylor667]

her dimples are adorable!

[@richardmadrid2048]

Great idea on that hot box in the greenhouse you guys are great keep growing we love you guys watch you every time I get a chance

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Fantastic idea guys! Thank you for all your hard work! God bless. From Nova Scotia Canada

[@andrewrx88]

Naive is the way I'm feeling right now.... Appreciate this video

[@Davidg1t1]

Black weed barrier on your floor will help absorb heat and black water containers help retain heat. Great video folks Thank You!

[@uupyerkilt]

Just found your video.Thanks for info as we are thinking of moving out of the suburb

[@Den0Q]

Thank you for your channel. I'm learning so much. Hi from Harrisonville Mo.

[@ZJhontu1]

Been working on mine all summer. Juuust about to cover it. Behind but moving towards tomorrow nonetheless. Love y’all!!!

[@resourcefulgirl]

Creative problem solving! I think the heating solution will come in handy. I've heard from Ice Age Farmer's channel that the Growing Degree Days have decreased significantly. Also, the growing season has been shortened on each end of the season. We are in a Solar Minimum and many believe it will be a 400 year cycle which means a Grand Solar Minimum. Your greenhouse will be a must to combat these challenges.

[@bobcat9314]

Cool video..one thing I've learned about greenhouse, hoop house, hothouse what ever your growing in has its own personality, just like the folks growing...like the fingers of your hand...all different, but also the same... I love to hear of others finding for there particular location, and grow style..... Much respect you two..nice video..

[@OurSoVaLife]

Nice setup,,thanks

[@essemsween818]

That is a thing of real beauty. For going forward to extend your capacity I'd go with building another one. I don't know if there are Solar heat lamps but that's a way to use the day's sun to keep the plants warm at night.

[@saramichaud610]

By definition you have a high tunnel because you don’t have a heat source. Greenhouses have heating units. Loves the videos.

[@AJ-ox8xy]

Greenhouse is more main stream and is better for clicks.

[@lisabevans8107]

Or cold frames

[@dustyroads5753]

I've lived in Missouri, southwest Missouri to be exact for 49 years. It absolutely does get colder than the 20s here. Most winters we will have at least 1 week in January/February where daytime temps never get above freezing, and nighttime temps drop to single digits or a few degrees below 0.

[@darlenep5206]

You Guys ROCK !! Thanks for the Info !

[@MAD42]

great solution! thank you for sharing!

[@bobwilliams5506]

Wife and I love your vids. We are also "show-me staters". We live in Knob Noster. Keep the vids coming.

[@godsgift3302]

Great idea for the heat

[@pattybays7372]

This video was very helpful! ❤🤗

[@fiberinspector1304]

in my green house, 55 gal drums of water. It heats up during day and release heat at night. Also have big rocks, 12", round, they hold heat and release it at night. put both neat edge to get max sun. You don't have to make it 86 degrees at night, just enough to keep plants from getting cold ans stunting growth.

[@TrinityRidge1959]

I give ya all credit cuz freezing temps are exactly as cold outside once the sun goes down. I gave up. So I seed indoors. Hardening them is super hard for me. My last year at my age. Almost 60. So we are off gridding boondocking in a vintage camper I been working on for our escape to adventure on the road. Unattached from the grid and it's almost done. You guys are awesome. Perfect age to work out the kinks. Lovely setup

[@PlanetMojo]

I just built a mini greenhouse (8 feet long) using sawhorse brackets, 2 x 4's, and plastic. I put my entire vineyard's cuttings in there yesterday. I'll heat it until it is consistently in the mid 40's at night, and use a ThermoCube thermostat on the heater as a backup after that. I like your solution as well. Cheap is always best if it works!

[@wendyweddell2782]

Live the new idea's. Thank you

[@sweetefelicity]

That is a great idea for a greenhouse! Three of my girls work at Baker Creek, so we're bound to see you there at some point. :) Cheers.

[@sagenose1082]

I love it! Great idea!

[@loriwilding4109]

I love this idea!

[@christopherconkright1317]

My grandfather had the same heaters they use in garages in his green houses in the 80s

[@jasonreeve661]

Subscribed. love the heating box idea.

[@Rattlerjake1]

My 18 x 20 greenhouse - Waste oil heater! Made from old fireplace insert, runs on waste motor oil, waste vegetable oil, or diesel. Burns 100% clean. Uses a small DC fan powered by a car battery, charged by a small solar cell. Line the north wall with black water barrels or brick (painted black). Cheap and efficient. You can get all the free waste motor oil you want from most auto repair shops, or waste veg oil from local restaurants or post on craigslist (waste veg oil must be kept warm to be liauid enough to drip, but waste motor oil doesn't).

[@rosemessner1850]

Thanks for sharing So informative Good work ! Love the 🎥

[@veronicaann7920]

I just placed an order with Growers solution and took advantage of the 10% discount. Thank you.

[@jereynolds51]

Great idea. SWFL gets chilly and this would be awesome.

[@WatchfulHunter]

I just start mine inside till April. But using an insulated box within the greenhouse till it warms up is a great idea! And it can be all wood. Adding insulation helps keep the cold out of course.