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Location

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Date Posted

North Of The Border

I was wonderign how to heat a hoophouse without the use of heaters or soil cables. Any help based on personnal experience, or speculation would be appreciated.

6/8/2020 4:58:48 PM

Central NY

little itty bitty wood stove?

6/8/2020 6:58:55 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Propane lantern. Heat and CO2.

6/8/2020 7:25:52 PM

Ironton, ohio

Candles possibly, or maybe heat some stone or brick to place in there they'll radiate heat for a while.

6/8/2020 8:42:02 PM

South Dakota

Solar heat collector powered by solar powered fan. Seriously, this is a legitimate option, I built a 2x4 solar collector in my garage. Plans are all over the internet. A solar car battery charger will power the large 12 volt computer type fan. When the sun comes out the fan automatically starts up. A bunch of thermal mass inside the hoop house will help to carry over heat when the panel is not running.

6/8/2020 9:22:47 PM

stoughton WI

Use a couple heat 250w lamps

6/8/2020 10:16:59 PM

Bethlehem CT

I Know I can't beat Porkchop's suggestion, you could go with an old fashioned manure/hay heated hot bed.
https://www.soil-dynamics.com/blog/2017/1/3/hotbeds-for-cold-times-start-seeds-the-old-fashioned-way

6/9/2020 8:26:51 AM

North Of The Border

I dont want to spend the money to run electricity out to tje patch, but wnat to heat a mini greenhouse for an early start next year. The solar power would probably be really expensive, but i may try the candles, or stones.

6/9/2020 9:08:35 AM

Westmoreland, KS

Porkchop you might want to patent that stove giant pumpkin growers everywhere are going to want one

6/9/2020 9:10:11 AM

Central NY

Lol Jake...hey grower, one thing that would help is to put the hoop up in the fall and leave it for the winter...or put it up late winter to start warming the soil as soon as possible..just remember, an early start is important to compete for the top spot at a weigh-off or possibly break a regional record but is not necessarily the silver bullet to getting a big one. The soil is much more important than an early start. Especially if you don’t go “by the book” as far as early environment control...(heating cables, heater...don’t make a little wood stove, that’s a dumb idea.)...good luck

6/9/2020 9:34:20 AM

Walhalla, ND.

If you can weather wise, about a month before you put your plants out. Dig a hole where your plants going 3’x3’x1’ deep. Put up your hoop house so your hole is towards the back. Completely close up your hoop and let be till your ready to put in your plant, make sure you place it growing forward. Once your plant is in the hoop use something like wire fencing to build a small “what I call a mini hope” over the plant. Every night till temps get better through a blanket over the mini hoop. This will help keep your plant from freezing or getting to cold. In the morning remove blanket. CAUTION. You must monitor you hoops, it can take very little sun on a 50 degree day to get hot enough to cook your plants. Open hoops enough to maintain between 65-85 temps. Once the days warm up more and opening the hoops can’t bring the temp down, put a sheet over the hoops to shade your plant.

6/9/2020 10:13:26 AM

North Of The Border

I'll try the pit idea. I will have a mini house inside, with 1 or 2 blankets on it, and i will be able to erect the cober as soon as there is no snow left on the ground.

6/9/2020 11:18:10 AM

Westmoreland, KS

where are you that there is still snow on the ground???

6/9/2020 11:52:27 AM

North Of The Border

Not this year. Duh. Eyeroll. I am talking about next year. I get snow until mid-late april some years, but normaly only till mid to late march.

6/9/2020 3:51:18 PM