Unheated Greenhouse

@Masoud, I would like to be able to claim that I grew these ranunculus, but it's just a pic I found on Pinterest. I agree that a greenhouse would be wonderful to grow them in. Our summers are too hot and humid, and our winters too cold to grow them outside. I can grow something else for a nice smell in my dream greenhouse.

I have an unheated potting shed/green house type building. It has done us well in the almost 4 years we have owned the place. This winter though, with the polar vortex thingy blasting through, everything froze. Then, we had 2 more rounds of bitter cold. I spent 6 hours one day last week cleaning the potting shed and dumping out the pots of dead plants.
Now, for it being unheated....I use the cheap flats from the dollar store. Black plastic base, seed flats and the clear dome cover. They heat up in the sun from the windows and make their own heat. It has worked really well for me here.

I have also been considering painting the floor and lower walls black...to absorb more heat in the winter time. Might do it serious, after this past winter.

@moxies_chickienuggets , If you have room for a few large barrels that you could fill with water and paint black, they will help prevent overheating during the day and then release that heat during the night to help moderate the temperatures and get you through a short spell of cold weather, although that polar vortex was pretty extreme on all of us. Good luck!

Nyboy said:

Other then starting seeds in sprng, what uses do unheated greenhouses have?

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As you can see by previous posts, it really depends on your climate.
I have an unheated 'greenhouse' that is a three season sunroom/porch the rest of the year. Not the type of greenhouse you would throw dirt around in, but it works for seedling growing and early cold crops. I start seeds in the house, although I could start some out that don't mind the fluctuating temps - I have started some perennials out there. I do have a portable heater I can use if the temps will fall below 40 at night and the 'very tenders' are out there.

You could use one to extend your gardening space - similar to hoop house growing, only in pots. To extend the season for cold crops, low tunnels would be a better option in colder climates, I would think.

We had already thought of that idea, philagardener ....but not enough room at all in it! It is tiny, with a concrete floor, half walled, half windows. I suppose we could paint the plant shelves black, versus the floor too. It pretty much does not get used int he summer time, as all the plants are in the ground by then.

There is a story that the settlers planted them along stagecoach lines all over the country. The tubers and flowers are edible. Don't really know if it is true.

so lucky said:

@Masoud, I would like to be able to claim that I grew these ranunculus, but it's just a pic I found on Pinterest. I agree that a greenhouse would be wonderful to grow them in. Our summers are too hot and humid, and our winters too cold to grow them outside. I can grow something else for a nice smell in my dream greenhouse.

Click to expand...

Love freesias for their fragrance and colors. I plant them in fall, they bloom in mid-winter.

I realy want a greenhouse, but worried about cost to heat in winter. I learned the hard way with hot tub, was told willn't add much to power bill WRONG!!!!

Moxie' has a bright potting shed!

Besides greenhouses, there are buildings that may have use for growing that are better at holding daytime warmth just by closing some shutters. My little adventures into the world of architecture often leads me to modern cabins. I'm beginning to think of some of the designs as "cabinets!"

It would be best not to go too small because air space allows for some tolerance to daytime overheating. That is the reverse of overnight heat loss - when you find things at baking temperatures!

Many lakeside cabins are completely closed up for much of the year. Folding doors are closed, decks are lifted, awnings are dropped . . . It is really quite amazing the ideas some folks come up with to secure their cabin(et) when they aren't around.

Some of these ideas can be used for a "sunshed!"

Steve

moxies_chickienuggets said:

I have an unheated potting shed/green house type building. It has done us well in the almost 4 years we have owned the place. This winter though, with the polar vortex thingy blasting through, everything froze. Then, we had 2 more rounds of bitter cold. I spent 6 hours one day last week cleaning the potting shed and dumping out the pots of dead plants.
Now, for it being unheated....I use the cheap flats from the dollar store. Black plastic base, seed flats and the clear dome cover. They heat up in the sun from the windows and make their own heat. It has worked really well for me here.

I have also been considering painting the floor and lower walls black...to absorb more heat in the winter time. Might do it serious, after this past winter.

Click to expand...

I have a unheated greenhouse.the nights are so cold.i have to bring my seedlings in at night.i need some type of heat for mine.my greenhouse is about 100 yards from my house.i am not comfortable running a extension cord that far.