Seedlings in plastic greenhouse

[Olivebrach]

I have got a lil greenhouse with a plastic cover over it with a lot of my seedlings in, i was just wondering if they will survive/be ok if it gets a bit colder this week. I'm in North Yorkshire.

Do I need to put something extra over it?

Also does anyone know if it maybe too cold in it for some seeds to sprout?

I bought one of these as well with the intention of propagating seedlings, my seedling trays are currently on the utility worktop, havent even got round to constructing the mini greenhouse, will be interested to see what replies you get.

They're a bit useless in properly cold weather, tbh, particularly if it gets windy.

I have one of those too and wouldn't trust it for anything tender yet until late April at the earliest. Mine currently has my potted dahlia tubers and newly planted pots of sparaxis harlequin bulbs to protect them but nothing else yet.

Oh nooo. Are they all gunna die i would put them inside but there are quite a few and they were going all leggy too on the window sill!

Damn i should have waited but i just got carried away

I lost a whole load of seedlings to a blown over plastic greenhouse a few years back, and it had been in the garage ever since. Make sure it is tied to something! Pretty sure you can get fleece covers for them?

Can you move the greenhouse against a south or west facing wall? The bricks act like a storage heater and are just enough to protect your plants from the chill.

As long as it doesn't get blown away you could insulate it overnight with an old duvet, bubble wrap, a blanket, etc securely wrapped around it.

It is next to a south facing wall luckily!

Ill try covering it!!

I have one with some sort of half hardy plants in at the moment but they're not seedlings they're more like small established plants at 6-8weeks old that can sort of deal with the cold. The temps are fluctuating wildly at the minute 3-4c overnight but up to 30-33c in the day when the sun comes out for more than an hour. It's a lot of shuffling about opening doors and moving trays in and out morning and night.

You can solve the wind problem by putting either a paving slab or a big tray full of gravel on the bottom shelf. And wire the bottom of the frame to some tent pegs.

I've seen plastic bottles filled with hot water recommended .Or I guess hot water bottles on the bottom would serve dual purpose of anchor /heat source .

Bricks heated in the oven( aka as my dad's answer to hot water bottles ) ??

I have one of these with an outer green cover and a fleece cover underneath made for it. I put some polystyrene packaging on the base to hopefully hold some cold off the ground. It’s in a south facing position and tied to my pergola (it did blow over in storm Gareth and that was bloody stressful!) our fault we hadn’t tied it in.

I disagree with previous comments - it has given us complete frost protection. We’re in South Yorkshire. My tomatoes have been in there for two months. I germinate everything inside and when stronger it goes in there.

When it’s chilly but sunny and you go out and open it up it is so so warm inside. I don’t have a thermometer but honestly it’s steamy!

In there currently I’ve got:
Leeks
Tomatoes
Dahlias
Hosta
Astrantia
Kale
Acquilegia
Physotegia
Cuttings (honeysuckle)
Delphiniums
Lupins
Verbena

It’s in a corner of two brick walls so gets lots of warmth from them.
Agree with the paving slab in the base - it is unmovable now!

Those of us with these little plastic covered greenhouses - am I correct in thinking that they need to be opened up every day ?

Even if if the day is cold and grey ?

@peridito I have been opening it even if its just to undo the zips but not roll up the door, lets a bit of fresh air in and stops it overheating if the sun does come out even if only for a short time.

ok ,thanks whynham !

@Olivebrach - I was just re reading your OP and thinking that if you're using the greenhouse to germinate seeds ,as opposed to grow on already sprouted seeds ,then it might not be warm enough ?

I think different seeds need different levels of warmth .

katalexander your seedlings sound like the dream! I only have lettuce and purple sprouting broc n caulifllwer so far.

peridito i have both. I was germinating seeds inside but moved everything out again and when i sowed more i just popped them in there as I need to rearange house plantz for them to fit inside.

Im not a crazy plant person i swear. Maybe just a little.

Must try to remember to open it more durong the day though, it does get hot in there

I haven't been opening mine on cold/rainy days like yesterday... I opened it today after reading some of you do, though! Mine is in a half shaded position currently by the fence... I was excited to see the dahlia tubers in there have tiny little sprouts starting after just 3 days from planting them into pots!

I'm a bit slow so it only occurred to me yesterday that going away for a few days over Easter is not going to be on if I want my seedlings to survive ....