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Getting a greenhouse ready for winter


#1 Preparing the glasshouse

Click thumbnails for larger images

 

Step 1

Clear out as much clutter as possible.

 

Step 2

Sweep the floor.

Step 3

Wash the glass and frame with a solution of Jeyes fluid to disinfect it.

 

Step 4

Attach bubble wrap to the frame. Start at one side of the door, and fit a strip all the way around to the other side. Add a second strip to completely cover the walls.

Step 5

Beginning at the eaves, add strips to insulate the roof. Add more bubble wrap to fill the gaps at either end.

Step 6

Attach a strip to the door. I had to use small bulldog clips for this piece as there are no channels to accept the standard twist clips.

 

 

Step 7

Attach a reflective sheet to the north wall - I use an emergency blanket. This will greatly increase the amount of heat and light from the sun.

Step 8

Label each piece of bubble wrap with a permanent marker, so you can easily store them till next year and refit them. 

   

#2 Nested plastic greenhouse
 

Step 1

To add another layer of insulation, I erect a plastic greenhouse inside the glasshouse. 

Step 2

Assemble the frame.

Step 3

Fit the cover.


The nested greenhouse achieves two things. Firstly it acts as another layer of insulation, which keeps the temperature inside even warmer - typically 5°C warmer than outdoor temperatures overnight. Secondly, if I do need to add extra heat on very cold nights, I'm heating a much smaller volume of air, reducing the costs further. With the cost of paraffin at over £13 a gallon at the time of writing, the plastic greenhouse will very soon pay for itself.

 

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