Self-Sufficient.co.uk
Find out more about Self Sufficiency
Site Search
Main Menu
Top Products
Fruit TreesPolytunnel
Water Butts
Strimmer
Shed
Greenhouse
Porous Pipe
Latest Articles
Allotment Gardening
Grow all you can eat on your own allotment.
grow your own
20:32, 10th May 2014
Smallholding for Sale in North Devon
Three bedroom detached house in 18 acres for sale - North Devon, UK
smallholding
20:48, 17th Mar 2013
Nettles
Find out more about nettles - how to benefit from them and how to get rid of them
foraging
16:12, 13th Apr 2012
Making Nettle Beer
Find out how to make your nettle beer
recipes
16:10, 13th Apr 2012
How to Make Sloe Gin
Find out how to make your own sloe gin
recipes
14:40, 13th Apr 2012
Grow Your Own Chilli Peppers
Find out how to grow your own chilli peppers
grow your own
13:33, 16th Mar 2012
Home Beekeeping
Find out more about keeping bees in your garden for honey
grow your own
15:40, 4th Jan 2012
Storing Apples
Find out how to store apples
fruits
13:23, 28th Jul 2011
Greenhouse Ventilation
Understand the importance of venilation in a greenhouse
Greenhouse Ventilation
greenhouse | grow your ownExcellent Ventilation is essential if your Greenhouse crops are to thrive. Ventilation controls the temperature and humidity of the air in the greenhouse, both of which are essential factors. Excessive humidity can lead to mildew and other fungi proliferating, and excessive heat can quickly dry out and kill your crops.
Greenhouse ventilators are generally positioned in the roof and sometimes in the sides of the greenhouse. In the ideal world around 20% of the total floor area should be dedicated to ventilation, so in an 8 x 6 foot small domestic greenhouse, there should really be around 9 square foot of ventilation. Unfortunately it is rare that a greenhouse supplied as standard will provide any where near that much ventilation.
Through the seasons the ventilators should be used differently. During the spring just the greenhouse roof ventilators should be used. This is will lead to a slow flow of air as the hottest air escapes through the roof. As temperatures hot up during late spring and summer side ventilators (or the door) should be opened. This will result in a large increase in air flow as cool air enters the greenhouse from the side and hot air escapes through the roof. Even during the cold of winter and early spring ventilation is vital during those still, cold, and damp days when the air is stagnant and not moving. A little roof ventilation, ideally with some heat, is important.
If you intend to grow a self-sufficient crop of fruits and vegetables in your greenhouse, then it is even more important to ensure that ventilation is taken care off. Therefore it is well worth investing in an extractor fan (fitted into one of the panes of glass in the roof) which will completely replace the air in the greenhouse every few minutes on the hottest days. Using a thermostatic controller enables the extractor fan to be run automatically, and it can also be powered with environmentally friendly solar panels.
NEW - Click here to visit our Greenhouse Directory with details of suppliers of greenhouses and related accessories.
Shopping List
Here are some useful links to relevant products:
Article Published: 12:29, 9th Jul 2008
Related Articles
Watering Your Greenhouse
Find out how to keep your greenhouse plants well watered
Article Published: 12:29, 9th Jul 2008
greenhouse | grow your own
The Greenhouse
Find out more about the benefits of greenhouses and glasshouses
Article Published: 12:29, 9th Jul 2008
greenhouse | building | grow your own | smallholding
Greenhouse from Plastic Bottles
Build a greenhouse from old plastic bottles
Article Published: 10:19, 3rd Jun 2010
greenhouse | building | grow your own
Choosing a Greenhouse
Decide which greenhouse is right for you
Article Published: 12:37, 20th Apr 2011
greenhouse | building | grow your own
Greenhouse Thermometer
Use a suitable max min thermometer to track temperatures in a greenhouse
Article Published: 10:23, 13th Jan 2011
greenhouse | building | grow your own
Polytunnel Hot Spot Tape
Find out about the use of anti hot spot tape in polytunnels
Article Published: 12:29, 9th Jul 2008
building | grow your own | greenhouse
Make Your Own DIY Polytunnel
Find out how to make your own robust polytunnel for half the price of the retail product
Article Published: 17:12, 17th Sep 2008
building | grow your own | greenhouse
Why Buy a Polytunnel
Learn about Polytunnels and their benefits
Article Published: 17:12, 17th Sep 2008
building | grow your own | greenhouse | smallholding
Wireless Thermometer
Use a wireless thermometer to track the temperature in your greenhouse
Article Published: 11:26, 10th Jan 2011
grow your own | greenhouse
Making Garlic Oil
Make your own garlic oil
Article Published: 14:49, 25th Nov 2010
preserving | grow your own | recipes