PuffTheMagic
Super Active Member
Doesn't anyone have any experience growing where the entire growth cycle the temps are below 50F?
Cold climate growing
- Thread starter PuffTheMagic
- Start date
They will survive in those temps but they are going to grow extremely slowly.
Nobighurry
PICK YOUR OWN
In my experience you usually end up with Wild defencies because of cold soil temps if you could keep constant soil temps you will be leagues ahead they do grow painfully slow i.e. a typical 65 days strain will run 90days...
Fiddler's Green
Just a regular vato
I have plants that have been revegging since mid October. Temps have been 55-62 lights on/43-50 lights off and I have just enough growth to start taking a few cuttings from most. The only one that is barely showing a possibility of new growth is a NL tester from Hillbilly Bob (CLG) but I'm not blaming the genetics, I don't think I left enough foliage for it to recover.
But like they said the growth is slow.
But like they said the growth is slow.
PuffTheMagic
Super Active Member
I'm hoping to be able to grow year round in a high tunnel in hardiness zone 5 so I was curious what to expect during the colder months.
Streetpro09
Tester
I think you're gonna spend alot heating it, even if you bury in halfway in the dirt.
Fiddler's Green
Just a regular vato
One cool trick I've seen is a farmer dug a trench in the middle of their hoop house to heat with compost.
H.A.F.
a.k.a. Rusty Nails
I have birds practically nesting in my compost pile when it gets cold.
Fiddler's Green
Just a regular vato
The Boss and I are trying something different this year with chicken/duck coops and goat pen called deep mulching. The idea is it keeps the space warm(ish) as it builds up and composts.
I keep looking at it as future plant food
I keep looking at it as future plant food
PuffTheMagic
Super Active Member
There are quite a few youtube videos of people with high tunnels where the force air between two layers of plastic go maintain an insulative air barrier and without any other external heat they are keeping temps in the 40s and higher. That being said, i've seen some high tunnel setups with DIY geothermal that look kick ass and super efficient.
PuffTheMagic
Super Active Member
Never thought about this, might have to give it a try.
Nobighurry
PICK YOUR OWN
I have a high tunnel and a small half in the ground greenhouse but besides heating we only get 8 hrs of daylight this time of year so lights are also needed with the current value of product it just doesn't pencil out for me these days our winters are just to harsh this week it's been below zero with -20 wind chill but oh man I still want to be growing I did use a huge pile of lawn clippings and leaves one year with a rolls of black Polly pipe in middle pump water thru it loop the poly pipe throughout your beds holy Hanna I could roast a pig in the center of the pile with some tweaking it would work but I got all busted up and that was that lol read up on heating with compost it could work for you bro
I’ve heard of people filling 55 gallon drums with compost and putting them in barns to help knock the edge off the cold.
PuffTheMagic
Super Active Member
Along this line, i've heard of people lining their north facing wall 55 gallon drums of water. Water holds heat amazingly well.
Streetpro09
Tester
What air are they forcing between the two layers. Freezing air from outside or some kind of conditioned air from ???? Keeping temps above freezing and achieving temps to grow successfully and quite a ways apart from each other. Are you going to try and grow and flower plants in winter or just trying to keep genetics alive thru the winter? I'm curious to see how it works out for you. Please keep us updated.
Streetpro09
Tester
How would you replenish the heat once it's depleted from the water?
Fiddler's Green
Just a regular vato
From what I've seen is the drums are painted black and get reheated the next time the sun is shining.
PuffTheMagic
Super Active Member
Solar, geothermal, space heater... The real benefit of the water is that is takes a huge amount of energy to change state so if you get some sub-freezing temps it provides quite a buffer.