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Okay okay, so I know summer so far has only been about 2 days long! But when the sun does arrive, things heat up quickly in my Rhino greenhouse! Even without clear blue skies, the temperature can really rise in here. Luckily, Rhinos are well equipped to cope with the fluctuating temperatures and if you follow a few simple rules, you can keep your precious plants happy!
Anything over 27 degrees celcius can potentially risk damage to your plants. When things get too warm for too long, I start to notice things like leaves curling on my tomatoes and sad looking cucumber leaves starting to wilt. Prolonged heat and a dry atmosphere can lead to all sorts of other problems including attracting pests like red spider mite who love it hot and dry.
All year round it's important to think about ventilation. Plants, like us, need fresh air and creating airflow throughout a greenhouse is vital for healthy growth. I like to think about it like simulating a nice breeze, strengthening the plants root systems by creating movement. My greenhouse, a 8 x 12 Rhino Premium, has 3 louvre vents which I open daily during Spring and Summer. I also have automatic openers on my two triple windows and, when things really heat up, I slide open those doors! Keeping a good flow of air through your greenhouse also helps maintain more stable temperatures and humidity levels. Encouraging that fresh air to move through your greenhouse means things like damp and fungal infections, like powdery mildew, are less likely to take hold.
Direct sun can scorch leaves and dry things out really quickly. This is where I couldn't be without my Rhino blinds. I’ve got them on the roof and down one side and they immediately made a difference to the temperature in my greenhouse when they’re down. They really save me worrying about my greenhouse crops in the heat of summer.
We all know plants need watering but come Summer and especially when things warm up in the greenhouse, watering enough and at the right time is crucial. I always water in the mornings and I water deeply, directly to the roots where possible with watering spikes. Always avoid watering the leaves to save any scorching or dampness sitting on them and if you’ve got pots, make sure you have saucers to capture some of the water and keep them topped up. If things get cooking during the day you can also 'damp down' the floor in your greenhouse to add moisture to the air. I simply hose down my greenhouse path or you can even add buckets of water to slowly evaporate during the day.
Now, we just need the sunshine to come back and we can put these tips into practice! Stay cool and happy growing!
Amy Shore - @chicksandveg.
