I’m thinking about getting a small greenhouse. Never used one before. Do these need a heater inside to keep the plants warm in this weather? Live in SE Wisconsin and I would still expect a few frosts between now and June. It can get down in the teens sometimes. Any thoughts?
Hi virgil, you have asked the right person. Welcome to the thread.
I’m in SW Wisconsin and we bought one a number of years back. Unheated. I find it most useful from April through May for growing early spring things, and hardening off veggies that are eventually going into the garden.
Even on a sunny March day - that thing can hit 114 degrees if I don’t open it up!
There is a learning curve for sure, but if you can afford it, I highly recommend having an unheated greenhouse for getting the season started off early and extending the season in the fall. One winter I had cherry tomatoes into December!
There are plenty of books on unheated greenhouses. Elliot Coleman is my favorite author on the subject - he grows year-round in Maine! If he can do it, so can we! :)
In reality, I need to make much better use of what I’ve already got. It’s a 10’ x 8’ set-up with two roof vents and double doors across the front.
https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/greenhouses-and-coldframes/unheated-greenhouse/