If you want to tackle the cultivation of vegetables, exotic fruits, orchids or tropical plants professionally, you will not be able to avoid keeping your greenhouse frost-free over the winter. Which type of heating is most appropriate depends on the rearing goals as well as the financial budget.

There are several ways to keep the greenhouse frost-free in winter

With the right equipment, which should already be considered during construction planning, it is no problem to keep your greenhouse frost-free even in the freezing cold. However, the effort that must be made for this is also at the Frost protection very much depends on the intended use and the planned planting. If only potted plants are to overwinter, an inexpensive cold house that is covered with straw or reed mats in extreme temperatures may be sufficient. However, orchid and young plant breeders are recommended to equip their greenhouse with a separate heat source or to connect it to the heating system installed in the house.

Keeping the greenhouse frost-free with oil, gas, electricity or solar?

Which type of heating is basically chosen depends primarily on the local conditions as far as the central energy supply is concerned, so that usually only a few options come into question for the decision. Your own requirements are also important and not to forget is frost protection for the plants also a financial question. While for some people setting up kerosene lamps or grandma's wood-fired kitchen stove is enough to overwinter their potted plants, vegetable growers may value a 5 kW propane gas-powered greenhouse heater. The most common types of professional heating include:

  • connection to the hot water heating of the house;
  • Oil heating (as an extension of the house heating);
  • Gas heating (propane gas cylinders or separate underground tank);
  • Electric fan heater (small type and useful when a photovoltaic system is already installed in the dwelling);
  • Solar heating (exclusive panels only for frost protection in the greenhouse);
  • kerosene heater (portable unit to keep greenhouse frost free when only short-term heating is required);

Good insulation increases frost protection

In order to get a greenhouse frost-free, the existing insulation should first be put to the test, which often with very simple means and only little financial effort contributes significantly to an increase in the inside temperatures in the greenhouse. If only potted plants are to overwinter under frost protection, it is an advantage if you know the comfortable temperatures of leadwort, hibiscus & co. It may already help to attach a heat-insulating bubble wrap to the outside area.

A convenient and (almost) maintenance-free antifreeze

A greenhouse can be frost-free silently and without exhaust fumes by laying heating cables or electric heating loops in a layer of earth under the plants. The functional principle is similar to underfloor heating in residential buildings, which can be precisely controlled via a temperature controller in order to optimal heat values with minimum energy consumption to guarantee.

tips

When selecting the different types of heating, keep in mind that the use of a specialist company must sometimes be considered. In some cases, the legislator also requires compliance with certain maintenance intervals. And: A building permit may be required if you want to make your greenhouse frost-free, at least for stationary heating systems.

Category:

Garden design