Any of you struggle with successfully being able to fully use your greenhouse?

[Guest]

My husband built me a wood and Polycarbonate panel green house…it’s either too cold or too hot to grow anything in there..the only thing it’s good for is starting seeds,,there is a automatic window and 2 fans above, one brings air in and the other takes air out. I’m considering taking the polycarbonate panels off the side and convert it into a high tunnel…

• Any of you struggle with successfully being able to fully use your greenhouse?
• Is there anything else I can do to keep it cool enough in there in the summer months?
• I will buy a shade cloth for it, never used one, will it really make a difference in there?

Thanks for any thoughts…

[Marlene]

My original greenhouse was rigid poly all over...way too hot in there even here in zone 4b. The wind destroyed that one. My new one has a steel roof which gives shade and two windows, one at each end up at the peak that I can open to let heat out. It makes a big difference having that bit of shade.

[Karen]

Our community garden has one like that. I use a sheet and clothespins as a shade cloth over half of the roof.

[Darren]

I look at the problem from another perspective I need the light for my plants, so I change the air in my greenhouse quickly by using a high cfm fan pulling air out of the space as quickly as possible. You might consider using both your fans to pull air out and add several vents to pull cool air in, it works for me in zone 7 all summer.

[Renee]

I use a heating in mine from April until it warms up at the end of May, to get my plants started, and then my I put my 70% shade cloth up on the roof for the summer. It makes a huge difference. Also, propping open the door, running the exhaust fan, and an oscillating fan helps to. Now it stays cool enough to and work in it during the heat if the day.

[Jeanna]

I am in Michigan and use mine year round. Heat in winter to have peppers, herbs, houseplants and plants for summer. I start plants and flowers for garden. And summer when hot my cacti and succulents love it. I have screen door and couple box fans.