Author Topic: Best polytunnel heater (Read 2835 times)

suziequeue · « **on:** May 14, 2013, 09:18:05 am »

I am SOOO determined that my cucmbers aren't going to succumb to the cold this year.

We normally have a late frost in May which killed all my tender little cukes last year and we've got snow forecast for this afternoon

So - I am planning to invest in a polytunel heater.

Does anybody have any experience/recommendations?

Rosemary · « **Reply #1 on:** May 14, 2013, 09:22:40 am »

Probably not much help, but we're going to put a couple of hens in ours (in a house) over winter. Apparently the body heat is enough to warm the tunnel.

doganjo · « **Reply #2 on:** May 14, 2013, 12:25:33 pm »

Great idea, would that work with my little placcy greenhouse too?

Marlboro · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2013, 04:55:36 pm »

Hens :roflanim:the little b...s would scratch up everything and eat what they hadn't killed. I spend a lot of time keeping my free range darlings out of both flower and veg beds. Odd bits of plastic and netting everywhere

but they still seem to get in, no wonder they warm it up with all that activity. Hmm perhaps a big cage at one end, I still think they may do more harm than good.

Floyd · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2013, 09:08:25 am »

Word of warning regarding housing chickens inside the polytunnel.

The first year I tried it the covering was heavily scratched and torn probably by a fox knowing the were something inside. This year netted to waist height all round.

As for the heat issue I still found that the water was frozen on the odd occassion. Oh make sure that any overwintering items are well secured!

As for the heater, I have a propane one but due to the large volume required to heat it eats the propane even just on low.

suziequeue · « **Reply #5 on:** May 15, 2013, 09:14:27 am »

Quote

Hens :roflanim:the little b...s would scratch up everything and eat what they hadn't killed. I spend a lot of time keeping my free range darlings out of both flower and veg beds. Odd bits of plastic and netting everywhere but they still seem to get in, no wonder they warm it up with all that activity. Hmm perhaps a big cage at one end, I still think they may do more harm than good.

Yes - it would be a bit impractical with all my tomatoes and other veg planted out.

spandit · « **Reply #6 on:** May 15, 2013, 11:53:29 am »

Could you install a rocket stove mass heater? Not expensive to make and don't need to worry too much about carbon monoxide as it's not going to be inside a house