The primary use of a greenhouse is to protect gardens from brutally cold temperatures in the winter. Everything about their design is created to bring heat in, including the way the panels draw in light and how the greenhouse is sealed against external elements.
But it’s also true that many people use their greenhouses to garden year-round, and not just in the cooler months. With that in mind, you might be wondering if greenhouses get too hot in the summer.
The answer isn’t as simple as you’d expect. In this article, we’ll investigate the subject, and briefly explain the intricacies of temperature management in a greenhouse.
Quick Answer: Do Greenhouses Get Too Hot in the Summer?
There isn’t a clear-cut yes or no answer here. The answer is actually it depends.
What does it depend on? Well, it mostly depends on your location. Some areas naturally have hotter summers than others.
If you live in a hot, arid climate, there’s a very real possibility your greenhouse will get too hot in the summer. However, if you live somewhere cooler with less sunlight, it might not get too hot.
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As a general rule of thumb, you can consider 90 degrees as too hot. If your greenhouse regularly reaches this temperature or even higher in the summer, you’ll need to start using cooling methods if you’re going to continue greenhouse gardening all year.
Also Read: Do Greenhouses Keep Bugs Out?
Cooling Your Greenhouse
So what can you do to keep your greenhouse cool during those hot summer months? Fortunately, there are quite a few options available to you, and they aren’t all costly.
Ventilation will be one of your greatest allies when it comes to beating the heat. Vents allow excess hot air to escape from your greenhouse. Many greenhouses even have vents that open automatically when the temperature gets too hot, so you don’t have to stop what you’re doing to run outside and crank open some windows.
Check out: Do Greenhouses Need Direct Sunlight?
Promoting airflow is something else you can do to keep your greenhouse cool. Outdoor fans like this one can keep the air circulating inside. You can even position them in such a way that they take the hot air within and blow it out.
Shade cloths are another method you can use to bring temperatures down. As you might have guessed, they create a small amount of shade inside, preventing all the sunlight from burning your plants to a crisp.
You can also use a strategy called “damping down.” If you have a hard floor or path in your greenhouse, consider spraying a bit of water on it, which will cool the air down as it evaporates. Misting your plants can achieve a similar effect, as plants will naturally cool while the water evaporates from their leaves.
All the aforementioned methods can help. But in some situations, you may still need to consider installing a more comprehensive cooling system in your greenhouse. You can learn a little bit more about greenhouse cooling systems here.
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Wrap Up
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Greenhouses are specifically designed to stay warm during cold periods. However, you can still garden in them all year, provided you take some cooling measures.
With a cooling system, fans, ventilation, and shade cloths, you could be well on your way to greenhouse gardening 365 days a year.
Would you like to find out more about greenhouse gardening in hot climates? Try reading our list of the best greenhouses for Arizona.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
