Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Greenhouse Plants From Extreme Cold

With arctic winds in Canada and the US setting record cold temperatures and heavy snows, this is the perfect time to talk about ways to keep your Greenhouse functioning and safe this winter. Whether you are growing in your Greenhouse this winter or shutting down for the season, here are some important steps (provided by industry experts – our clients!) that you can take to protect your Greenhouse from extreme cold/ wind.

Steps to Take if You Are Growing in Your Greenhouse This Winter

If you are GROWING in your greenhouse this winter, these are the steps we recommend you take:

1. Water: 
   • Purge and drain water/ irrigation pipes inside and outside of the Greenhouse.
2. Exhaust fans/intake shutters:
   • Turn off equipment, so they do not open. Turn breaker off and/or update programming.
   • Cover intakes/shutters with poly plastic or suitable hard cover to provide a stronger air seal.
3. Heaters:
   • Test heaters – ensure heaters are working properly.
   • If you have multiple heaters and have them at staggered temperature set-points, test all heaters by turning them off individually and checking operation. Check heaters with higher set-point by turning off lower set points, and vice versa. If using propane, ensure the tanks are full and are periodically inspected so they do not run out. Consider installing a propane level monitor.
4. Circulation Fans:
   • Circulation Fans (or Horizontal Airflow Fans) are important for moving heated air around the Greenhouse.
   • Ensure they are running in the Greenhouse. This will help provide more even distribution of heat in the Greenhouse.
5. Greenhouse Sides:
   • To provide a seal against wind, place gravel or other to bottom of Steel Baseboard to seal the bottom for wind intrusion.
   • Some clients will pile some snow against bottom to provide an additional seal against wind and cold, as the snow provides some insulation properties.
6. Roll-up Sides:
   • Lock down roll-up sides with springs.
   • Install Inflation Kit Jumper Kit for sides to inflate bottoms (for double poly houses).
   • For automated roll-ups, turn off automatic roll-up motors.
7. Double Poly Houses: 
   • Ensure the inflation fan is working and the double poly is inflated. The curved double poly roof helps with shedding snow and preventing snow/ ice build-up between arches on the roof.
   • The air gap between the layers of poly will help the Greenhouse retain heat and will lower your energy costs.

8. Sliding Doors: 
   • In extreme wind areas, some clients will place a poly “wall” over the inside of the sliding doors to provide better seal all around and to minimize heat loss when entering/ exiting the Greenhouse. The door is attached at the top and usually on one side. People enter by pushing the poly aside to enter/ exit the Greenhouse.
9. Steel Man Doors and Roll-up Doors:
   • Seal any small gaps around the door frame with foam tubing or other suitable sealant.
   • Install rubber gasket seal around SMD to provide tighter air seal.
   • Install and repair any edge seals around the rollup door so that there are no gaps when doors are closed.
   • Install door sweep and bottom finish (e.g. concrete) to provide tighter seal on bottom of door.  (You can order these from BW.)
   • Install poly cover over doors if they are not used during the winter to provide a more airtight seal.

Steps to Take if You Are NOT Growing in Your Greenhouse This Winter

We recommend you take these steps if you are NOT growing in your Greenhouse this winter:   

1. Water:

1. • Purge and drain water/ irrigation pipes inside and outside of Greenhouse.

2. Heaters:

1. • Test heaters – ensure heaters are working properly.
   • For non-working Greenhouses, ensure heaters are also set to operate to keep snow off roof (E.g. 2-3 degrees Celsius).

3. Greenhouse Sides:

1. • To provide seal against wind, place gravel or other to bottom of Steel Baseboard to seal the bottom against wind intrusion .

4. Roll-up Sides:

1. • Lock down roll-up sides with springs.
   • Install Inflation Kit Jumper Kit for sides to inflate bottoms (for double poly houses).
   • For automated roll-ups, turn off automatic roll-up motors.

5. Double Poly Houses: 

1. • Ensure the inflation fan is working and the double poly is inflated. The curved double poly roof helps with shedding snow and preventing snow/ ice build-up between arches on the roof.

Of course, this list is not exhaustive.  There are certainly other steps you can and should take to maintain your Greenhouse this winter, whether you are growing in it or not. To discuss other tips, get more information, or to share your own experience, please call us toll free at 1-877-856-1303, or email us at solutions@bw-global.com.

At BW Greenhouse, your success is our number one goal. Our BW Team does NOT work on commission. Their sole objective is to provide you with the best information and service in the industry. We are always happy to help.

Call or email us today!

Call: 1.877.856.1303

Email: solutions@bw-global.com