Grow Your Own Magazine

Are they worth it? I'm getting to the point where my little greenhouse at home is full along with the window sills in the house and I still have stuff to start off indoors. I've got a greenhouse on my lottie but I won't have time to go down there twice a day to open and close the doors - I can go down inthe evenings to water. I'm concidering gettint two vents one for each side of the greenhouse. Would this keep the temperature down enough or should I just get up earlier and go twice every day?

Same problem as me, just bought myself a max min thermometer and I was hoping it would be warm enough at night to take more seedlings down. I had left the window open because of the daytime temps but its far to cold at night still with the window open, so I will be looking forward to replies to your post.

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Belgrave-allotments.co.uk

I have one on the top window in my 6X6 greenhouse and I find it very good. helps a lot to keep the temparture down. i also have lovre windows in the side but I open them manually, they get the air circulating through. i would say yes they are worth it. Had mine 4 years now you set it to the temprature you want it to open at by just turning the black handle thingy, its easy and it will come with instructions . You must protect it from the cold in winter I just wrap mine in bubble wrap and cardboard, making sure any wet can drain form the bottom and not freeze.
They cost £19.99 from an Argos Extra Store

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Denise xox

Learn from the mistakes of others because you'll never live long enough to make them all yourself.
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Hi Nicky

I just fitted one as its been so hot in there this week and don't always have the time to go down every morning before work.

It seems to work ok so far and was easy to fit (once I had drilled out the old seized bolts on the old closer). It keeps the temperature down well, but I think once summer comes I may need to go and open the door, or fit some side louvres to create some airflow.

My only problem so far is that a bird got in and the window closed down on it, thankfully I managed to get it out. I am thinking of trying to attach some netting on the window to stop this happening again.

Cheers

Splinter

I've got auto openers for a top window in the roof and a louvre in the opposite side. Had them about 8 years and use them every summer. Bit early for me to attach them normally but seeing as it's been so hot recently sorted them last week which meant that by the time I looked in the greenhouse about 11ish today there was a good air flow keeping the temperature down a bit. The bigger concern at the moment is the extent to which the temperature drops at night even after the windows have closed. It's still too cold for some plants (round here anyway) so be careful what you leave out there.

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Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

Both of my greenhouses have them fitted, I wouldn't be without them

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ntg

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Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

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At this time of year the automatic window opener is invaluable and does keep the temperature down to a satisfactory level. In very hot days in summer it's not enough and I do have to open the door. I wouldn't be without them - stopped many a plant from frying.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

I only get up the plot every few days. My greenhouse has an autovent. Marvellous thing once fitted. You can adjust the temp on these so for summer just lower the temp at which it opens to save the heat building up too much. Mine survived last summer ok. I just open the door for extra air when I do get up there. I figure by summer when its hot you've only got the heat lovers in there anyway, everything else has already moved out.

Oh yes, very worthwhile.

Kays is cheaper than Argos though.

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I wouldn't be without them. There's four in the roof of my big 16ft x 8ft greenhouse. On hot days, like now, I'll leave the double doors open, and both of the low-level 'louvre-vents' open too, and it can still reach temperatures to kill a plant.
I don't think that ventilation should be overlooked at all in the health and well-being of plants. Ventilate as much as possible......

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Hmmm... people are talking of air flow. I've got a 6 x 8 green house and it's only got the one window. I was looking on various sites yesterday at vents and stuff but couldn't find anyone selling and extra window so I could have two.
I could find lovres to fit in but they need more expensive opening bits.

If you have problems with 'wildlife' get some metal netting - the sort that the americans use as 'screen doors' and make covers for the vents - it will prevent butterflies, wasps, cars, dogs, foxes and small children! from getting in. That way if you have an auto vent (wonderful thing!) you don't have to worry - also later in the season you can leave the greenhouse door open, but not have all the problems!

As an aside if you are putting in a high level vent, you should consider a low level vent to get air moving across the plants and reduce the risk of still air moulds such as botritis.

£16.99 in Homebase when I was over a few weeks ago. They are invaluable. A low louvre and a top window both open is much better than 2 top windows open - it will be worth the extra expense.

I've been thinking about getting an auto-vent for all the reasons mentioned above - do they all fit any make of greenhouse? I'm liking the sound of the Homebase or Argos one but concerned they might not last very long, or not fir my model?

Anyone know?

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There's vegetable growing in the family, but I must be adopted
Happy Gardening!

Maybe is the answer!

Generally if you have a common make of greenhouse the Agros and Homebase autovents should fit. However you might find that the holes in the greenhouse strut are not correct, at which oint you would have to drill new hole. While awkward, this is not difficult, do remember to use a drill bit appropriate to the job.

..and maybe take the glass out before drilling to be on the safe side. (I'm a coward so did that)

...like a High Speed Steel (HSS) twist drill to drill through the frame (aluminium or wood, makes no difference). And do take the glass out first, it will shatter if you do try and drill it with one of these.

"Agros" - seems a much more appropriate name than "Argos"!

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Tree's Company...

I've got two on my greenhouse roof and could'nt do without them. The sun shines on the greenhouse first thing in the morning and one of them is usually open if i am not up early.
I also have double doors which also help the flow of air.

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And when you're back stops aching,
And you're hands begin to harden.
You will find yourself a partner,
In the glory of the garden.

Rudyard Kipling.

They are fantastic, and well worth the money.

One thing I've noticed with mine is that there is a significant delay in the speed with which they work. On a sunny morning th temperature has reached 25C before mine start to open. During the day they are fully open at anything above 22C, and in the evening, the temperature can be down at 10C before they are fully closed.

Worth keeping an eye on when you try to get the opimum temperature to set them at...

I suppose that would be due to the material in the piston taking time to warm up from cold and then cool down - what is in the pistons, is it oil?

The one I have on my louvre wasn't working properly the other year and I went to buy a new one. Fortunately DIY shop didn't have any in as OH attacked the old one with a can of WD40 and it's been fine ever since so am guessing that you should service them now and again!

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Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

Wax.

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We fitted our second one last night. Fitting the first one caused enough rows that Kofi Annan had to be brought in to mediate. Eventually we got it on and it works beautifully.

You'd think we knew what we were doing fitting the second ! (even Kofi wasn't taking our calls).

I now have a strategically placed wad of bubble wrap stuck to the pane with uv/weather resistant tape to stop it banging against the pane of glass. I fully expect to come home from work tonight finding a million bits of (toughened) glass all over the toms. The weight of the first one seemed to be enough to pull it off the glass. I think the triple spring in the second is that bit stronger that it won't "drop".

I have a well known make of greenhouse (Hall's), and these were a well known brand of auto vents (Bayliss). I shall be writing to both manufacturers and suggesting they talk to each other about getting the damn holes to even vaguely match.

(note to self: must remember to loosen the net shading over the new side to allow for expansion).

I'm sure they are wonderful inventions but they won't get the Nobel Peace prize from me this year.

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