I've used one. The plants will still need to be hardened off before you put them in there, unless you're starting them in it - i wouldn't put anything out for a few weeks yet. You could try a light, but you could also cover the whole thing with a large tarp or blanket on those cold nights. And don't forget to open the zipper during the day - otherwise, fried plants! :(

Yes, I've used those mini-greenhouses outside! They work great for winter-sowing, if that's what you were thinking of doing right now.

For anything else I would definately wait a few weeks at least. Just be prepared to open the flaps alot if its in the direct sun because the heat builds up really fast in there. I've got mine facing east and even then the heat builds up amazingly fast.

I wasn't planning on winter-sowing with this little greenhouse. But that is an idea for next year. I want to put my indoor plants outside. I've ran out of room in the house and would like to put some outside maybe by the middle of April. Depending on the weather of course. I couldn't even put it outside yet because a big snow bank is in the way. This last week we finally have had some melting. My 5 ft banks have shrunk to half of their size. Spring is finally on the way for me. The winter has been way too long.

This is my 2nd year sowing from seed and DH just set up the 4-shelf little mini-greenhouse I got on sale last fall, so it's my first year working with it. I had some of my larger seedlings out there today with the flap wide open. So do I understand I should be waiting? I thought this would help to harden off these guys. I'll do some more searching here on that process but if anyone wants to give me quick tips, I'll take them. I've got a million seedlings of thyme going for a friend and I and they are starting to look spindly. Any ideas?

Kate (glad to be back)

I've been putting my tougher plants out in this mini greenhouse all week and have been bringing them in the house for the night. I ran out of room in the house. I leave only one side of the zippered door open. It's been working pretty good.

I have been using my mini greenhouse for two seasons with mixed results. Last year my marigolds and zinnias were stunted and barely grew while in the greenhouse. At the end of May they were still puny and only starting to get a few true leaves. I think they didnÂt like the wide temperature fluctuations in the greenhouse between night and day or even between when it was sunny out and cloudy out (the mini greenhouse cools off pretty quick if it clouds up outside but maybe I was just using it too early in the season.) The other plants, begonias, geraniums, impatiens, wave petunias did pretty good. I even had a hibiscus that I was trying to acclimatize to outdoors for the summer.

Depending on the weather forecast and the type of plants, I either bring the plants indoors for the night, leave them in the mini greenhouse, or leave them in the mini greenhouse and cover with a wool blanket to preserve heat. I think a lot of my plants were confused, however, as it was often warmer in the house at night then it was outdoors during the day.

I have yet to set up my greenhouse this year. I only started putting plants outside for the day late last week and itÂs been so nice that most of them have stayed outdoors on the deck at night. Newly emerged seedlings, however, I do take inside as I am worried about them getting too cool and damping off.

My greenhouse is a bit different, it's sort of cold frame shaped and the plastic doesn't go all the way to the bottom, which I assume is done purposely for ventilation. It could be 5C outdoors but in the sun the interior of the greenhouse is about 17C. It's in part sun so later in the day the plants are essentially in shade. That's only because that's the only spot I could think to put it.

Glen