My $45 winter cold shelter

[ScottinAtlanta]

I build a cold shelter out of rescued windows and a storm door to overwinter my peppers. Walls are simply two layers of plastic sheeting. Two light bulbs keep the inside temperature about 5 degrees above ambient temperature.

At night, I shovel some embers from my fireplace into a metal pail, and set it inside, where it keeps the internal temp about 10 degrees above ambient temps.

I have a heater inside for temps below 25 degrees.

This will keep about 120 plants in containers alive through the 12 weeks of the Georgia winter.

[clkingtx]

Very nice! What zone are you there in Atlanta?

[ScottinAtlanta]

We are in 7b

[MendozaMark]

Very nice Scott, are you over-wintering your peppers in there ?

[ScottinAtlanta]

Yes, indeed. Now up to about 150 peppers overwintered. I hate to see those folks standing valiantly in the beds, awaiting sure death. I bring in more every year.

[4season]

Do you cover the embers in the pail or leave it open to the air ?

[Salsacharley]

Very cool! What kind of heater did you go with? I've got 5 pepper plants in my garage that I dug up from the garden after your inspiration. I have them under lamps and an incandescent rope light to try to keep them from freezing. It has been in the low teens outside here, and it gets down to around 20F in my garage, so I keep the lights on around the clock. I'd like to find an affordable heater.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Salsacharley

Very cool! What kind of heater did you go with? I've got 5 pepper plants in my garage that I dug up from the garden after your inspiration. I have them under lamps and an incandescent rope light to try to keep them from freezing. It has been in the low teens outside here, and it gets down to around 20F in my garage, so I keep the lights on around the clock. I'd like to find an affordable heater.

Is your garage insulated?

[Salsacharley]

My garage is attached to my house. It is not insulated.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Salsacharley

My garage is attached to my house. It is not insulated.

I dont know if it is rocked in already but mine wasn't.
I insulated the walls and ceiling before I put up the rock.
It made a huge difference.
Something you might consider if you want to keep plants in the garage.
Blow in would work too.

Worth

[ScottinAtlanta]

Originally Posted by 4season

Do you cover the embers in the pail or leave it open to the air ?

Just left it open.

[dirtdobber]

I noticed no one ever answered the heater question. I use a cheapo electric space heater in my non temp controlled shop office. I set it too high once and kept the office at 85* for a couple of days the house plants really liked it.

[ScottinAtlanta]

I just got a cheapo heater with a thermostat.

[greenthumbomaha]

Are those cheapo heaters safe to use outdoors on the ground (possibly wet)?

[dirtdobber]

I would use them out side with a ground fault receptacle as long as the ext. cord is rated for exterior use and tuck it all under the shelter of the hoop house.