How do I keep my mini greenhouse from sweating in cold weather

[Shoelace]

so this morning we awakened to a glorious sight - snow on the ground! About a half inch with temps of about 33 degrees. We waited all winter here in the Willamette valley, Oregon to get snow and now in latter April, it finally arrived.
My 90 dollar mini, walk in greenhouse (6ft x 4ft, 6ft tall) which I've had for 2 weeks started "sweating" like crazy yesterday due to cold temps. Dripping all over electrical stuff which I covered with cardboard.

I'm thinking I should thread a layer of plastic inside, through the roof supports to cover the roof and wonder if that would work. Anybody have experience with this?

I'd post a pic of the greenhouse but our digital camera just went south last week.

My source of heat is one 60 watt light bulb. I won't put a heater in there for 2 reasons. Afraid it might short out from all the moisture, and trying to keep electric bill way down.

[wildeyed]

1. Don't know about the greenhouse part,

but if you are looking for a heat source for seed starting, an old water bed heater works great if you can find one, and they are made to withstand some moisture. I used to seed start in an unheated cellar, and I used the old heater om the lowest setting and then put the plants on top of an old baking rack to keep them from getting too hot.

[Shoelace]

2. I'm starting my seeds indoors

and what's been working really great for me is to put the trays on a shelf, plug in an adjustable reading lamp with about a 60 watt light bulb in it - underneath the plants. Just far enough away to give the right amount of heat.
I'm going to be starting my other seeds later when the weather improves, in the little greenhouse. BTW, Those mini greenhouses are a hoot, I'm loving it!
I found a pic over the internet of a Gardman greenhouse which is pretty much what I bought but mine came with shelves on both sides. Here's the picture:

[wildeyed]

3. So cute!

I could put one of those up over an entire raised garden bed in the fall and grow salad greens all winter long! How much? Do the last? I have a mini-green house tent that I use for hardening off in the spring. It works well, but over time, the zipper around the door is getting sticky.

[Shoelace]

4. yes, I love it!

and I paid 90 bucks for it but it's not a "Gardman" mini greenhouse. It's a copy but like I said, I don't think the Gardman ones come with shelves. Easy enough to get shelves in there. This was bought at a locally owned chain store in Oregon but if you google "Gardman mini greenhouse" you'll find where you can buy them. I think I remember them being around the same price as mine.

You could take a bar of soap, rub it on the zipper of your tent thingy, that has worked for me in the past on sticky zippers, drawers and windows that don't want to work.

I'm hoping to do the same thing - grow greens in the winter or at least, well after the summer season is over. And without all the bugs to eat them too!
I'm thinking of heating the thing with a small compost heap in a plastic bucket. Dunno if that will work but sure am going to try it.

[wildeyed]

5. This one pops up by itself.

http://www.4seasongreenhouse.com/flowerhouse-clear-springhouse-greenhouse-p-378.html

I could grow salad greens in the 3'x6' raised bed and still have room for seed starting if I used my heat pads. Hmmmmm...... Maybe I can talk my husband into it as a b-day present.

I am concerned that I won't be able to get temps high enough in an unheated greenhouse to start hot weather plants in March, especially eggplant and peppers.

[Shoelace]

6. that's a nice one and there's another one for you

but the one I bought has webbing to strengthen the platic and it's got some sort of greenish tint to it so that the sun's rays do come through but are sort of filtered. Heh, to tell you the truth, we haven't had enough sun in OR. recently to really tell but what little we have had, I like that it is filtered.
Still, that one on your website looks alot larger and it sure is nice looking.
I wonder if it comes with a shade cloth of some sort?

Hey I just found one you might like on Amazon! This one comes with shelves on both sides and is right around $138. The reviews sound good too. Take a looksee.

http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Starter-Greenhouse/dp/B0009J5GEM/ref=pd_sim_dbs_hi_title_3/105-2094043-7951657

[wildeyed]

7. Might be too small.

Most of my beds are 6x3. The 6x6 size, I could fit the bed and still have some room for seed starting. Oh well, won't be needing it till October, so I have plenty of time to mull the choices over :)

[Shoelace]

8. ah yes, I see your point

so that one would be perfect for you. At my link in the other post, they do sell greenhouse covers though. Not knowing where you live, if you are in an area that receives alot of sun, that would be a good investment though a sheet might do too. Just a thought. I'd bet without a cover of some sort in full sun, it would get way too hot in either of them.
Ours is pretty much under some shade most of the day but I'm still going to watch the temps. Again, that's if the sun ever decides to shine again in rainy Oregon!lol.