What to plant in a polytunnel?
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2024
- For more on growing in a polytunnel check out my book, there's a web based version freely available online, just click here: gardening-ebook.info
The chapter on growing under cover is here too: www.notion.so/Growing-under-c...
If you have questions, we have a FAQ document and video, which you can find here: steves.seasidelife.com/2020/0...
In this video I go through the allotment year from the perspective of the polytunnel. I explain some of the key transitions and how to take best advantage of the space you have. Key to my approach is the use of layers of vertical space and using lots of containers for getting an early start and keeping harvests going late into the season. I also use large raised beds to provide more stable access to water and fertiliser.
In summary:
- Winter: leafy brassicas, celery and salads. Over wintering flowering brassicas, carrots, peas
- Spring: early everything -- potatoes, courgettes, tomatoes, cucumbers, flowering brassicas, radish, seedlings, salads, celery, strawberries, peas, beans, beets, green garlic and carrots. Note a lot of the early stuff is grown in pots and will be discarded or moved outside by summer
- Summer: main crop peppers, tomatoes, ginger, chillies, cucumber, cucamelon, seedlings for planting in October
- Autumn: late beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, leafy brassica greens for winter, over-wintering brassicas for spring, winter salads, spring onions, green garlic
If you are new to my allotment videos you might find a bit of context useful. We live in the north west of England, in Lytham St Annes, which I believe is the equivalent of USA Zone 8.
We have three allotments in my family, mine (Steve), my wife's (Debbie) and my middle daughter's (Jennie). We also have a small kitchen garden at home. They are all managed in an integrated fashion, so don't expect to see the usual mix of veg on each plot. I do most of the planning and seed starting. We each have our own plots, but we all help each other out.
Jennie's plot has been designed as a traditional allotment, but we put a lot of focus on minimising the work we do there. It's basically a plant and forget it plot, full of garlic, leeks, onions, potatoes, brassicas, squash, beans and fruit trees. It's heavily mulched to reduce weeds and easy to water.
Debbie's plot is mostly full of perennials, it's a garden plot. Again we did a lot of work to keep the weeds down and Debbie's approach is inspired by the TV programme The Ornamental Kitchen garden.
My plot is all about experimental growing, maxium productivity and year round abundance. As with all of the other plots I did a lot of work to control the weeds, but it's a high maintenance plot. I'm always planting, harvesting, experimenting and generally having a great time.
Collectively the plots deliver an amazing abundance of fruit and veg all year round. Debbie, Jennie and I are effectively self sufficient in veg all year round and in fruit for much of the year. During winter we have enough surplus to feed a few more of our friends and during the rest of the year we feed up to 22 people.
This video provides an overview:
• The big picture of our...
I do an update of the allotments, roughly twice a month, you can find the tours here:
• Full allotment tour as...
Our approach to allotment life is to: grow as much as we possibly can, to be self-sufficient in veg all year round and in fruit in season, to give away our huge surplus to friends and family, and to have as much fun as possible. For more on self sufficiency check out these videos:
• Super quick update on ...
Debbie and I spend about 4 hours a day, 4 days a week on the plots (on average) and we keep nudging that down as we eliminate non-productive work: like grass cutting, weeding and watering as much as practical. We are both newbie gardeners, only starting the allotments in 2016.
I'm a bit obsessive about the nutrient density of the veg that we grow and making the plots easy to work because it's through this allotment lifestyle and food that I've overcome a debilitating auto-immune disease.
I'm always aware though that it might not last so I make sure that I don't work too hard, eat as much organic fruit and veg I can and design the plots so that I can still work them if I flare up again.
Thank you so much for sharing! I am gaining confidence as a gardener, as I listen to your advice. I can hardly wait to start my garden.
it must be very exciting, I clearly remember the first time I saw my plot, a but of weedy scrub land and saw the potential! : All the best - Steve
Just been binge watching or should I say listening to your posts while I hang wallpaper. Now I just need to go back and like the ones I’ve listened too. Love your videos.
Woooow great video Steve. Your polytunnel looks amazing and very productive 👍🏻 Happy gardening 😀
Hi sudha, thanks for the feedback! : All the best - Steve
awesome information and advice on how you use your poly-tunnel all year round !!
Excellent video! Extremely informative and helpful!
Just ordered mine and can’t wait to get it all set up.
Thanks, you might like this chapter of my ebook: steverichards.notion.site/Polytunnel-Design-and-Growing-Guide-e260fa0b71bd4dea9a9003c74bdb9ce7?pvs=4 with more videos and lots more : All the best - Steve
You've gained a subscriber. My wife and I are in our first full season of having an allotment and recently erected a polytunnel. We thought it would be useful for cucumber and tomato, you've inspired me now!
Thanks, it's amazing! : All the best - Steve
Nice update Steve,
I might try over wintering calabrese and celery in the greenhouse.
All the best
Mike👍
Celery works great! I've just planted a row this week, that we will harvest continuously until about May. Calabrese works well in pots too, provided you don't mind slightly smaller heads. : All the best - Steve
Wow this is so good for getting organized when you have no clue. I wondered how to get the best from the polytunnel. I never thought of pots for carrots and peas etc (permanently in pots)
I'm so pleased it helped Rosi, I hope you learn to love your tunnel as much as I do : All the best - Steve
Hi, Steve, I don't think I can give you any ideas but you certainly have given me lots and inspired me to do better this year with an aim to grow more come autumn and winter months great thanks.
Thanks Den, I hope it goes well for you! : All the best - Steve
great videos thank you ,i just have a small greenhouse atm but looking forward to getting a polytunnel and starting to grow more.
Best of luck! I'd love to hear how you get on : All the best - Steve
Hi Steve, Another great video from yourself, I'm amazed at the size of those potatoes very good, my problem is lack of sunshine and light in my greenhouse from end of October right through to early/mid February which inhibits growth and I don't have enough room in our flat to get biggish things growing in the warmth, Thank you for sharing and Take care.
I start my potatoes under a table, makes a very big difference in time, we will have to see what the harvest is like : all the best - Steve
Brilliant information there Steve thank you. I now have to watch it all over again slower, and taking notes lol. Thank you again..
Thanks Sharon : All the best - Steve
Love your polytunnel set up.
Thanks Susie! : All the best - Steve
Just starting out and wow what a ton of info. Thank you!
lots more here steverichards.notion.site/Polytunnel-Design-and-Growing-Guide-e260fa0b71bd4dea9a9003c74bdb9ce7?pvs=4 : All the best - Steve
New subbie ere. Great channel. I was reading the bio and it's funny cos I have a neuro condition caused by my auto immune condition. I'm the same in that I hope the good days last. My husband has a plot, we grow salads , squash, fruit and pot everything up there. He has cold frames and tunnels etc. On my plot I grow all the onions, brassicas, fruit, spuds etc. We love it. X
That is quite simillar to our setup, now if you have a daughter you just need to get her to take on a plot too and we will be twinned : All the best - Steve
Steve's Seaside Allotment 😂 she's too lazy for that 😂😂
Excellent video, thank you.
Hi Steve great video, I’ve got a mini plot 27/5 feet divided into 6 beds , also use of a poly tunnel nand 10/8 greenhouse. It’s communal with ten plot holders but no one seems to do much in winter . So I’ve got some early potatoes 4 pots and some in the border, they were planted early feb and are coming thru nicely I’ve got them fleeced just in case of frost. The whole tunnel is really dry due to lack of use so I’ve tried to re hydrate it with two full butts a four dust bins of rainwater a few week ago so hopefully it won’t need as much water this season. My goal this year is to get it half has good as yours!!!!
Hi Keith, I'm pleased to have helped a little with your goal. You might also like my video on winter growing ua-cam.com/video/ch0yu0oSNOE/v-deo.html
I am inspired, thank you, Steve. We have a car port next to our garage, with a corrugated roof and three open sides. The garage wall is east facing. Within the next few weeks it will be a poly tunnel. Not ideal, I guess, but hoping it works for me.
Sounds great, plants don't need ideal! : All the best - Steve
Great video and thank you for sharing!🤗🤗
Champion video that Steve!! You've given me plenty of ideas here but I don't have anything in return, sorry!
no problem Mick, pleased to help : All the best - Steve
Thank you for a brilliant run down of your growing year. Fabulous information and you have really healthy plants but this beginner feels daunted now!! Will check out the gardening e-book. 🙂
The beauty of gardening is it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. It’s useful to remember that I spend about 10 hours a week gardening, it’s a big commitment : all the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards Thank you Steve - we are retired, so plenty of time to spare. Just hoping for some sunshine this year as we hope to off-set some of our food costs - eventually!!
Well there’s plenty of opportunity to save money, especially if you grow for friends and family too. I generally try to harvest £40/m2/year and harvest value is about 8 times my costs excluding labour : all the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards That's incredible - well done. Something to work towards.
Hi Steve thanks for the info. Looking good.
Thanks for the feedback Jerry : All the best - Steve
Very good strategy discussion!! Thank you.
Thanks Linda : All the best - Steve
Hi Steve thanks for the video. What is the depth of the soil in your beds?
Fantastic information! Thank you!!
You might like the chapter of my eBook on polytunnel growing www.notion.so/Polytunnel-growing-e260fa0b71bd4dea9a9003c74bdb9ce7
Brilliant video, thank you. How did you secure the wood underneath your trestle staging please and was it easy to build your trestle panels? I have metal staging and just need to build the panels/wood staging.
Hi Vicky, the trestle tables were very easy, just screwed the tile battens to cross pieces. I had metal legs that I fastened to my raised beds with pipe clips www.firsttunnels.co.uk/spare-accessoriesDetail/staging-supports-for-polytunnels. I then cut short lengths of 6 by 1 inch planks and fastened them to the top of the legs with these www.firsttunnels.co.uk/spare-accessoriesDetail/intermediate-clamps. I then rested the trestle panels on the planks. This way it’s easy to remove the trestles as they just rest on the planks, the trestle Cross pieces rest up against the plank edges so they don’t move. Hope you can follow that! : all the best - Steve
Steve, I can't thank you enough for this video. I'm only in my second year of growing vegetables, I've put in a 24ft x 14ft polytunnel into my garden, and this has helped me plan the seasons for the year, invaluable. I'm trialling melons, figs and other fruits in the centre in addition to the items you have listed. I'm so excited with this venture. I want to be as self sufficient as possible. I wonder, you seem to harvest a lot in one go in plastic containers, what do you do with that? Doesn't it go off, or are you selling the excess?
Hi Tracey, thanks for the feedback, I'm doing all of my melons in coldframes this year as I find it gets too hot in the polytunnel, even with the double doors open at each end. Have you found my ebook yet? It has loads more on polytunnel related stuff, including more planting ideas etc here's the book: steverichards.notion.site/Outgrow-6f57489ae10a4721b48b421826203814 here's the chapter on polytunnel growing: steverichards.notion.site/Polytunnel-greenhouse-growing-e260fa0b71bd4dea9a9003c74bdb9ce7 and here's the chapter on harvesting that explains how and why we do it that way: steverichards.notion.site/Harvesting-4d6644fef5ab4b8f89cb722f50dbaedb it doesn't go off, it's beautiful and fresh, even after 7 days!! : All the best - Steve
Hi Steve thanks for the fantastic informative video. I'm impressed by the variety and quantity you grow in your tunnel. I am planning to embark on such a project soon and wanted to ask you:
1) approx how much time do you spend total on the allotment (do you work around a day job?)
2) approx how much of your groceries are you self-sufficient in?
Thanks again for the helpful videos!
As it happens I can answer these questions exactly, because I recently started to track the time I spend there: I average 2.3 hours a day at the moment, although it's not evenly distributed. About 5 of those hours are spent harvesting each week. I'm retired, but I have a lot of other things to do! We are self-sufficient in all vegetables for the whole year and all fruit that's in season, we get probably 1/3 of our fruit through the whole year, we also make all of our own jam, pickles, sauces, cordials and many other preserves as well as dehydrating lots of fruit which we eat all year round. We have sufficient surplus to feed between 6 and 20 other people depending on the time of year, although we can't get them self-sufficient. It has however taken me 3 years to get to this point, it took a bit more effort at the beginning when I was doing all of the construction. My wife does all of the preserves, grows all of the herbs and helps with the harvest and other jobs too, that's not included in the total. Our total growing area is about 250sq metres. We harvest 10,000 meals a year, valued at about £10,000 : All the best - Steve
Top man, really helpful to a novice like me.
Thanks Graham, a polytunnel is such an invaluable resource! : All the best - Steve
Thanks for an interesting video would be interested to know how you acquired such an in depth knowledge of veg varieties
Lots of reading around, but I'm consolidating all of that knowledge into the database that I share with everyone on the web : All the best - Steve
I find it amazing how even just using a poly tunnel in in colder climates will allow growing crops year round. Even in harsher climates.
yes, no problem and add a layer of fleece and it's even better. Many of our best crops do well outside: corn salad, spring onions, field beans, leeks, miners lettuce, all of the brassicas. : All the best - Steve
U can’t grow tomatoes, peppers eggplants or cucumbers, once temps dropped to below freezing for 24 hrs
Those are gone
Unless u do energy heating
Great video
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful tips! It was very informative and your poly tunnel looks so tidy! May i ask how big is the poly tunnel and where did you get this from? All the best!
First tunnels and it's 20 by 10 feet. A tidy allotment is an easy allotment to manage, definitely cuts my work in half : All the best - Steve
Really enjoyed
Thanks for the feedback Sean! Next week we clear the polytunnel and replant for winter! : All the best - Steve
Hi Steve great video! Just wondering about the end, is the veg in the tubs portioned out ready for meals?
We always pack into those containers as they keep the fruit and veg really fresh. They are conveniently sized for meals too. I eat a whole smoothie mix and full salad mix container a day. Debbie and I share a brassica mix container a day. In summer the mixes become whole meals, when I can add cucamelons, cucumber, tomatoes, baby carrots etc to the salad mixes : All the best - Steve
Good video . I have a couple of questions. I take on a large polytunnel in April which I have been clearing.
1 there is a massive lavender plants inside . Is there any benefit in the tunnel.
2 mice - we are next for a field and nice are farting around the tunnel whilst clearing. Any tips for clearing / retiring mice.
3 my beds are full of straw and fir cones and extremely dry soil . Is it best to remove straw and start with fresh compost
I’d get rid of the lavender myself, grows fine outside. I don’t have a huge mice problem, but I’m afraid to say that I trap mine with dry cat food and Wilko traps. I’d put all the straw in my compost bin and start again this late, because there’s not enough time for it to all rot down.
Hi Steve, this is such a great video it just shows what you can grow in a tunnel. Can I ask what width is your tunnel?
Thanks for the feedback Karin, It's 20' long and 10' wide. You might find a few others of interest in my polytunnel playlist ua-cam.com/play/PLFhKoRR-NiCJzls-aczdXvzSM2C8Q8TvD.html : All the best - Steve
Great to watch. Could you mention your polytunnel dimensions, and which way it faces also any critical points for a. Newcomer
Hi Mike, the tunnel runs from east to west and it's 10*20' you might like to watch some of my other polytunnel related videos, which you can find in these playlists ua-cam.com/play/PLFhKoRR-NiCKtxqWuvikOnCI3SE91rBiU.html and ua-cam.com/play/PLFhKoRR-NiCJzls-aczdXvzSM2C8Q8TvD.html : All the best - Steve
Hi Steve. Just binge watching your polytunnel videos as i have just put up a 3mx2m polytunnel. Great channel and content. Im curious about the variety of potatoes you use to grow through winter. Also do you use your own seed potatoes or do you use a specialist grower? Cheers.
As it happens I just made a video ua-cam.com/video/33bCBFILcv8/v-deo.html I save my own Charlotte, because I grow a late batch, the rest I buy, normally from www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/seed-potatoes-cid402.html : All the best - Steve
Look nice thanks
Great Video! Great inspiration. BTW, We can overwinter cucumbers??
not to my knowledge, you could possibly keep them going until the end of the year if you have somewhere warm for them : All the best - Steve
Steve this video has really helped me get my head around the Polytunnel and how to use it. I am still waiting for my hubby to help me assemble mine. I have so many seeds growing in my house I am desperate now. Do you mind me asking where you got the tressel tables ? Or did you make them. I am wondering if I can make something similar to keep the cost down.. Thanks..
Hi Sharon, I was in the same position last year when I got mine, although we just put the cover on mine a year ago yesterday. I was so relieved to have somewhere for all those seedlings!! I made the tressel tables from tile battens, which you can get from any timber supplier, look back at my polytunnel videos for more : All the best - Steve
Great Video. What are the dimensions of your beds and how much at the end is left for pots?
Hi Jason, There's a big 3.5' bed and a small 2.5' bed under the trestle table. That leaves a 4' path down the middle that's often full of containers, which are constantly moving in and out of the tunnel depending on the time of year. : All the best - Steve
Peace! Appreciate all the informative videos. I'm planning on planting tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in the polytunnel here in London, end of September. (Salads will be in there also) Any tips or suggestions?
Don't bother with tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, there's just not enough light, even if you could heat it above 10c at night, which would cost a fortune. Salads, spinach, salad onions, will be good though! : All the best - Steve
This is really useful. Thanks. But what do you do with it all? Do you feed the whole street?
Hi Trevor, It depends very much on the time of year. In mid winter we just manage to feed our immediate family, in summer (when our back garden comes online) we feed all local family and a few friends and neighbours. Feeding so many means we are able to ensure that we always have enough for ourselves despite crop failures and 'hungry gaps' and is a big part of our attempt to be net zero carbon : All the best - Steve
Great video, thank you. We are just installing our first polytunnel so very helpful. Can I ask where do you get your strawberry hanging pots from please?
You might find the chapter of my book on polytunnel growing useful, loads more videos, free to read here: steverichards.notion.site/Polytunnel-greenhouse-growing-e260fa0b71bd4dea9a9003c74bdb9ce7 and the you should be able to find the strawberry pots in polytunnel section of my Amazon store www.amazon.co.uk/shop/stevesseasidekitchengardenallotment?listId=16CYF7ZZOW4D7 : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards great, thank you
I have subscribed to you channel for some time now, but have missed this video for some reason
Really nice video
Would love to have a quality tunnel, like yours
It took me a while to invest it, but it’s been great, took me 3 months for the profit from the allotments to pay for it. : all the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards thanks for reply
Guess, I need to think of more things I can sell from my gardening
To get my savings started to get something like this as the normal polytunnel on market is not strong at all
We can't sell our produce, my 'profit' comes from savings off the family food bill : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards true true
With all that veg, definitely cut down shopping bill, indeed
It sure does, we each eat 2 meals and 1 snack from the allotment every day and in summer that rises to 3 meals and 2 snacks : All the best - Steve
Hi Steve what is the orientation of this polytunnel as I am thinking of a 15 X10 for my garden does it really matter ? My house front faces east and back faces west I could go 20 X 10 if I placed it north and south 6 ft away from the party fence so possible shade on the east facing or side personally I favour east West to allow some well placed raised beds great channel love it 👍
Mine is east west and with doors at both ends I normally get a nice breeze blowing through it where I live. I can control the breeze by changing the spacing of the doors, right down to 1" : All the best - Steve
Thank you a great vlog xx
Hi Steve, new to poly tunnel growing. How do you start your beds? We have taken over raised beds left redundant and unattended for several years full of weeds. these have been treated by a Roundup type product. Would you replace all compost? Or start again with a layer of plastic on top and then fresh compost? What would you recommend?
I wouldn't grow anything in a bed with roundup for at least 3 months and I would remove the compost myself. I'd refill with well rotted horse manure (ideally bedded on straw) and top it off with 2" of mushroom compost, or another commercial compost mix. The reason for the 2" of topping is that some composted horse manure tends to be a bit weedy, whereas mushroom compost is normally steam sterilised, so no weed seeds to germinate : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards Many thanks Steve, much appreciated. ps Love the videos, they are really helpful.
Can you advise on the size of pots for the various vegetables that are grown this way thanks Alan
I go for 50 litres for beans, courgettes, squash etc, 30-35 litres for carrots : All the best - Steve
I'm new to polytunnel growing so are the seeds you use for your late and over winter crops the same as the spring seeds
There's some overlap, but not generally. For what I sow each month (videos and database list) see the reference information section of my ebook: steverichards.notion.site/Reference-information-eb1f6a760b9c4b5d8e9683502dfec7d0
I am new to vegetable growing. I have only planted some herbs and some garlic in pots so far but I am seriouly thinking about buying a polytunnel 10x20ft. I am so looking forward to growing a lot of vegetables next season but at the same time I am thinking what if I get bored and then I am stuck with polytunnel in my garden. I still want I think because I am keen to grow vegetables and have to rely on the supermarkets all the time.
I bought my polytunnel in my third year. I think it's best to learn how to garden and then gradually add extra complexity. We managed to be self-sufficient from the garden all summer without a tunnel. This video might help ua-cam.com/video/VX9tC19IaEI/v-deo.html : All the best - Steve
Hi Steve I've been really inspired by you since stumbling upon one of your videos in Feb. How much do you water the veg in the tunnel over the winter? Also will anything grow well over the winter with very low light levels (no direct sun)? Finally, I had grey mold problems in my first year. I've taken great pains with ventilation this season but is this something you have to manage? Thanks so much
Hi Jill, thanks for the lovely feedback! I water about once every two weeks from November to mid December and then not at all until some time in February. Not much will grow with zero direct sun, but kale will grow with a very little sun in autumn and then stay static and healthy (but not grow) over winter. What is the grey mould growing on? I have a little issue on some lettuce stems, but I also have a little mildew on carrots and red lettuces, so far it's been fairly manageable : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards thanks so much for replying. The mold typically grows on pea leaves as well as pea and tomato flowers but will if left unchecked move to the tomato foliage and fruit. Hopefully my good start this year will keep on top of it! Cheers
Ah, well I never grow peas in the polytunnel as they are a cold weather crop. I've tried starting them in containers and moving them outside in April, but even then the ones in the cooler cold-frames did better. If you want an early crop have you tried starting them inside and then moving them outside wrapped in fleece? : All the best - Steve
Does the fleece protect from cold better than another layer of clear plastic ?
Also does it allow more sunlight to go throw ?
Hi Michael, I only put the fleece down at night, so light transmission isn't an issue, ref plastic vs fleece, I think plastic is slightly less warm but has better light transmission. Fleece has the advantage that it's light weight, breathes and that it folds up really small : All the best - Steve
Steve this is my first year growing so really loving your videos I don’t think I will get to your stage but is there a difference in seeds for winter and spring sowing or is it same seeds just planted at different times today 28/2/2022 I have set some seeds away peas sprouts turnip will these be ok I’ve got them in my house for now
Hi Micky, that's probably what I would have said 5 years ago when I was in my first year of growing ;-) you can often use the same seeds, but different varieties are suited to different times of year, see the growing guides section of my ebook for all the details steverichards.notion.site/Gardening-eBook-info-6f57489ae10a4721b48b421826203814 : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards thank you Steve
What varieties of lettuce did you overwinter ? Thank you. Love the videos
Hi Jamie, see the chapter of my book on lettuce steverichards.notion.site/How-to-Grow-Lettuce-ffcf66f9d4aa4615bd1c55a60e56dd34 the winter successions section, or the list of recommended varieties : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards thank you Steve!
Hello. Great video thanks. Think I’ll have to watch it 10 times to remember all the tips. My question is I see that you had tomato I see you had carrots in pots how will you transplant them out into the garden. Thanks again
Sorry I see I made a mistake my question was how do you transplant carrots thank you
I won't, they will grow to maturity in the containers, see yesterday's video ua-cam.com/video/TO9hKMgSzzc/v-deo.html : All the best - Steve
What size container are you using for the peas & beans - 30 litre?
Thanks
35 litre, but smaller would probably be fine, that’s just all I had available at the time
@@SteveRichards OK thanks.
I've lots of the Oakland 30 litre ones I use for potatoes, so I'll give them a try this year & go bigger if needed.
Hi Steve loving your videos. I just had a quick question about water butt's. I have 2, which I inherited without covers. I notice that recently they are getting algae, is this a problem, if so what's best way to get rid of it and best temp cover? I noticed you used plywood on one of yours? Thanks
Hi Frances, yes, water (any water, but especially rain water) plus light will result in algae, so you do need to cover them, I use OSB or Ply, but you need a waterproof type, you can also use an inverted dustbin lid and drill holes in it : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards thanks Steve, not sure what OSB is, any ideas best place to source the material Locally? I had one other question re over wintering. I don't have a greenhouse, or any cloches. I have raised beds. If you were in my shoes and you wanted to purchase something economical to get started eg seedlings, growing under cover, what and where would you purchase things? I see those see through plastic green houses but they seem unlikely to stand up to the strong winds. I was thinking of using plastic hoops and some good poly. Any ideas would be really helpful. I'd like to get more lettuce going I have some growing, but I think it's just too cold now.
OSB en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriented_strand_board
I'd build cold-frame top and pop it on top of one of your raised beds, or standalone. ua-cam.com/video/3AWBCUG6XFk/v-deo.html We buy all of our wood from St Annes Times, they cut to size etc : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards thanks Steve, helpful as always, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge, and I hope as I ask some basic questions that it can help others getting started too! The resources you share are great as well. Ps did you mean St Anne's timber, not times?
Where did you purchase the polytunnel from thanks. And what size is it.
see the FAQ document linked in the description for details John : All the best - Steve
Can you grow broccoli in the polytunnell over the summer or is it too hot for them
Too hot Julie, they might survive but they will crop better outside : All the best - Steve
Newbie on your video. What is your growing temperature zone. Is your zone 8A?
I don’t find the zones work very well, see the introduction of my ebook for details steverichards.notion.site/Introduction-3c5dd567dc0a4bd29a70bcf58230c361
How do you deal with airflow and disease?
What zone are you? I’m 7a US Northeast. Gets cold
Hot hot does it get in summer? My GH is unusable. Well over 100. Can go to 120
Hi Jim, I've covered that in my ebook, in the section on growing under cover steverichards.notion.site/Growing-under-cover-a48de72c83064d07a945eeb111cf7027 and the chapter on polytunnel/greenhouse growing steverichards.notion.site/Polytunnel-greenhouse-growing-e260fa0b71bd4dea9a9003c74bdb9ce7 Out temperatures are not as extreme as yours though : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards thanks Steve I was sure you had this info but figured it easier for you to tell me/ give me the link rather than going through all your videos trying to find the right one.
Here we can get to high 20s in winter and 90s in summer. Tough enough just going into the GH just for a few pots or clippers in summer.
Im enjoying your videos. Great info.
I’ve found a Mylar blanket to really help my tunnel in summer
Thanks for an interesting and informative video. I didn’t realise I could grow carrots, potatoes, peas and celery in my polytunnel over winter. How about onions?
Hi Gareth, salad onions planted in October do well, Japanese onions struggle a little until winter (too warm for them) but then they romp away in spring and you will get them 3 weeks earlier than outside, so we only sow 4 weeks supply : All the best - Steve
Thanks Steve. I’d love to plant something in there now as it’s empty. Maybe carrots, celery and potatoes and any onions that I could plant now.
Hi Gareth, your best bet right now is winter lettuce and spinach, you might be lucky and get carrots to germinate. It's too late for celery now and too cold for potatoes. Lettuce, spinach and onions are much better germinated in the house, then after a week left in modules for about 8 weeks in an unheated polytunnel/greenhouse and then planted out as small plants. However you might not be successful as light levels are very low now, mid-February would be more reliable. See my monthly sowing videos for more info about what I do, how I do it and why : All the best - Steve
Thanks Steve, will do.
Your videos are very informative but I can't spot anywhere you say what size the poly tunnel is. I am just considering a purchase so it would be a useful comparison
Thanks, Brian
Hi Brian, see the FAQ document linked in every video description : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards I tried the link but couldn't see the info
Here's the section from the FAQ document "How big is you polytunnel?
It’s 20 ft by 10 ft and we bought it from First Tunnels, this is the biggest tunnel that would fit on my plot. I really do recommend getting a big tunnel, the small extra cost is really worth it!"
Thanks, i found it eventually. My plot is sloping and so need to find out what is acceptable.
Brilliant!
Is your poly tunnel heated at all?
Hi Jim, I cover this in the answer to your other question : All the best - Steve
Don't know how u manage to grow so much looks amazing though
Hi Mark, I'm doing a video on that soon, but it's simple really, I harvest a lot and the plants respond : All the best - Steve
Wish i had the time and space to grow as much.
the most prolific winter veg doesn't take up that much space or time Mark. Kalattes, field beans, spinach, kale etc
Might have to give them a try
What zone are you in Steve ???
Hi, it's in the description of the video. We live in the north west of England, in Lytham St Annes, which I believe is the equivalent of USA Zone 8.
What size is your polytunnel?
Hi Sandra, the tunnel runs from east to west and it's 10*20' you might like to watch some of my other polytunnel related videos, which you can find in these playlists ua-cam.com/play/PLFhKoRR-NiCKtxqWuvikOnCI3SE91rBiU.html and ua-cam.com/play/PLFhKoRR-NiCJzls-aczdXvzSM2C8Q8TvD.html : All the best - Steve
Are the hoops PVC or aluminum?
35mm High Tensile Steel, essential in a windy seaside location : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards Where do you buy them from? Awesome polytunnel btw
@@JNYC-gb1pp See the FAQ document, linked in the description
It's been a pretty mild winter really, how do you get on with winter cropping when things are a bit colder?
Basically the same, we just use the fleece in the polytunnel a little more often, so that we can still harvest on frosty days. Everything we grow in winter can stand a frost, except the peppers/tomatoes that we have in the conservatory at home : All the best - Steve
I don't think you'll get many useful hints or tips in regards to your polytunnel as you're already doing much better with yours than most other people. I hope you get what you're looking for all the same. 👍
It's always worth asking Ron, I don't have much to compare to as almost no one has tunnels on my site and I'm always trying to learn : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards That's pretty much my take on asking too. I'm just having difficulty imagining how your allotment could get much better. 👍
Aren’t ‘winter lettuce’ complete nonsense!? I planted two varieties in October in my polytunnel and they are now (late Feb.) only 3ins tall - at this rate it’ll be July before the bloody things are ready 🥸
Luckily not, we harvest about 20 litres a week for our salads, my December planted lettuce is just ready for harvest and that's not even in a polytunnel, just a little low tunnel. See here for details ua-cam.com/video/sMlKyTgmrpc/v-deo.html : All the best - Steve