Polytunnel options for winter and summer vegetables
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- Опубліковано 25 чер 2024
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See my webpage for loads more free advice about what structures are good. www.charlesdowding.co.uk/reso.... Generally there are two seasons. For example my smaller polytunnel 10x15ft crops 40kg winter salad leaves. Then though summer and autumn, an average harvest is16kg tomatoes, 3kg aubergine, 1.5kg peppers, 1kg melons, 1.5kg garlic
Polytunnels are cost effective spaces for long season cropping.
Winter leaves and summer fruiting veg that are hard sometimes to grow outside - tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, basil - even early strawberries.
The space is almost never empty of plants. Such an important asset of the garden.
Soil management is the same as outside but add a third to a half more compost, say 4cm annually
Downside is extra time needed for watering, compared to outdoor beds. We water by hand, I find it more reliable
No need to keep doors closed except in extreme weather.
Filmed by Edward Dowding at Homeacres no dig market garden, 12th April 2024, temperate oceanic climate zone 8.
Music by Rory Dinwoodie, IG: rorydinwoodiemusic
First Tunnels 10 x 15ft www.firsttunnels.co.uk/domest...
00:00 Introduction - the benefits of having a polytunnel
00:38 My recommendations when buying, including size
01:54 Year round harvesting - which plants to grow
02:56 Saving seed
03:47 Use of the doors, and the temperature inside
04:49 Adding compost in May, quantity and type
05:35 Plants to grow in the summer
06:18 Garlic
06:49 Using the space for propagation
07:10 Comparisons with greenhouse
17:27 Durability of the plastic
07:37 Outro
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#nodig #growyourownfood #polytunnel #healthyfood #growyourownveggies - Навчання та стиль
There's a real danger with polytunnels you didn't mention. You get one, and immediately you want another, and another. I'm up to 3 and keep fighting back the urge to get the fourth! Once you experience how well everything grows in one it's hard to go back. Also, certain fruit trees do great, I'm growing peaches, apricots, figs, pomegranates and hardy oranges in my largest one (western Oregon zone 8B). I can't heat it above freezing all winter, but in our climate I can heat it the 2-3 nights a year it gets below 25 to protect the tender trees.
Hey there, I'm also in Western Oregon 8B! Just moved here a year or two ago. Do you mind me asking what variety of orange tree you're growing? I would love to grow one but thought it was impossible!
Cool comment! Only three? 😂 Oregon oranges sound wonderful
Western Oregon here, too! We are about 20 minutes west of Salem, and we have a Meyer Lemon, Satsuma Mandarin, and a Bearss Lime tree in ground next to the south face of our house, without a permanent poly tunnel over them. I did, however, erect a simple PVC tunnel frame around them. During the winter I string incandescent Christmas lights around them, give them a plant jacket 😊each, and then drape some 6mil plastic over the frame. They have survived two fairly sharp winters here so far, and they're all about to bloom!
Wow, how exciting
I suppose thjs wonderful looking l product of polytunnels isnt applicable to Minnesota n Wisconsin !
IF WE HAD A POLYTUNNEL WE WOULD SLEEP IN IT EVERY NIGHT IN A SLEEPING BAG AND READ BEDTIME STORIES TO OUR VEGETABLES AS THEY QUIETLY DRIFTED OFF TO SLEEP !!!!!! WE WOULD READ FABLES LIKE “THE CUCUMBER AND THE HARE” OR “THE SLUG AND THE PARSNIP” !!!!! OR OUR FAVORITE STORY…”THE THREE LITTLE COMPOST BINS” !!!!!!!!
😂
Brilliant as ever. You would smile at the title of a new British comedy "Swede Caroline", just premiered in London 😀 and I am invited to a Somerset premiere Sunday 28th
@@CharlesDowding1nodig SWEDE CAROLINE DEFINITELY LOOKS COMICAL AND RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY !!!! ENJOY THE PREMIER AND PLEASE KEEP AN EAR OUT FOR SONGS BY THE “FITTRON” PROJECT !!!!! WE BROKERED A PUBLISHING AGREEMENT WITH A UK MUSIC LICENSING COMPANY LAST YEAR AND THERE ARE SONGS OF OURS ON TV OR IN MOVIES ON YOUR TINY ISLAND!!!! SINCE WE’RE IN THE USA WE WON’T KNOW WHAT SHOWS THEY ARE IN AND THE UNION DOESN’T HAVE TO DISCLOSE WHERE THEY ARE USED !!!!! KEEP ROCKIN AND HAVE A WONDERFUL HARVEST !!!!!
😂😂😂
Awesome! 😂
We need more charles in the world. Serious question though, why aren’t kids being thought this in school.
In Victoria Australia, primary schools do have a garden program. The cost of a polytunnel I'd think is outside their budget.
Some schools double down and put aside a space where the kids can grow and learn from local experienced gardeners.
I've done a few sessions as a volunteer trainer and the kids enthusiasm is fantastic.
Of course, others don't understand why we don't just buy it from the supermarket. I do my best to explain as much as I'm able.
Thanks Tommy. I think it's partly from the population as a whole moving away from growing food. Result is there are not many people who can even teach the skills.
I work with a lady called Lara who runs a project Skool Beanz nearby and with the UA-cam membership income, I bought them a 10 x 15' poly tunnel which Lara says has been invaluable as a base for teaching the children, especially on wet and windy days. Her site is www.skoolbeanzcic.com
Lovely to hear this. Congratulations on discussing the quality of purchased vegetables, which from what I see, keeps declining and rarely has good microbial value. Children love it when I say it's good to eat a bit of healthy soil!
Centralization of food production is on the agenda
I'm not on the fence about a polytunnel ....it's my budget thats got its pants stuck. 😂. Garden life goals. Beautiful video. Always inspiring.
Thanks, and I hope you can do it!
Keep hope alive. Who knows where the funds may come from
L
Think of all the money you'll save on tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, melons, lettuce, winter salad, spinach...
I use pvc pipe with hard plastic half cylindrical clips that I buy at Lee Valley store here in Canada. It’s cheap but I make it work.
Keep an eye out for free or cheap ones on local classifieds, some people want to get rid of them, so long as you come and take away. Even if it's just the frame you can buy the plastic when money allows.
My mother is dying. I found out last week, she's being cared for 8 hours away in an absolutely incredible hospice. Your videos, along with my tiny plot, since I arrived back home from seeing Mum, have helped to keep me sane and grounded. I've sown seeds I hadn't particularly wanted to sow, yet since living with these tumultuous emotions my connection with the earth, along with your videos have/will provide me with so much more than food. Thank you.
Oh wow! Sorry to hear this but grateful also that I can help. Gardening is healing indeed 💚
We have had our first tunnels polly for 4 years now and it’s still the same as when we put ours up, highly recommend
Great to hear 🌱
Do you mind if I ask, what plastic did you use? And did you also pull it tight like int his video? Thank you :)
Another lovely evening watching helpful videos from a kind soul. Well done again Charles. Thank you.
Loverly to hear, thanks
I ordered my very first tunnel (3x4m) last week, can’t wait for it to arrive in May!🌱🌸
Great to hear 🌱
Yep, one of the best decisions I ever made was to get a polytunnel, thanks for the lovely video
You are welcome Bernadette
I love my polytunnel a 30ft one I sourced from Northern Polytunnels 5 years ago, but I do find keeping the temperature from getting too high in the summer a challenge. I generally get about a 12-15 deg uplift in temperature. To control temperature I use overhead misting linked to a temperature sensor. I also have fan ventillation in the roof to help with reducing humidity. However I have found that the biggest impact on reducing temperature I get from putting aluminium foil "emergency " blankets along the inside of the centre of the polytunnel. This stops the mid day sun for heating the tunnel too much. It doesn't shade the plants too much as I have my pathway down the centre. If I didn't do this the temperature could get in the early 40 deg C. As for longevity of the plastic I think I will get a few more years out of it (8 or 9 years in total) I do find occasionally I get problems with birds pecking the top of the tunnel trying to get at the flying insects that are inside .
Wow you must be in a hotter climates than here because I've never had such problems of overheating in a 30 foot tunnel. Just sometimes the tomatoes get a bit warm and the leaves start to curl inwards but they fruit very well.
I absolutely loved watching this update of your greenhouse and two poly tunnels. Thanks to you I grow vegetables all year round. I only have a small greenhouse but it is amazing what you can grow with that extra protection. Thank you (Charles) another great video 😊
Great to hear Tina and I hope you are keeping well 💚
Yes, but state / climate do you live in ?
Yes, happy for your gifted green thumb. Its so lovely and fulfilling to see plants/food grow? I Iive for watching life being sustained. Isn't God good !! L
Good morning Charles, Sunday starts with your interesting video - thank you very much! I would like to mention that the September sowing of lettuces in the greenhouse was extremely productive. In addition to my two-person household, I was able to regularly delight another family with it. The lettuce (Wintermarie) is still being picked until the tomatoes are planted. Only on the coldest winter nights did I cover the lettuce with fleece and as soon as it got warmer the lettuce grew. I got the seeds myself and I dig up one or two lettuce plants and put them in pots. This way I can place them wherever they fit and they won't get in the way when I'm planting tomatoes. Everything has become so uncomplicated and practical and with much less work. I find your compost paths interesting, I don't dare try it yet because I'm always afraid of damaging the soil and therefore also the roots. But I will try it. I also noticed that the soil fertility has increased enormously, because I never had such healthy and fast plant growth before the No-Dig method. Nobody who hasn't experienced it will believe that. All the best! Ursula
Thanks for your lovely comment, Ursula, and I'm delighted to hear about those lettuce harvests, and the quality of your soil. Wintermarie is new to me.
May those tomatoes grow well!
I love my first tunnels 20x10ft polytunnel especially with all this rain we have had its allowed me to garden all year round , invaluable, oh and melons!!!
You must live in the southern U.S. ?
@@lettiee4726 I'm in Cumbria & am attempting melons this year, also aubergines.
bell & chile peppers did well last year, so fingers crossed.
@@lettiee4726England
Homeacres is looking gorgeous this time of year!
Thanks
I love you, Charles 😊 You Are excelent.❤
Thank you! 😃
Built my own polytunnel from an old trampoline frame about two years ago... absolutely loving it! Have been doing all my germination in there too, though have recently invested in some grow lights and heat mat for in the house, which has taken some of the space pressure off in the tunnel. What's also helped is some racking high enough over one of the beds to not disturb what's growing underneath too much... I find keeping the doors shut makes a huge difference to heat retention during the evening and morning and, to some degree (no pun intended!), at night, but I have also made it so you can unclip the top half of each door in the day to allow airflow, as it will very quickly get too hot and/or humid too...
Genius Alan! So many tricks
I managed to grow a tomato plant overwinter on my windowsill germinated last year September. It’s fruiting a lot
Amazing!
As always. Useful information. Thank you.
You are welcome Drew 🌱
This is the 2nd year with my polytunnel and I love it. Thank you for the informative and inspiring video
Great to hear Jeff
Yes, love growing year round thanks to all your videos! My herbs and seedlings are ahead of the game this year so that we are already cooking with fresh herbs and greens! 😊
Sounds great!
The calender it amazing I bought it to understand the succession planting because this is the real trick lets face it! So many online calenders but yo have it physically in a calender is very relaxing to read and also beautifully simplistically designed (im a graphic designer) so just wanted to say thanks.
This is great to hear, thank you for this lovely review 🌱
I just got a new cover for our little green polytunnel at our plot and am using the mesh cover I made for that, for a structure I am trying to build for the garden to protect summer crops from the wind. I might even be able to grow more through the winter this year! Very exciting project! Thank you for the advice.😄
Nice to hear
Lovely video as always
Glad you enjoyed it 🌱
Fantastic video content . Thank you kindly for sharing .
You are welcome 🌱
thanks charles I have often thought about getting a poly tunnel. two months ago I just got a walkin grow house not the most space but is a good size for my small garden. I made sure to bury it down an use good ground pegs to keep it down. So far even with the storms we have had it's stayed up without issues. Thanks to your video I may invest in a good poly tunnel in the furture though. thankyou as always!
I am happy that is working you you and it's well tested by recent weather
I put my compose out a few weeks ago, I've got lots of trays going, this is my second year with the polytunnel, I'm excited to see how it goes this year, thanks for all your advice Charles 😊
Cool Cindy, and best of summer crops to you
I'm on year 2 too.
Garlic & lettuce in, spinach planted last September cropping fantastically (made tagliatelle verdi for the first time yesterday - delicious).
Lots of young, tender plants lined up to plant out in the next few weeks.
Fantastic, great to hear 🌱
I have grown lemons, oranges, limes and grapefruit for 10 years now in an unheated polytunnel in Brittany, France. As Charles said, keeping the wind/excessive rain off via a poly tunnel makes a difference.
That is super impressive. I wonder if you are fairly close to the coast where frost is less than inland?
As I understand it, those trees would suffer if it might be say -6°C outside. But maybe not. And I guess you can always fleece them in the calm of the tunnel!
We have a 16' x 32' hoop house/poly tunnel and it's more than enough space for growing for just the family. We have 4, 25' long beds (30" wide with 18" aisles) and there's extra space for seedling trays and potted up plants as well.
We also have another, larger tunnel (16' x 50') that we put up to house chickens and pigs in the winter (like Joel Salatin does) and it's been great as well. The animals stay quite comfortable over winter in it with deep mulch bedding (18" of woodchips). They are very useful structures for many things.
Fascinating about the animal structure!
All the possibilities!! Envious of the polys
Hope you have one soon
I love my Northern Polytunnels 12 x 20 foot tunnel, and the big surprise has been just how well it grows winter greens and salads. They're starting to flower now but that gives us the joy of kale and mizuna flower sprouts, a whole extra and delicious harvest squeezed in before tomato planting time. We're just putting up a secondhand lean-to greenhouse to give me more propagation space and the option to keep it frost free in spring.
Sounds great Jan 🌱
Saludos, gracias por todo su trabajo.
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I bought one of those cheap small poly tunnels, not for the poly tunnel itself, per se, but for the structure. It comes apart and goes back together in all kinds of configurations. And they are metal so have lasted me years and every year I use them for different things. This week, I'll reconfigure to keep the plant eaters OUT! :)
Thanks so much for sharing this Sue, and I'm sorry that I was so condemning of them!
Thank you!
Welcome!
I did a LOT of research before I bought my polytunnel last year.
Went with a 10x20' from First Tunnels, with all the extras regarding bracing & crop bars etc.
I couldn't be happier with the result.
One thing I noticed is you do get 'rain' inside a polytunnel (morning condensation dripping off the cover) & that was causing brown spots on the tomato leaves & I was concerned it was blight but I removed any suspect leaves & whatever it was didn't progress (possibly nothing more than scorching through the drops acting as lenses on the leaves).
Garlic in the polytunnel is looking great - presumably down to no wind & rain stress, so the outer leaves aren't looking tired in the same way as on the outside plants.
Did my home made compost application on the plot & in the tunnel this week & literally managed with about 30 litres spare at around 3cm deep everywhere.
Sounds brilliant!
Adorável obrigado pelo vídeo um grande abraço ❤
So nice, thanks Luis
Hi Charles , very inspiring looking at your Tunnels.. we put our commercial size tunnel up and have got into deep trouble with our neighbours! I called the Planning before putting it up and they were very happy with it. Didn’t said it didn’t need consent. Then the parish council wrote to the enforcement officer and now I’m in a big retrospective planning application which involves an ecology report a bio diversity report and a big headache! So all of that I’ve started planting and I’ve got a bit of heat in there so I’ve planted everything that you don’t usually plant before the end of the frosts! It’s lovely 54x28..
Just to add, we’re on 4 acres of agricultural land.. even the suppliers of the tunnel were convinced we didn’t need planning permission. I’m in Somerset, near Glastonbury & there’s all sorts of things in these parts that get off planning regs!!
Hey Tara, thanks ... and that is so maddening. Probably the thing you needed to do was talk to your neighbours first. It takes only one anonymous person to cause all this trouble, even if everybody else is not concerned. Officials who are notified of a complaint are obliged to react.
I do hope that all will go okay and best of luck with your planting so far!!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig yes I spoke with them!
Oh flip!
Another thing to know on the topic of budget/DIY tunnels, is on plastic. Actual greenhouse plastic - all ? or just products noted with the attribute ? - are designed so that condensation forming on the under/in-side, runs down itself, vrs. dripping down onto, say, your tomato leaves... . So, just getting some clear plastic meant for paint booths or etc. from the home improvement store, not only won't be UV protected, so, break down quickly, but have the condensation issue. Something I never would have thought of. I did build a DIY, fairly low cost tunnel, and love it so far. I do wish I were bigger ;), but I needed this one to be mobile and did not feel capable - brain or brawn-wise - of breaking down and moving all the parts to professional types of tunnels, although I've never seen a caterpillar tunnel IRL or more closely watched a vid. on em - just whatever was covered in Richard Perkins' vlogs. Anyway, we built a cattle panel tunnel. 3 panels long, vrs. the 2 in Al Lumnah's vlog on one which we were basing it on, so we had to add stronger/addtl. lumber to bottom on sides, and corner bracing with clothesline wire. It seemed plenty heavy & sturdy but is in a location to possibly catch a good wind gust from the prevailing west/NW wind, so I used heavy-duty, screw down earth anchors I then wired the corners to. Did this on the inside, as the plastic already att. to it wouldn't allow for that, outside. We got a cheap, used, storm door w sliding window w screen on one end ( had to put it on upside down and trim extra length) and a wider, low door on other end to allow wheelbarrow to fit in, with a window above opening via the wax arm opener ( which works and is fantastic, but a lil tricky to fig. out how to install. Actually not enough in depth vids out there on it, using a vertical window vrs. a roof opening, esp. . We'll have to make one.). Completed it last May. Love it so far. Didn't make great use of it over winter... had to use it as a shed and ran out of energy, but 2 lettuce plants of the row I'd tried to have going into winter (but planted too late for that in nw WI), survived and are very ready to pick now :). All I grew in it last sum. was melons, which did love it and I plant to put tomatoes and melons in this spring. Tomatoes today, actually, after coffee break here :). Saving the ETTC episode on the Welsh Borders, which I scrolled past to this, for later ;) ! My bit of English ancestry in me is getting it's fix today I guess :). HI and my love and blessings to all y'all out there !
Thank you so much and those are all good points. Nice you were 'back in Britain' for a while.
Home Depot plastic buyer here 👋 Bought 6ml and it didn't last 6 months!
Someone gave this link so I can learn more about plastics I need to use.
Thanks for the info. The water did drip down lol and the plastic ripped, then shred....
❤❤❤ salutari din Romania
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Fantastic video, so glad to see you publishing again. Do you have any thoughts on the twin wall polycarbonate panels? They are often advertised as greenhouse panels.
That's what polycrubs are made from. Storm proof too.
Hi Ted, thanks, and they are effective, but I'm not convinced they are worth the money, unless you have difficult conditions such as particularly low temperatures
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks, Charles!!
I am stuck with having to purchase one of the cheaper tunnels, but I've had practice with my cheap smaller greenhouses in stabilizing them so this new one will definitely be stabilized very well to protect it.... even though it doesn't cost me thousands of dollars.
Best of luck, sounds like you can do it
Best thing I bought from first tunnels 25x12…like you say it extends the season…and I grow plants overwinter for the chickens..
Good stuff!
I only have a courtyard garden I have a little grow house and one of those plastic greenhouses that lean up against my fence neither of them are big to walk in, I've also bought a mini poly tunnel which I haven't set up yet, it's only about a metre long and will sit on a big table that's made out of pallets I've just got to put something heavy inside to stop the wind blowing it away 😂
Good luck! It sounds not obvious.
Nothing is growing so far this season , for those without a Polytunnel .
Yes so slow, but overwintered plants like cabbage and onion look ok, as do a few new plantings under fleece
Love your tunnels. What do you think of polycarbonate tunnels? I have 6mm polycarbonate and am impressed with its strength and durability. Will be trying to implement your great ideas for extra produce especially in the winter. Loved all the knowledge you imparted in Wicklow recently. Thank you.
That's nice to hear Eileen.
I am not convinced by polycarbonate, whether it's worth the quite significant extra cost. In your Irish climate, for example, the problem is not so much lack of temperature - in winter especially. More it's lack of light, from all the rain clouds. A simple polythene cover is a good way to increase warmth with minimal light reduction. And clean it every year.
I want a polytunnel for winter greens!
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Your garden looks so beautiful....and very healthy & flourishing 👌 PS Have you heard (on BBC radio 4) that we are supposed to love slugs now......I don't like interfering with nature but that seems a bit barmy to me 🤔😏
Thanks, and yes, totally barmy, said by somebody who has not tried to grow lettuce and spinach in damp conditions!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig 😆😅
I loved hearing all about the polytunnels which is crazy because I live in an apartment. And I know you’re not a wildlife show but do you think you could get any footage of the little frogs (which are probably frogs by now)?
That is cute and I shall see! They are shy
I grew calabrese and some purple sprouting broccoli overwinter here (Ireland)in my polytunnel. It grew really well. Got decent heads of calabrese and then plenty of side shoots. The chickens have been really happy with the leaves and now the last few shoots are in flower which is tempting insect friends into the polytunnel. Definitely the benefits of a polytunnel are not confined to summer.
Nice result and thanks for sharing it Gail
Perfect. My step grandad has just secured a small/medium polytunnel like yours for me. So happy. My tiny greenhouse was jam packed last year. Just need to get a new cover for it now. Any recommendations on type? Is super therm better than smart white? South east windy England site.
Wonderful, and I find that the regular polythene is totally fine. The more expensive, fancy options do not in my experience and observation improve growth.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig sweet! You're a legend!
Thanks for the video Charles, we’re currently looking at getting a polytunnel for use in our garden. I’ve been “allotted” a growing space around 25ft by 10ft. Would you advise a polytunnel this size or a smaller one and leave some outside growing space? North West England.
Nice to hear, and I would allow some outside space for sure, say a tunnel of 10 x 15' like the small one in this video.
Such a good video, I put the cover on my 10x15m tunnel today, tidying up tomorrow providing the weather stays on our side. I’m looking forward to growing winter crops not just those summer loving ones. I have some spare garlic bulbs & onion sets, is it too late to put those in? Was thinking around the edges…thanks
Thanks.
It's late for garlic and the bulb will not differentiate into cloves, but it will still make something worthwhile. Still good for onions, just!
I hope there is some sunshine for you today, see if you can be tensioning the polythene when the sun is shining because that makes it much easier to get it tight.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks Charles, the garlic & onions were spares I’d put in modules. I’d paid extra for tensioning tubes. I think we’ve done a decent job of it but plan to tighten it further once it warms up.
Thanks for video Charles. How would you recommend irrigating the polytunnel?. We have just installed a 4.5 x 9.1 polytunnel and we are considering drip system, i see you use overhead watering system. Thanks from NZ
Compared to drip irrigation, I prefer spray line or watering by hand, all of the soil, so that microbial life is generally encouraged. On the other hand, I'm not watering frequently. The spring it has been once a week because of the lack of sunshine
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Do you have plans for making a book on seeds? How to save seeds. How to extract seeds and general seed saving?
Thanks for asking, I feel that I'm not expert enough on this subject at the moment, check out Sue Stickland, Backyard Seed Saving, 2009
I wish I could have a tunnel as large as your small tunnel, unfortunately in my community there are maximum sizes for greenhouses on allotments and its 6.5sqm.
Oh dear!
Another great video..i am really in confusion between poly tunnel and a green house since i live in the city. but i can fit either in my side garden since i have Abigails space. please tell me what is the best option to go for? Mind you I'm in northeast Scotland😅.Many thanks.
I would choose greenhouse for the extra warmth, considering your location
@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you
When you give the height of compost and topsoil you put down, is that pre-stamped down or post?
Post. Although mostly, I do not stamp it down and the measure is after it has settled for a couple of weeks with some rain or water helping that
Gracias Charles ,yo tengo uno pequeño debe ser de 1 metro por 50 cm 😂 lo tengo en mi patio mi invernadero ,un saludo fraterno 🇨🇱
¡Guau, eso es tan pequeño! 😎
Tengo un patio pequeño,pero me hace feliz ver las pequeñas plantitas 😄
Thanks, Charles; I have a single space I can get a polytunnel into in my vegetable garden, and 8ft is its maximum width. Do you have any advice on bed and path width if one is forced to go lower than 10ft wide? I was about to purchase an 8x15 tunnel from First Tunnels, but I am now concerned - you've noted in this video that less than 10x15 is too small.
Sorry, I might haveve sounded too strict on that and an 8 x 15' tunnel works for sure, just you have less opportunities for tall plants in summer, and as you observe, path options are not straightforward. To make full use of the height you almost want to narrow, pathways, either side of a 75 cm middle bed, say for cordon tomatoes. The path width can be as little as 30 cm, leaving two narrow beds on either edge, just 45 cm wide. The only other option is a path in the middle.
Hey Charles, what variety of endive do you grow in the tunnel over winter?
La Diva scarole endive and Wallone is the frisee variety
I wish I had room for a polytunnel but sadly not. I have a 12x8 greenhouse in which I grow my summer warm crops and salads in containers over winter. Grateful for that at least. Quick question please. Can i intercrop brassicas with lettuce and beetroot?Thank you. Happy gardening 🙂
Sounds ok!
The best way for that to happen is that you transplant any brassicas like autumn cabbage and Brussels sprouts between lettuce that will finish cropping a few weeks hence, and the same for beetroot, but you need to harvest at least one clump of beetroot to make space for the new brassicas. It's all about space and light, not whether plants like each other.. Which they all do, conditions permitting!
Unfortunately our snow load is too much.
I have seen enough attempts in Tahoe where these tunnels collapsed. 😢
I don't grow in the winter, but I've seen lots of you tube videos showing how to add more stability so the snow load isn't damaging. Worth looking in to
Oh wow, something we do not have
Build a polycrub instead. We 'back-engineered' ours about 3 yrs ago. Much cheaper than buying a kit.
In the last month I have installed two polytunnels only for them to be taken down a couple of days later due poor frame quality and poor plastic cover design. I paid £150 for one and £350 for the other but basically they were rubbish. I am still loving my Rhino greenhouse though, if only I could afford to put another Rhino on my allotment!!
V frustrating Maurice!
Charles any advice? first year of no dig. our garden was on a hillside and sloped terribly. the earth was levelled so we could have a polly carbonate tunnel erected 8x4 meters. Must have up here in the Hebrides. So my question/s is as my soil has been so drastically disturbed is it any good for no dig? I have made three no dig beds with cardboard and compost. Should I just cary on and follow your method from now on and hope the soil returns to its natural state? Thank you.
Sounds a big job and best of luck with the greenhouse.
I would add compost and seaweed to your soil, as normal with no dig, and it will come to life in time. 6-8in compost, old manure, seaweed.
I want a greenhouse, but live in tornado alley. Tornadoes and hail are rare in my specific location, but I get lots of warnings for both.
How frustrating!!
Phew, I do not envy you!
@CharlesDowding1nodig my city is down in a hollow so rarely hit but those storms plus 100° summers make me think twice about the investment.
Yeah I'm in Southeast Ohio and we have had 3 tornado watches this week, limbs dropping, and hail
I've noticed , in my greenhouse, the top on the compost in my pots is turning green? Is that an over watering issue?
Yes or at least the surface is damp for too long. Definitely water less often and not every day esp if forecast cloudy
Please tell me if it is possible to make in the vegetable garden an automatically wattering during the season by using sprinkler irrigation ? Will the plants tolerate it well? Or should I water with a watering can? Greetings from Poland
Yes you can but of course every vegetable needs different amounts of water so it needs care in setting up.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank You very much 🙂
May I ask what orientation do you put your polytunnel? East/West or north/south facing? Or doesn't it really matter?
This is a good question! I have wondered this myself.
North south
Thanks, and mine is ESE-WNW because that orientates with the hedge and avoids wasting a triangular space outside. It's fine in winter with low-growing plants, but in the summer when tall crops are in the middle, like cordon tomatoes and cucumbers, the side near the hedge receives less sunshine and is cooler. That may or may not be okay, depending what you grow there. Generally north-south makes more sense if you have the choice
Mr Dowding, would believe it’s snowing here? We got some days of warmth, and back to winter. 🤷♂️
Oh no, sorry to hear that, I hope your warmth-loving plants are ok
@@CharlesDowding1nodig It should be ok, but I should migrate south permanently lol. Seven months and 20 days of frost is too much for my liking.
My tomatoes did get blight last year, I'm guessing because I wasn't careful enough with watering. Do I need to move my tunnel so that I'm not growing them in the same soil again this year?
No worries, there's a lot of false information about that because blight spores cannot live in soil, nor in compost. You are starting with a blank slate this year and no disease, and as you say, keep the leaves dry after the end of June, which is when the disease potentially arrives.
Hi Charles! Do you find that your bigger tunnel is warmer than the small one?
Not much difference except on (rare!) sunny days the big one warms more and is then warmer the following night
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you Charles!
Hello Sir Charles, thanks for this info. May I ask 2 questions? 1: We are expecting -3C the next 3 nights. I have a greenhouse full of young tomatoe seedlings in trays. I have built a fleece tunnel inside to double protect plus grave candles. Is this enough, how far can tomatoes endure? 2: Can you please make a video how to get the fleece tunnels and covers on your beds so neat and tidy (tire a quatre epingles 😉)? Mine always look similar to me when I get straight out of bed in the moring, so to say grumpy. Dankeschön 😊
That sounds cold and the night will already have happened so I hope your plants are okay, I'm sure they will be because tomatoes tolerate low temperatures very well, as long as they do not freeze obviously. Your double insulation system with a candle sounds good.
One trick with the covers to get them tight is to pull them tight lengthwise before putting stones along the sides. Both corner to corner, and middle to middle over the top of any supports.
Many thanks! The minimum temperature under my additional fleece tunnel was 10 Celsius last night with 3 in the greenhouse and 0 outside! So the 3 cold nights can come now, I assume.😊
Great to hear
I'm afraid I've only got a 6 by 8 foot polytunnel because that was the max size allowed at my allotment!
Ah shame and good luck with keeping it full!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks. I feel blessed to have an allotment at all, especially given the length of waiting lists! I think they ought to include them more on new housing developments etc.
I've been contemplating a poly tunnel for a few years now but in my climate where it can get down to 0 F in cold winter I'm not sure it would be worth it. I do ok with my mini poly tunnels over my individual beds where the spinach will always survive and if it stays above 10 F the frisee endive and arugula survive also. Maybe someday but have other projects going on at the moment.
I saw someone with a polytunnel inside a polytunnel. Outside was freezing with really deep snow. There's a video somewhere.
Sounds good!
Eliot Coleman in Maine, Four Season Farm, is probably colder than you and lays row cover over winter vegetables
@@psisky wow! Great concept cause in MN it can go 40 deg below zero.
@@lettiee4726 Here's an example. Hope the link works. ua-cam.com/video/Dd-FOj7cuLc/v-deo.html but the other video I remember (but can't find) - this guy had a huge polytunel almost buried in snow and he had a full length what we call a "low tunnel" inside. e.g. if his tunnel was 12' x 20' then the inside one was at least 6' x 16'. Just polythene covering hoops made from hose. He had thermometers measuring each layer and there was a huge difference in degrees.
Hi Charles, stupid question but I have started my first compost heap in my veggie garden this year, I have just lifted the cover and saw slugs everywhere (around 70), now I fully understand that that is usually a good thing but we have such a massive slug problem in our garden to the point of no potatoes being left without damage and very few plants germinating before being decimated by them, the only solutions I can think of are moving my compost heap a while away which is a massive inconvenience and will likely welcome rats or, use beer traps in my compost heap or stop composting but with the costs of compost this would be a last resort. Apologies for all the shpeel and do you have any suggestions many thanks.
Oh dear, and avoid covering so the surface stays drier + birds can eat. Def. not move the heaps, look at garden issues eg too much slug habitat perhaps
@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you so much I do apologise about all the questions 😂
What's heartbreaking is looking at a 30' wide frame that lost its plastic in the storms 💔
😮 I don't envy you! Wish you well
How good are the veg with no natural sunlight?
Brilliant. It's not far from full, and the lack of wind + warmth means they can use it more than outside
Charles must be reading my mind - I have just staked out the footprint in my garden for a medium polytunnel, like other comments below the cost could be prohibitive. Our plan is to put a bit in the pot every month and go for it next year. So cost aside my next big concern is putting the tunnel up! How difficult is it for two people to achieve? Any tips?
Hi Sarah, that's nice to hear. It's certainly possible and first tunnels have videos on their website to help you. The hardest bit is getting plastic tight and that's best done on a warm day so that it stretches.
Polytunnels are great until SPIDER MITES arrive! How do you get rid of them? I've tried garlic smoke bombs & bought predator insects from amazon and just got a few in a lump of sawdust which was expensive and did nothing, a bit of a rip off sadly ! Where do i buy quality predators ( i remember you bought some a while back, where did you get them from please? ) I have the poly doors open now to get breeze through. I have even drenched the poly with a hose but the spider mites are still killing all my young plants. I so need advice as i am almost giving up growing my own crops sadly Thankyou
Oh dear, I'm so sorry to hear this. That sounds an unusually severe infestation. I've only had it on aubergines, beans and melons and never before July, because the mites need summer warmth. I found predators not effective and expensive so do not use them anymore.
Having really top quality soil is best answer so that plants are stronger. I would work on adding more and only very high quality compost
J'aimerais bien une serre mais mon jardin est petit je réfléchis à une serre petite hybride, collée à ma maison
Une bonne idée
I'm so confused because I thought he said no blight because the leaves don't get wet, then at the end of the video I see the plants getting watered overhead!
I think it has to do with the fast drying times in the polytunnel as opposed to out in the weather.
It’s really the nighttime dew that collects and lingers on the plant. I 100% agree tho, it is not ideal to overhead water nightshades in general, especially tomatoes. Best to use ground level irrigation
It also depends how much airflow you allow
The overhead watering is just recently in April and it's on the overwintered salad plants. We plant tomatoes in May, next month and for the first 6 to 8 weeks of their life there is no risk of late blight so we can continue to water overhead, until early July: when finally, it's warm enough here for blight to develop if the air is humid. So from then, we water tomatoes at ground level.
ah great
this is a godsend, away from a crazy planet right now !!
💚 welcome!!
Prices ? TIA
The 10 x 15ft is currently £1400 with options I chose, see website for details www.firsttunnels.co.uk/domestic-polytunnels/10ft-wide-polytunnel?_gl=1*g2yiuv*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH53hejCpRV_wUxJR958VY_UeCGa0ZOY5IZRwSQcNOFe4l4VldoYFnGIaAiyCEALw_wcB
Don't waste money on cheap polytunnels. I had an 'outsunny' brand one which lasted a year. Despite securing the base, the weak points was the tubing, especially at the joints - it's so thin walled that it's not fit for purpose and will fold quicker than a rubbish poker player.
Another point on size is that if you're on a allotment, check the tenancy agreement to see if there's a maximum size allowed.
The parish council who own my site have in their infinite wisdom, limited max size to 6x8ft. I'm sure most polytunnel users will agree that is far to small!
Very helpful thanks