Question for Polytunnel owners

[Chicken6]

Well I can't believe how well the veg and fruit are doing in the PT it's already full but I don't want to cause myself
any problems because of lack of planning.

Outside by the front of the PT I have an area of 6 foot. I wanted to know if I could put a row of french beans there
without affecting the plants which at the front of the poly (24 tomato plants all currently in flower). The idea was beans with
squash in front. The cover has light transmitting propeties if that makes a difference

The other idea would be to move some raspberry bushes to a shady part of the plot which would mean I could fit a single row
of about 25ft of beans right at the top of my plot. This would mean a lot of work though as it's an unworked area (for at least 6 years with nearby brambles)

Any advice please

[Green Aura]

I don't think planting in front of the polytunnel will be any problem - by mid-summer the tomatoes will be grateful for a bit of shade. Just make sure that any canes or suchlike can't touch the plastic in a sudden gust of wind. I think that's the only reason for not planting too near - fear of puncturing the plastic.

Up here I've planted trees in front of ours - about 10-12 feet away to provide some shading and as a windbreak - the polytunnel is in full sun all day and it gets mighty hot in there. Unfortunately, at other times of year it's also in the path of 80mph winds.

[Chicken6]

funny I did think about sending you a pm as I knew you would know.

I have to admit I read a lot of old posts regardening the use of a PT and picked up some great info.
I'm thrilled with what I have growing inside mine never thought I could fit so much in and it's
attracting lots of interest from other plot holders. Which I find funny as these are the same people
regarded me as newbe without a clue.

Many thanks for your advice Green Aura, regarding the canes I did think about putting the childrens playpit balls
on the top of each one

[Green Aura]

I hope the kids don't need them any more!!!

[paddy]

Is it true that you can grow veg all year round in a polytunnel and is polytunnel cost effective when you have to replace the plastic every ???? years ?

[Green Aura]

When we looked into it the supplier said that replacing the plastic is about 20% of the total, so about £50-60?. The life of the plastic is about 4+ years, although probably less up here! But it can be delivered by post which is a big issue up here as we have to travel !00 miles each way to "civilisation"

For us, getting a greenhouse wasn't viable - I don't think it would survive the wind.

You can grow crops all year round in a polytunnel, although the light levels up here may prohibit that - we haven't actually tried yet. We've got a heat sink which keeps the temperature up, but any plants would have to survive by them selves - we often have days when going out is difficult due to the wind (80mph+).

Odsox would be able to advise better - he was picking peas etc from his in late march I think.

[Chicken6]

Is it true that you can grow veg all year round in a polytunnel and is polytunnel cost effective when you have to replace the plastic every ???? years ?

I have grown stuff all year round, this is my first spring though.

When I say grow stuff all year round it's still the same as outside with veg doing most of their growth either side the most winter months. But you still get much earlier/later crops so there doesn't really feel like a gap. I found that simply the protection from wind made a massive difference to cabbages, lettuce and spinach. Last week I was harvesting peas and for the last two weeks I've been picking my french beans and strawberries. I counted 16 tomatoes today

As my tunnel is now full I can't work out what I'll do this coming winter. I'm guessing I'll pull up some of the tomato plants early to make room for the other crops that I should be putting in. Last year I didn't have much in thtunnel so I didn't really need to think about space

[paddy]

If you were to add heat either by capturing it in the daytime or by heating the polytunnel in some way, do you think you could acheive getting crops in the winter months??

[Chicken6]

If you were to add heat either by capturing it in the daytime or by heating the polytunnel in some way, do you think you could acheive getting crops in the winter months??

I think it's more light levels that is the issue. Don't worry though as it would only be the really bitter months that would stop growth. I found that vit was only really Dec and Jan that growth stopped. Of course you'll also have leeks,parsnips,cabbages,kale from outside during those months

[paddy]

Thanks.......i suppose i had better hope for a bit more global warming

[Odsox]

Is it true that you can grow veg all year round in a polytunnel and is polytunnel cost effective when you have to replace the plastic every ???? years ?

My tunnel is choc a block all year round, so much so that I have difficulty walking round it sometimes.
In winter (from November to March) I have winter lettuce, spring onions, calabrese, mange tout peas, garlic, carrots
See http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... 12&t=13061 for a photos of my tunnel last February

[Chicken6]

Is it true that you can grow veg all year round in a polytunnel and is polytunnel cost effective when you have to replace the plastic every ???? years ?

My tunnel is choc a block all year round, so much so that I have difficulty walking round it sometimes.
In winter (from November to March) I have winter lettuce, spring onions, calabrese, mange tout peas, garlic, carrots
See http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... 12&t=13061 for a photos of my tunnel last February

As mentioned earlier I did well with growing stuff over winter but as my tunnel wasn't full at the end of summer I had loads of space.
When do you start planting your winter crops. I guess your tunnel might be larger than mine. MIne is 14x 20 and if now filled with tomatoes, squash, cucumbers,beans,peas,peppers,salad stuff, strawberries,melons which I don't think will come out until September.

[Odsox]

When do you start planting your winter crops. I guess your tunnel might be larger than mine

Last winter my garlic, broad beans and peas were sown on 30th October, winter lettuce was sown in a seed tray on 11th September and planted out on that day too. Spring onions were sown on the 7th November. I also had some celery, cauliflower, calabrese and savoy cabbage in there too. The reason for the cabbage in there is because they get riddled with slugs if I grow them outside.
Good job I keep a computer diary as I would never have remembered those dates
My tunnel is 30' x 12' and I try to keep it as full as possible every month of the year to justify buying one

[Chicken6]

When do you start planting your winter crops. I guess your tunnel might be larger than mine

Last winter my garlic, broad beans and peas were sown on 30th October, winter lettuce was sown in a seed tray on 11th September and planted out on that day too. Spring onions were sown on the 7th November. I also had some celery, cauliflower, calabrese and savoy cabbage in there too. The reason for the cabbage in there is because they get riddled with slugs if I grow them outside.
Good job I keep a computer diary as I would never have remembered those dates
My tunnel is 30' x 12' and I try to keep it as full as possible every month of the year to justify buying one

Many thanks that's really useful info. I am finding I have to be so organised. The PT crops being planted so much earlier than those outside confuses me when I'm trying to make sure I've sown and planted everything. This year I've missed out onn my primo cabbage because I forgot to sow them.

I started to make a journel from last september so it would help me in future years, I'm sure my Tomato plants could have gone out a bit earlier than they did.

I did think this year I would plant some onions in the tunnel in September/October