Raised Beds in a polytunnel?

[MarkHackwell]

Ive now got a polytunnel 3m x 2m and was thinking about putting 0.5 metre by 2m raised beds down both sides with 1m x 2m at the very end of the polytunnel. This would then leave 1m x 2m of space in the middle to be able to walk on. Is it worth having this much path in the middle? and also is it worth growing in raised beds or better to grow in the soil of a polytunnel.

Thanks

[OverWyreGrower]

We've done a similar thing to what you are thinking about.... the path is just wide enough for a wheelbarrow to go down, and to comfortably kneel down in.

We've put raised beds in as our soil is very poor quality - we've filled the beds with a mix of rotted manure and bought-in topsoil.

Our raised beds are made of bricks (cos that's what we had lots of!). They're not cemented or anything, meaning that we can raise the height if we need to, or change the configuration (though it would be a pain)

[MarkHackwell]

Yeah I was thinking of putting raised beds in but am not sure if it will cost more than its worth?

Where we live there is quite alot of clay son im a little worried that if I grow in the ground during the winter things will rot but the soil I grow in is quite good as its been cultivated for years so not sure what to do really :/

I was thinking of making raised beds from gravel boards if possible

[Glutton4...]

Personally, I wouldn't make the path any narrower. Your plants need space, but so do you; any narrower, and you risk damaging your plants as you cart things in and out. I'm assuming your tunnel sides are vertical; if they're curved, you'll need a re-think due to the restricted head height at the sides. A friend of mine has a similarly sized greenhouse, and hers works well with a central path and one continuous 'U' shaped bed.

[CaroltheCarrot]

Like OWG my path is wide enough for a wheelbarrow and to kneel on.
The beds arent raised as such more edged with timber which can be moved if need be.
I used the soil that was there and added some compost and top soil to improve it.
Get as much growing space as you can because it will still never be enough!

[chris]

How high were you thinking of making the beds? I think that the straight sides are only around 2' high before you reach the curve of the roof aren't they?

[OverWyreGrower]

Our beds are only 3 bricks 'high' (very technical term there....)

Attached is a pic of the first one just after being built...

[CaroltheCarrot]

Heres one of mine if it helps

[chris]

In the worlds of my 22 month old...

"WANT, WANT"

[taff]

the one I use looks like this

[CaroltheCarrot]

Wow, Taff I have polytunnel envy! thats huuuge

[taff]

it's not mine
I just use it for now....

[Tracebe]

Oooh I have tunnel envy too. We are not aloud a shed on our plots let alone a polytunnel or greenhouse :0(

T x

[sewer rat]

I have a large tunnel (24' x 60') and I have a central walkway formed by two rows of sleepers, and two small raised beds that I use solely for onions. Other than that everything goes into the ground. However in a smaller tunnel I would definitely have raised beds, or at least defined planting areas, otherwise you end up losing more growing space to access and walking space.

[Glutton4...]

Now I have tunnel envy SR!