winter veg in a polytunnel?

[taff]

I've said I'llgrow somewinter veg for the person whose polytunnelI'm borrowing.
I know brassicas don't go for heat much, but is there a way to grow cabbages/psb, etc,leeks in there that I'm missing?

[marathon]

I wouldn't only grow them undercover as they do well outside but what i did was transplant at the end of the season. A few kale plants, cabbages,carrots (pulled out during the winter, about 20 leeks, spinach and a few left over overwintering onion sets.

Grow the winter crops outside as normal but like me a few extra plants in the PT were useful as they were protected from the worst weather and were ready slightly earlier.

[Two_Sheds]

Personally I wouldn't waste the space on them, as they do so well outside.

Save the polytunnel for the more tender crops

[Alison]

I'm intending to grow some summer cabbages / cauli in the polytunnel next spring. Apparently (and I'm not convinced to be honest) you can sow in Jan and get a crop out the way before the summer stuff goes in. Over winter, I'm intending on a fair bit of salad and leafy greens stuff to supplement the brassicas which will be mainly outside.

[Snadger]

I disagree that brassicas are a waste of time in polytunnel or greenhouse, OVER WINTER. My main greenhouse is full of Spring Hero (ball headed) and Durham Early (Pointy) Spring cabbage at the Mo. They are streets ahead of the ones outdoors and should give me a succession.
At the end of the tomato season the flower bucket that I grow my toms in were emptied out, the old tomato roots slung out and the soil/compost replaced in bucket. Each one had a single cabbage plant set in it and with the little bit of sunshine and the lengthening days we've had lately, they have romped away.
Because they are in containers they can be turfed out if you need the room at any time. Because they are protected from the elements and the pigeons they make wonderful stong plants.

Can deffo recommend brassicas as a way of getting some use from a polytunnel or greenhouse over winter. I'll take a piccie next time I'm there and I'm sure you'll be impressed.
Anyway, what else can you overwinter in a polytunnel that is so obliging?

[taff]

That's sort of what I was hoping could happen.

I have to grow them in there, because he lives right by his tunnel. I could grow them in the other growing space I have, but then I'd have to pick and take them to him, and he can't go and get them himself. There's no outside space to grow them where he is because he lives on a farm, all the space is given over to crops/animals etc.I'll be struggling to find somewhere to put some runner beans for him.

Leeks and any kind of onion seem to be a favourite, those are no problem, I'll just seed bed them and pick and transplant at the end of the summer,or heel them in or something.

Ok, so to cabbages etc. What sort of size pot do you reckon for winter cabbage? And how many weeks-ish were the cabbages you put in them?

[Snadger]

..............................

Ok, so to cabbages etc. What sort of size pot do you reckon for winter cabbage? And how many weeks-ish were the cabbages you put in them?

Pay attention taff! Morrisons flower buckets that I had my toms in are fine. (approx 10 inch pot?) I planted out my July/August sown Spring cabbage at the same time.Soon as toms out, brassicas go in, plants were about a month old!

[taff]

Yeah,I definitely deserve a "doh!" for that one

Can you transplant winter cabbages grown in buckets?

[tlck9]

Pay attention taff! Morrisons flower buckets

does this mean you got them from morrisons? free?

[Snadger]

Yeah,I definitely deserve a "doh!" for that one

Can you transplant winter cabbages grown in buckets?

I have found you can transplant spring cabbage from buckets, or to buckets, at any time during there semi dormant season.............. which has just ended!
Now mine are starting to grow and form new leaves I wouldn't transplant them but I may move a few of them outdoors, still in there bucket, so that I get an even better succession of growth (Plus it free's up a bit of much needed greenhouse space at this time of year!)

[Snadger]

does this mean you got them from morrisons? free?

Possibly!

[poly]

I think brassicas in a p'tunnel do really well over winter, for me better than outside. I bring them on in pots and plant out in autumn, usually a couple of different types of cauliflower, spring cabbage, calabrese and depending on space some PSB.

The calabrese crop Nov/Dec, I’ve been harvesting cauliflowers from Jan, the cabbages won’t be ready for a little bit yet.

I also find a late sowing into modules of cauliflower, calabrese and cabbage do well. These are planted in January and I picked the first calabrese this week.

January sown brassicas have all grown on well, they were started in the house and then in the greenhouse. They will be planting in the p’tunnel this week. There should just about be enough time to for a decent harvest before the summer heat! Space is then planted up with something more summery. I plant into beds, and they are grown as part of a loose 4 year rotation.

A row of late summer carrots should do well, I have grown parsnips inside but they do get a bit big. If you have the space celeriac does really well although it will drink water.

Leeks are great too also onions, spring onions and garlic.

I grow a few runner beans each year, for an early crop and if I have the space a late one too. I've been growing Red Rum the last few years and they seems to set well under those conditions although I think there are others that might be better.

[Martin Newark]

Growing veg in polytunnel

There is a good book by Bernard Sait called Gardening under plastic, which covers plants, fruit and vegetables. I'm starting to grow veg in my ploytunnel for the first time myself and found it very helpful. You may have some luck with getting the book through Batsford Gardening Online:Batsford Books, Batsford Book, Batsford Publishers, Batsford Art and Design. The ISBN number is 0-7134-8448-9. Hope this is of some help.

[HungryC]

Theres a new book helping polytunnel growers plan throughout the year. Very useful, its on amazon or it can be found at First Tunnels - Shop Online For Polytunnels I got my polytunnel form them.

Theres also a video interview with the author at Von First Tunnels Ltd gepostete Videos: Why First Tunnels? [HQ] | Facebook