When can I plant?

[WiZeR]

Is going in this!

[Flummery]

Well WiZer, yours are bigger than mine (I know size isn't everything, but it impresses the girls!). My toms are smaller.about 5" high but sturdy. My greenhouse is smaller - 6" x 10" and cools to about 4 degrees at night at the moment. If we have another frost I could lose them. Not taking the chance. I only need to walk the 100 ft to the greenhouse 3 times at night and in the morning to ensure the babies are fine. Yep, maternal instinct Nicos!

Flum

[WiZeR]

rather than start a new thread, would anyone like to advise on the best way to plant up the tunnel? The bed on the left is about 1.5m wide and 8m long. The right side will be cleared and provide smaller beds of about 80cm wide. I have lots of tomatoes, aubergines and chillis.

[WiZeR]

ok i got 20 plants in tonight



I'm using piglet's tip and leaning the poles towards the path.

only another 40 tomato plants to go! Not to mention the chillis and aubs

[pigletwillie]

My tunnels are both 20' long and 9' high (1 is 13' wide, the other 10') and have thermic covers. They have been planted up this weekend which is 3 days earlier than last year. The well hardened off plants will stand a frost down to -5 outside the tunnel which generally brings the temperature inside down to about 6 degrees. Only the aubergines go out later as they are softies.

The plants are planted 2' between plants and the tomatoes are angled inwards. In the second tunnel which is a mix of tomatoes and peppers / chillies / aubergines, the tomatoes are planted on the side away from the sun so as not to shade the much shorter peppers et al. They are also planted 2' between plants and all have cane supports..

[nick the grief]

I'm getting itchy feet........

Dr Scolls foot powder in your wellies should do the trick

........I was wondering when I could start planting out my Tomato plants in the polytunnel. If it is still a bit early could I maybe use a cloche over them?

Your thoughts welcomed.

I think they look just fine

[JennieAtkinson]

My tunnels are both 20' long and 9' high (1 is 13' wide, the other 10') and have thermic covers.

Whats a thermic cover PW? I'm probably looking to replace my plastic next year given the number of repairs I've done this winter (it looks like a patchwork quilt!) and I'm researching plastic. Sounds interesting!

[pigletwillie]

Thermal Anti Fog Polythene is a 720 gauge polytunnel film, with added UV A and UV B filters. These filters dramitically reduce many fungal diseases, like mildew and botrytis. When water evaporation occurs, droplets (fogging) form on the inside of covers, eventually dropping back onto plants, which can cause damage and disease to young and tender plants. An anti-fogging agent incorporated into the film helps reduce this effect. It also contains an Infra-Red additive designed to reduce the speed at which heat dissipates out through the cover - in heated Polytunnels 15-20% fuel savings are achieved. A Thermic cover also helps to scatter light as it enters the Polytunne preventing scorching.

Its quality stuff Jennie and most tunnel companies best seller.

[JennieAtkinson]

Thanks for that PW!

[Alice]

Your stuff all looks great Wizer - and your paper pots. Hope it does magic for you.
I enjoyed looking at your updated blog. Thanks for posting it.

[Alice]

I've more chillies than I've space for on the windowsill once they go into bigger pots - Jalapeno and Hungarian Hot Wax. Can anybody tell me what's the minimum overnight temp they'll need in the greenhouse. And is there any chance for them outdoors later on in a sunny, south facing sheltered spot. Tomato, squash and cucumber do fine there.

[pigletwillie]

They will do ok outside Alice a few of my extras go outside into raised beds, it does need to be sheltered though as they will sulk if exposed to winds.

My tunnels are all planted up and now that they are all hardened off, nothing much less that 7-8 degrees should be fine.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Wow! Size is everything! Having said that, Im a little fry compared to you guys and gals - bet we get as much satisfaction from whatever we grow tho!

Bernie aka Dexterdog

PS Wot do you do with all those tomatoes?

[Alice]

Thank you Piglet, I think some of those chillies are going to end up out there with the toms and cucs.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thank you Piglet, I think some of those chillies are going to end up out there with the toms and cucs.

I didnt realise you could grow chillis outdoors. What kind are they?

Bernie aka Dexterdog