Things You Do Want To See In Your Polytunnel

[marchogaeth]

April 2013 - not all doom and gloom!

I have uploaded lots of pictures of my tunnel as it looked earlier this week to an album on my profile page.

Here are a few of photos as a taster. I have put info on each one in the album for those who are interested.

[MarkHackwell]

I have uploaded lots of pictures of my tunnel as it looked earlier this week to an album on my profile page.

Here are a few of photos as a taster. I have put info on each one in the album for those who are interested.

Wow you have alot of stuff in there already :O I havnt even got anything in mine yet

[marchogaeth]

Wow you have alot of stuff in there already :O I havnt even got anything in mine yet

A lot of it is overwintered, of course and that's still a bit of pot luck as far as I'm concerned because of the dependency on the weather even with fleece. I got caught out in October with some early frosts which might explain some of the bolting I've got going on in some brassicas but they are still completely edible as leaves.

I take the view nothing ventured, nothing gained, anything that falls too far short of expectations can either be green manure or goat feed! I don't sow lots and lots of seed when I'm going "out of season" just enough for a few meals and then, if there is a failure, it's not the end of the world. I absolutely rely on The Polytunnel Handbook for my sowing calendar for the tunnel and use a general garden calendar (with an eye on the weather)for when to sow seeds that are destined for the garden as plants. (I don't have a greenhouse (yet.))

[Paulieb]

I take the view nothing ventured, nothing gained, anything that falls too far short of expectations can either be green manure or goat feed! I don't sow lots and lots of seed when I'm going "out of season" just enough for a few meals and then, if there is a failure, it's not the end of the world. I absolutely rely on The Polytunnel Handbook for my sowing calendar for the tunnel and use a general garden calendar (with an eye on the weather)for when to sow seeds that are destined for the garden as plants. (I don't have a greenhouse (yet.))

I have 'a' polytunnel book so might do some planning with the aim of filling my 2 greenhouses over the winter once the toms are finished. Preferably with plants that don't need extra heat. I've tried to keep one greenhouse frost free this spring, and although I've done okay, the weather has not helped one bit, and it is quite a faff checking the heater everyday.

[marchogaeth]

I have 'a' polytunnel book so might do some planning with the aim of filling my 2 greenhouses over the winter once the toms are finished. Preferably with plants that don't need extra heat. I've tried to keep one greenhouse frost free this spring, and although I've done okay, the weather has not helped one bit, and it is quite a faff checking the heater everyday.

Obviously, I don't put in any heat. I fleece and double fleece (but not much over winter - more for spring delicates). I think my lowest temperature this year, under fleece was about -5C. It is horrible when you see all the plants frozen solid but it's also remarkable to see how the fleece limits the damage.

I get no commission (honest). I've looked at others but IMO this is the most practical PT book.

[Alison]

Mine isn't as full as normal as quite a few of the pak choi etc that I put in last autumn ended up bolting but the broad beans, peas and mange tout that I planted out a month or so (possibly longer, who can remember!) are looking really good, especially the broad beans which is quite exciting. The early potatoes started to show the first shoots when I looked the other day but I've covered them up again for now as it gets so cold at night. Sowed some carrots in there the other day so will have to see how they go, if nothing comes through will sow some more in a few weeks time.

[marchogaeth]

I've had real trouble with my mange tout. They have flowered like crazy since well before Christmas but only set about two pods. I was about to chop them down the other day when I noticed a few were starting to form so have left them to see what happens. Any ideas why? The advice in the book is that any round seeded pea will do. I was aiming for a few for Christmas dinner and if the flowers had set that would have been about right.

[VirginVegGrower]

No potato shoots yet, but carrot seedlings that I sowed under coldframe, in the polytunnel have been through for weeks. Broad beans are flowering away. Overwintered herbs are doing really well. Beetroot is doing well. Onions/garlic all looking sprightly. I love the warmth of the polytunnel and my two hanging shelves in there are chockablock.
I love that book too March.

[VirginVegGrower]

OK cannot remember who it was and cannot find the thread, but someone was asking for photos of my hanging shelves, so here you go, fill your boots

[bario1]

Thanks VVG, it was me that requested them. Great use of space, maybe i'll try and rig up something similar when the polytunnel's up!

[VirginVegGrower]

Thanks VVG, it was me that requested them. Great use of space, maybe i'll try and rig up something similar when the polytunnel's up!

Good - glad you found me as I couldn't remember the title thread - sorry. I find them very useful. My OH made the big wooden tray for me too. He likes woodwork

[annacruachan]

My tunnel is stuffed with veg, some as early crops, some waiting to be transferred to fishboxes outside when the temp stops finding zero most nights, and some, like the climbing French beans, which will stay. Can't wait to get my charentais and water melons out there! Also want to try things both in and out to see how much difference it makes. Tomatoes will go in, of course, and cucumbers and squashes and courgettes. Then there are all the lovely new seeds to try! Oh, the joy of growing!

[VirginVegGrower]

Pea shoots are up in the polytunnel. Potato shoots are up in the polytunnel. Feels good!

[marchogaeth]

I have actually created some bare patches where tomtoes will be able to go should they ever feel brave enough to leave their nursery and (relatively) tiny pots for the wide open spaces.

[SarzWix]

Peas covered in flowers, broad beans flowering, the self-seeded limnanthes forming flower buds, potato shoots pushing through finally

Space for tomatoes? Yet to solve that puzzle