Some firsts for me

[redser]

Not just of the season but ever! I'm so chuffed. Got the plot last summer and finally getting some crops. It's been a long wait. In the midst of all this rubbish weather the tunnel is proving its worth.

First strawberries ...
honeoye from runners taken last year



Sarian everbearer, sowed the seeds last summer


Mangetout (Oregon Sugarsnap) chitted and planted into root trainers and deep plastic roses pots in January/February

[redser]

Some fingering carrots (Early Nantes) sown in buckets in January/February



Spuds in buckets planted January, should be tipping them out soon. Leaks and onions down the right in the tub with Dwarf French beans under the fleece. Various salad greens which we've been eating for a while and beetroot (which are ready for picking baby beets) at the bottom of the left side.

[veggiechicken]

Well done, Redser! I could just eat one of those strawberries - so look away now!

[redser]

haha, too late, we scoffed them this morning! Yummy. Will save you some

[lottie dolly]

well done indeed,a note to myself,must do better next year,they all look good,did you have any heating in there,

[Pa Snips]

Nice one Redser, they look great, can't wait for my first proper harvest.

[redser]

Thanks, no not at all, it's on the plot so I can't really do anything. The fleece tent over the beans seems to have worked well seeing as they are supposed to be so tender. I should probably man up and plant out the toms too. I have one in and it seems ok. Bought a max/min thermometer the other day and the lowest it got is 9 degrees. So will see how it does over the next couple of cold nights. If it stays 8-10 degrees in they go.
Have to say I've been using this book as a bible, she focusses in detail on getting early and late crops, it's brilliant ...
The Polytunnel Book: Fruit and Vegetables All Year Round: Amazon.co.uk: Joyce Russell, Ben Russell: Books

[Peas'n'Kews]

Well done Redser - am very jealous of your Early Nantes as my overwintered (in a mini polytunnel) ones mostly didn't germinate, and those that did are only just big enough to even consider thinning.

Try not to eat everything!!

[veggiechicken]

haha, too late, we scoffed them this morning! Yummy. Will save you some

I'll have the next ripe ones then! That's a deal, thanks!

[flowertot]

Impressed.com! I want a proper tunnel now.......

[lottie dolly]

redser,i wonder if the size and shape,together with the tunnel plastic,make it able to hold more heat,mmmm,she wonders about riging up a tunnel next year,or the end of this,inside our double glazed grow barn

[Creemteez]

Well done, Redser! There is nothing like eating your own home grown stuff! Enjoy!

[redser]

Thanks for all the replies

Well done Redser - am very jealous of your Early Nantes as my overwintered (in a mini polytunnel) ones mostly didn't germinate, and those that did are only just big enough to even consider thinning.

I actually germinated them in the house. Just stuck cling film over the top of the pots and left them under the kitchen table out of the way near the radiator. As soon as they started showing I put them straight up into the tunnel. I used a mixture of homemade compost and spent compost from bedding plants with some fish, blood and bone mixed in. I think once you get them to germinate they are fine on their own after that.

redser,i wonder if the size and shape,together with the tunnel plastic,make it able to hold more heat,mmmm,she wonders about riging up a tunnel next year,or the end of this,inside our double glazed grow barn

Well I read that tunnel plastic actually loses heat quicker than glass. Out plots are laid out on a north to south slope and mine is right at the top. I built it east - west. So it gets every scrap of light from dawn till dusk and most of it along the length. It's very exposed up there, it's a mixed blessing cause the wind is awful. You might see the extra diagonal wood I had to put in as the hoops were moving a bit. Size does make a difference (tee hee). The bigger the area the slower it loses heat. The tunnel is 20 x 10 foot. Great idea to put a mini-tunnel inside the glass house. In that book she made one as a large propagator. She uses a heat mat but even without that it would make a huge difference. Would just have to watch out for the heat building up.

[redser]

Impressed.com! I want a proper tunnel now.......

Here's how I made it, for about 200 euro.
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...nel_64642.html

Give it a bash. It will pay for itself in no time at all (he says with everything crossed!)

[redser]

Finally tipped out a pot of early spuds (either charlottes or annabelles, not sure). There were delish ...





First baby beet. Having roast chicken tomorrow, would you just bung it in the tray? Only ever ate pickled beetroot before