Polytunnel Growing Guide

Polytunnel growing is a popular and effective way for gardeners and hobby farmers to extend their growing season and cultivate a wider variety of crops. A polytunnel is a large, transparent, plastic-covered structure that provides an ideal environment for growing plants. Whether you have an allotment, a small garden, or a larger farm, a polytunnel can be a great investment to improve your gardening and farming efforts.

One of the main benefits of a polytunnel is that it allows you to extend your growing season by several weeks, or even months. This means that you can start growing plants earlier in the spring and continue growing well into the autumn. The plastic cover provides insulation, helping to keep the temperature inside the polytunnel warm, even on cold days.

Polytunnels are also ideal for growing crops that would otherwise struggle in your local climate. For example, you can use a polytunnel to grow exotic fruit, such as pineapples or passionfruit, which wouldn’t survive in a UK climate. This can be a great way to add variety to your garden or farm and produce crops that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to grow.

When it comes to choosing a polytunnel, there are several key factors to consider. Firstly, you need to choose the right size for your needs. Polytunnels come in a variety of sizes, ranging from small structures that can be used for growing a few herbs and vegetables, to larger structures that can be used to grow a wide variety of crops. It’s important to choose a size that will be suitable for your needs, taking into account the amount of space you have available and the type of crops you want to grow.

Another important factor to consider is the quality of the materials used to build the polytunnel. The frame should be made from strong and durable materials, such as galvanized steel or aluminum, and the plastic cover should be UV-resistant and have a long lifespan. It’s also important to choose a polytunnel that has a good ventilation system, to ensure that the air inside stays fresh and that the temperature stays at an ideal level for your crops.

Once you’ve chosen the right polytunnel for your needs, it’s important to set it up properly. You need to make sure that the polytunnel is securely anchored to the ground, and that it is positioned in a sunny, sheltered spot. You also need to prepare the ground inside the polytunnel, making sure that it is level and free from weeds, and that you have added compost or other organic matter to improve the soil quality.

Finally, you need to choose the right crops to grow in your polytunnel. It’s important to choose crops that are well suited to the growing conditions inside the polytunnel, and that are appropriate for the time of year. For example, in the spring you could start by planting early vegetables, such as lettuce and spinach, while in the summer you could grow tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.

Polytunnel growing is a great way to extend your growing season and cultivate a wider variety of crops. Whether you have a small garden or a large farm, a polytunnel can provide an ideal environment for growing plants and help you to get the most out of your gardening and farming efforts. Just remember to choose the right size and quality of polytunnel for your needs, set it up properly, and choose the right crops to grow, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful polytunnel growing season.