A Polytunnel

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A Polytunnel
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wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 16 12:12 am Post subject: A Polytunnel
Would I be mad to be thinking about getting one? I've got lots of space and time to get out most days, now. I wondered whether watering was a real bind, and if pests are a big problem? What do people grow in them?

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 16 7:07 am Post subject: Re: A Polytunnel

wellington womble wrote:

Would I be mad to be thinking about getting one? I've got lots of space and time to get out most days, now. I wondered whether watering was a real bind, and if pests are a big problem? What do people grow in them?

Apart from the fact it would look ugly I'd cover the whole of my veg garden under a polytunnel if I could (and if I could persuade the OH). You can grow anything under it and they would do better than outside - certainly true here in Wharfedale.
If anything there are less pests, diseases as the tunnel offers protection from both. A mesh screen on the doors can keep out butterflies, etc.
Get a drip feed irrigation kit (they really don't cost that much) and watering is a doddle too.

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 16 7:49 am Post subject:
Ive had mine up for over 5 years - its never really had pests as such in it - sometimes black stinging flying parasitic wasps get in, and the odd mouse, but nothing really, Ive grown strawberries, tomatoes and sweet peppers in it, but great for starting plants off in. Mainly I use it for drying washing (seriously)

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 16 8:07 am Post subject:
I wouldn't cover the whole garden, in the heat of Summer salad bolts to fast & is better outside but yes it's a very useful building.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 16 11:24 am Post subject:

Sounds positive. I don't think I ought to cover the whole garden, it being two acres, but I've certainly room for a sizeable one. I suppose planning is a problem? It always is, here.

I had an idea they got red spider mite and white/green fly?

Does anyone know if there are companies that will put them up for you? I have an assistant, but we both find this sort of thing tricky, as she is three and a half foot high, and I'm not that much taller!

I will definitely get a watering system. Can you put holes in the plastic for hoses? I was vaguely thinking of rainwater running to a waterbutt inside, like the greenhouse has (courtesy of a cracked pane)

My greenhouse is on slabs, so I want covered space to plant in the ground for some tender things like lots of tomatoes, French beans, squashes and sweet potatoes, but mostly I want more of my 'usual' summer veg, for more of the year. Things like salad potatoes, broccoli, baby carrots, peas (does anyone ever grow enough peas?!) and salad. Does asparagus grow well indoors? Are conditions very similar to green houses, or are there important differences?

What sort of size would be sensible, given that space isn't a problem? Obviously, bigger ones are more expensive, but it's probably worth doing the thing properly.

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6540
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 16 12:39 pm Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

I had an idea they got red spider mite and white/green fly?

This can certainly be an issue. Good preventative planning (and purchasing unfortunately) can make it a non-issue. Banker plants where you actually grow the little #$@#*s on purpose, and the predators that feed on them. That way if issues pop in the tunnel the predators are ready to go get 'em.

It's a bit less of an issue if you can keep the tunnel weed free and let it get really dead over winter with little plant material inside for them to overwinter on (though this might require the cold winters that we get here, not sure if you get cold enough)

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4587
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 16 12:54 pm Post subject:
I wouldn't put holes in the main plastic, it's under tension and will probably rip. But you could run hoses and things through either end panel - that gets "glazed" separately normally.

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 16 1:48 pm Post subject:
https://www.firsttunnels.co.uk/polytunnel-guttering.asp

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 16 2:04 pm Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

Bring your water in through the doorway.
Some garden centres will erect them for you at a price but usually only if you buy it from them at an even higher price.
A good landscaping firm will as well, & wont mind where you bought it.
But make sure thy know what they are at.
If you are buying new the manufacturer might be able to recommend someone.
Control of pest & disease is more about in house hygiene, temperature & humidity control (particularly spider mite who like it hot & dry), & crop rotation. There are plastic covers on the market now which block certain wavelengths of light, which then apparently inhibit white & greenfly breeding.
I have no idea how effective they are I've only ever used the ordinary visqueen covers & never had a major problem.

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6540
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 16 2:06 pm Post subject:
If you really want a nice water setup, dig a trench below frostline (and future frostline) and run a poly line under the endwall to a frost-free hydrant in the tunnel. Water hookup all year.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 16 7:17 am Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

I had an idea they got red spider mite and white/green fly?

I've not had problems with mites or green/white fly in the 5 years I've been using tunnels but I have had problems with grey mildew on climbing beans - it spreads like wildfire once it gets a hold - think this is primarily down to ventilation - keeping a flow of air through the tunnel.

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 16 1:34 pm Post subject:
Ive never had red mite or green or white fly...

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 16 1:52 pm Post subject:
That's encouraging. Looks like the only question is what size can I get away with.... I wanted to put guttering on the outside, and the water butt on the inside for a heat sink. I will run a hose, although I might not be able to bury it. I haven't decided where to put it yet. What size do other people have? I'm hopeless at visualising sizes.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 16 2:39 pm Post subject:
I've one 10ft wide and 15ft long and a 2nd 10ft wide by 20ft long. The first is oriented east-west and the 2nd north-south. The bigger one is the better grower. Maybe the bigger size provides a more stable climate.

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 16 2:46 pm Post subject:

Lorrainelovesplants wrote:

Ive never had red mite or green or white fly...

Ditto.

Two. One is 14ft by 25ft. The other is 12ft by 30ft. Must admit, one is fully used every spring summer and autumn, the other not so much.

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