Polytunnel

Lotus-eater

I wanted something I could put up and not worry about for many many years, so I went for a greenhouse with toughened glass, it was expensive, but in the long run not far off a (bigger) polytunnel because you have to replace the plastic every now and again.
You can get polycarbonate greenhouses, but the poly has to be replaced after a few years as well, which makes them in my book expensive.
Growing tomatoes in one is great! I almost bought one and thought about it for many years, in the end my OH got annoyed with my constant "well it would be nice" and "but its soooo expensive" and just told me to buy it FGS!
So I did and I love it, glad I did because our financial situation has now changed and in the recession no way would I buy it.

peter_the_piper

We use both, each has advantages.
Glass is more expensive but lasts a long time(rocks permitting)and can be better ventilated.
Polytunnels are cheaper but generally need replacing every 5 years. Put the biggest doors you can at each end, tunnels get very hot in summer.

jammy_dodger

i have a poly tunnel 10 x 15 on quite an exposed site here in N E scotland it has straighter sides so i can grow taller crops close to edge and make most of all the space can fit loads in it .. has been on the go for 6 years now i also keep my chickens in it over the winter to keep the worst of the weather off them and to fertilise the soil i would recommend them to all:D

Lotus-eater

I should have said, by gum those tomatoes in the first year were bloody expensive per unit, but every year they are going to be getting cheaper and you can't buy the tomatoes I grow in the shops.

mum_of_4

jammy_dodger wrote: »

i have a poly tunnel 10 x 15 on quite an exposed site here in N E scotland it has straighter sides so i can grow taller crops close to edge and make most of all the space can fit loads in it .. has been on the go for 6 years now i also keep my chickens in it over the winter to keep the worst of the weather off them and to fertilise the soil i would recommend them to all:D

Mine is slightly bigger and I agree, if used to the full it is quite amazing how much you can harvest from the space. I'm lucky that i have a good supply of organic matter as the beds really do have to work hard for me.

What ever you choose I'm sure you'll have a great time gardening in the rain and producing more to harvest

Penelope_Penguin

KittyBoo wrote: »

Every year I promise that I will treat myself to either a greenhouse or a polytunnel.
Instead I end up buying one of those mini plastic greenhouses that always end up with the plastic near the zip, ripping.
Have you any experience of growing tomatoes/veg etc in a polytunnel and how sturdy are they?
I have only ever seen the really big ones that they use on the allotments but I know you can get smaller ones.
Is the plastic stronger than the mini plastic geenhouses?
Don't know which to get.
A bit worried about glass too, as the neighbours have 2 small sons who are at the throwing stage.

We have a large polytunnel tucked away at the bottom of the garden. It gets plenty of sun from all sides, and we grow sweetcorn, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumber, early potatoes, early peas.

The chooks go in there during the winter, which manures it for the summer :T :j

We've had it about 6 years, and no sign of it needing re-covering, though the plastic has been nicked once or twice by the side of the lawnmower :rolleyes:

I've found an earlier thread on this subject, so I'll merge them tso that you can see more ideas.

Penny. x