So Jane asked me about the Polytunnel

We just got it this year, and this is our first season using it – it’s been interesting, frustrating, you know, all the usual think you know everything, turns out you know squat, stuff.  So I’m reprinting my answer, in case anyone might find it useful, and you know, Cat, when I get a minute, I’ll tell about Why the English Don’t Can, too (sounds like a Just So Story ….. Once upon a time, o best beloved, in a scummy kitchen in England …)

Hi Jane

 

OK, about the polytunnel … well, it has been great, but I have made a lot of mistakes, I would say it’s something you’ve got to really learn about.

One thing I did was overplant, drastically.

I planted it up, and Neil said he felt I didn’t have enough stuff in there, but boy, I promise you, I had way too much. It turned into a jungle, I lost control, and hence the diseases took over – so first tip, start small, be strict about your planting distances, and don’t plant more than you can manage on a regular basis.

You would ideally get the plastic on on a warmish day, which means the plastic goes on taut – but it is essential to be on a windless day, we nearly took off just with our little one.

As to whether you are in the right climate – do people around you use them? I find that to be key, I mean look at me and my pressure canner! Saved for years and imported the thing before I worked out WHY the English don’t can LOL.

Will it extend your season? Will you be able to grow anything in there in the winter? Will it make spring and fall salads available to you that otherwise wouldn’t be? If not, I am wondering why you would have one?

We have them for two reasons – to enable us to grow things which, with your long daylight hours and sunny summers I think you can grow anyway, such as peppers, cucumbers, chillies, and (if you don’t get blight!) tomatoes which ripen before the frost gets them! And secondly, to grow salad crops in winter, and to extend the season of some other green crops and succesional crops. The polytunnel will be in use year round.

So, I would recommend finding a local market garden or CSA grower, and asking them if they use them, and if so why, and if not why not.