Polytunnel growing

I�m in the process of erecting a 15 x 8 foot polytunnel.And my back hurts! I�d be grateful for any suggestions as to how to make best use of this to extend the growing season and/or to increase our range of veg.
I also have a 12 * 7 concrete based, part double glazed, brick backed greenhouse (ex pigsty) which I use for starting seeds and container growing tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.
During the winter the polytunnel will house some of our exotics and frost tender bonsais.

Any suggestions will be most welcome.

 

Hi Dave,
There are some things you can do to help extend the growing season.

As you are in the process of building, you are in a good position to incorporate some things that might be hard to retrofit to an existing building.

Polytunnels can get very hot so make sure you have adequate ventilation planned.
Foundation perimeter insulation is also something you may want to consider installing during the building process.

There are a few things you can do to assist with summer cooling,humidity issues and still others to reduce your winter heating costs that are ideally suited to polytunnels but harder to incorporate with conventional shaped greenhouses.

A lot depends on how far you want to go

 

Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation

 

Oh dear I'm wondering if the polytunnel was such a good idea!
Thanks Hex and Tortuosa.
Ventilation will have to be via the two doors, but fortunately the PT will be shaded from the worst? of the mid-summer sun. I don't intend heating it as I've got a well insulated greenhouse that I heat from early April for the toms' and cucumbers and also a large heated propagator.
I'll see how things go this summer and maybe invest in an automatic (timed) mist or sub-soil watering system.
What I would be really grateful for are suggestions regarding using the PT for producing early crops, bridging the "hungry gap" and trying veg that wouldn't be happy grown outside here in Scotland.

 

Sorry, didn't mean to put you off, just don't be afraid to leave the doors open when the sun's on it (depending what you grow). I can't help with veg crops but there's plenty on here that will.

 

The main problem with polytunnels is they don`t have roof vents, so heat can be trapped at the top.
If you`re handy with diy you can probably "borrow" the cantilever top vent idea from a certain polytunnel maker
It is simply a timber frame with a cantilever "lid" that is supported by the hoops and allows for a large top vent area.

 

No worries T. You didn't put me off at all, you just highlighted something I was already wondering about. - 'Will the ventilation be adequate?' Time will tell.

 

Thanks Hex. I'll do a bit of research on the web.

 

Hi Dave W,
great idea's polytunnels, I use ours for growing the Tom's/Cumcm/Peppers/Chilli/etc..
what I would suggest is though, if you are not going to the expense of heating, then i would not chance my exotics etc in it during the winter, there will be more protection in the greenhouse. during the winter I use ours for the propogation of hardwood cuttings etc.
re: ventilation, I make sure that both end doors are open during the day, and close one at night. have not had any problems.
you could try sowing some early salad crops, I have had great success with these as an early crop..also new potatoes for Christmas!!
hope this was helpfull
Paul

 

Thanks for the ideas and advice Paul. I like the idea regarding potatoes for Christmas.

Dave