Let’s chat about polytunnels (aka high tunnels, hoop houses etc)! For a temperate climate, a polytunnel is one of the most effective ways to greatly increase the productivity of your garden, and in this video I share all of the key benefits that polytunnels bring, as well as all the top tips for success when it comes to growing your own food using them!
My go-to UK polytunnel supplier: https://www.firsttunnels.co.uk/
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19 Comments
I have only had tomatoes outside in my small patio garden (Copenhagen, Denmark). In large pots close to a warm wall, and I have never had (knock on wood) mildew. 🙂
I made a DIY tunnel from an trampoline frame and used plastic from a nursery. I am loving the season extension and options it gives me. Already thinking of adding a second.
Can polytunnels be used to harden off plants when going from indoor seedlings to outdoor planting? (I live in an apartment and garden on the weekends in a community garden)
Here's a challenge. How do you protect your garden from 4 months of blistering heat? Just asking in jest since that is not your problem there. 🙂
I don't have a polytunnel, but last year I got a small greenhouse and can't believe how it has extended my growing season. Not only does it allow me to extend the growing season both in the spring and the fall, but it also allows me to grow fresh greens year around. Love it!
Do the plants still grow well with no pollinators inside?
Super Video Huw, great to see what you've done in such a short time.
Hello from Puerto Rico!, I love your videos!!!
Oh thank you so much not watched yet but I know it will be perfect for me as I just took over a plot with a tunnel.
Here in South Carolina, I'm still picking cherry tomatoes outside in late October. 😀 For my climate, a polytunnel might be a good way to limit gardening to fall and early spring, and just have two seasons that are long enough to get some harvests. Trying to garden in the summer here is miserable.
That was very informative! My natural growing season is pretty close to mid March through mid November. We will have our first cold snap late next week with a low of 33f and then back up into the mid 40s at night. I think I could grow virtually year round with a tunnel. The only big question missing from this vid is how do poly tunnels compare with real greenhouses? Other than a considerable difference in price. Is there a significant reduction of UV light through the plastic compared to clear glass? That might almost be a benefit for me.
Hello garden friends😊👋🌱🍅
As always a fantastic video with some important details. It is already minus 4c here at night so fleecing within the poly. Have a super week Huw happy gardening 👩🌾, Ali 🥶🇨🇦
This is a good video. You convinced me. I will buy at least one of those, 6x3m. Thank you
Did you say yiu bury your soaker hose? Hmm I was going to lay on top of the soil but if under the soil works I’m all for that 👍👍
Ive had a small polytunnel for the last 3 years, the biggest problem by far has been aphids and psyllids. Its an absolute breeding ground for them and once they are in there almost impossible to get rid of them. You can spray all manner of home made and commercial remedies but they keep coming back.
I bought a First Tunnels polytunnel at the beginning of 2023 but due to Mum's passing, didn't get it finished until early July, so plants were late & a tad stressed.
Having said that, I'm still harvesting tomatoes, chilli & bell peppers & climbing French beans (27th October) & have inter/underplanted with spinach, mustard, lettuce, coriander & rocket.
Go for all the extras regarding crop bars & bracing because they not only reinforce the structure but give places for hanging baskets for strawberries, tumbler tomatoes etc.
Super video 👍🏻 really informative. I’m experimenting with mine to see what I can grow for longer. Also grew some spare onions in last year and they were great also not affected by the allium leaf miner? More info on growing veg overwinter in a poly please 😃
“Way too grim.” Yeah, that’s pretty much how I feel about winter. We got our first snow a few days ago. Ick. We get so much snow here that it will collapse a poly tunnel. We pretty much have to go straight up green house. Best, TeresaSue.