What is a polytunnel?
A polytunnel is a glasshouse - like , semi - orbitual structure made with sturdy brand , PVC , or wood soma . They are covered with undestroyable plastic sheets usually made of polythene ( hence the “ poly ” ) and can be retrace in a salmagundi of widths and length . gardener utilise small polytunnels to extend the growing season of fruits , vegetable , and other industrial plant , to protect plants from uttermost weather , and to spring up plants they could n’t otherwise rise in their climate . On farm , they ’re also used for caparison fauna and lay in equipment – people have even been know to use them as plane hangars !
Why should you use a polytunnel?
There are tidy sum of benefit a polytunnel offers to nurseryman of all acquirement degree .
What can you grow in a polytunnel?
much anything ! The only plants we would advocate not using a polytunnel for arefruit trees(which may outgrow the burrow ) and plants with thorns , as these could damage the cover .
Getting started
The leisurely means to get started in polytunnel horticulture is to make your own , small polytunnel . If you only have a small space or are n’t quick to make the commitment yet , you may get ‘ mini polytunnels ’ . A mini polytunnel is a 4 - fundament wide burrow that requires minimal fabrication and maintenance but offer up most of the same benefits as a full - size polytunnel . you could use these to protect young crops while they are in the seedling stagecoach or toprotect spring crops from hoar .
How to build your own polytunnel
If you ’ve decided to ramp up your own polytunnel , it ’s of import that you know how to do it properly . Many the great unwashed choose to take on build up their own polytunnel as a DIY project as it ’s the gross action for a sunny , dry weekend . If you are n’t too sure of your DIY acquirement , you could lease professionals to do it for you .
What you’ll need
The most reliable means of build a polytunnel is to buy a outfit online . A outfit bear everything you need and materials that are optimized for growing works . endeavor to enlist the help of 3 or 4 friends to help you build it .
Materials
A true polytunnel outfit includes :
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Preparing the ground
Choose an area that ’s layer , sturdy , and teetotal .
Assembling the frame
The skeleton is the ‘ hooped ’ structure that makes up the inside of the polytunnel .
Covering the frame
compensate your polytunnel soma is where your squad of helper will really come in ready to hand . The more masses there are , the easier it will be to maintain the tension of the polythene mainsheet as you stop up it in place .
There are two ways to procure a polytunnel tack – either by adding a base rail to fix it ( usually let in in a polytunnel kit upon request ) or prod a trench to bury the edges of the cover under the ground . Generally , base rails are used on harder undercoat , while a oceanic abyss can be dig in soil .
Finishing touches
Polytunnel FAQs
Many polytunnel growers prefer togrow in containersorraised beds , whatever you prefer .
They can last anywhere up to 15 - 20 years if properly maintained , but you do ask to supercede the polythene cover version every few age as wear and binge will occur .
If you ’re Modern to polytunnels , start minor . A tunnel with a 6 - foot breadth is usually secure .
The polytunnel is a versatile and economic option for protect your garden truck from the elements . If you build one , be sure to accompany the guidelines above , and enjoy the freedom of trying differentgrowing methodsand harvest variations that the extended grow time of year bring home the bacon .
