WIN! One of two deluxe polytunnels and accessories,worth a total of £750

State-Of-The-Art Chicken Coop Up For Grabs

No matter how good the weather is in your part of the country, a polytunnel gives you a lot more scope when you're growing your own fruit and veg. The warm, sheltered conditions extend the growing season and produce a wide variety of crops that will stay protected from birds. Early cabbages and cauliflowers can be followed by later-maturing edibles like aubergines, sweetcorn and tomatoes. Summer fruit and vegetables will benefit from the still and humid conditions that are rarely found in Britain. You can look forward to good crops and enjoy knowing that your peppers, chillies and other delicate veg aren't relying on the weather forecast. Plants like broad beans and sprouting broccoli, which you can transfer to open ground once they get larger, also do well if they are started off under cover.

Polytunnels aren't just generally cheaper than greenhouses, they're also simpler to construct – and Northern Polytunnels' are among the easiest to put up. Many types require you to dig around the structure and then bury the edges of the polythene sheeting to keep the whole thing in place. But the sturdy aluminum base rail of the company's Super and Super Plus tunnels means that a trench isn't needed and the sheeting is simple to put on. The tunnels' 2.4 x 3m (8 x 10') size and spacesaving sliding door give plenty of room for a big harvest and there are also hanging basket supports.

Polytunnels are best placed from east to west so they have the sun on their longest side and retain more heat. However in summer it can become too warm and some gardeners resort to slicing small vents along the sides and then taping them up in the winter. The Super and Super Plus help to avoid this problem as they come with ready-fitted ventilation louvres which you can open and shut to increase air movement and cut down on any temperature buildup. Separate to buy is the overhead irrigation kit which waters the entire tunnel using high-level sprinklers, reducing your workload. The Super Plus polytunnel comes with the addition of an aluminum side gutter to collect any rainwater for you (it can be channelled directly into a waterbutt), as well as thermal-control polythene which will help moderate the temperature..

Prices start at £355 for the Super polytunnel. To request a free catalogue call 01282 873 120 or visit www.northernpolytunnels.co.uk


HOW TO WIN
We have got two tunnels – complete with accessories – to give away: a 8 x 10' Super Plus
prize pack worth £438.59 and a 8 x 10' Super tunnel kit worth £354.76. Both include benching, 'deep grow' trays and an overhead irrigation kit.

For your chance to win, simply fill in the form below