Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi,

I have had a quick look through the forum and I can't find any info to help me (if I am wrong, can you please point me in the right direction)

I am new to gardening. I have a raised bed system from Link-a-board. I want to try and keep some salad groing over the winter if i can. What practical differences are there bewteen a fleece tunnel and a polytunnel. I want something easy to manage.

I am in Leeds, with a very sunny garden.

Fleece tends to be quite delicate and can tear very easily. However with a polythene tunnel you are going to have to make sure you water it. I am assuming that your polytunnel is actually a plastic cloche type tunnel, not one you can walk into. If I am wrong let me know.
I would personally stick with the polythene version as you will be more likely to reuse as they will be more resistant to the winter weather.
Hope this is useful

i had a tent thingy which fitted nicely over one of my raised beds...it was polythene but I took the polythene off and covered it in fleece and have had the best lettuce/rocket/oriental leaves things ever.
However this was in the spring.
If i was going to do it in the winter i would try the fleece because it lets water in and yet allegedly also protects from the cold. As long as its secure it should be ok in the wind and is so light that if it does blow away it doesnt do much damage.
If you have more than one bed why not try both as an experiment?

thanks for your replies people. I have to admit i am thinking of trying an experiment of fleece v poly tunnels. I am concerned about lack of watering as i work much longer days during winter and my to too tired/lazy to water properly.

I will let you know how it gets on

Cloches aren't too much of a problem regarding watering in the winter as any rain will run off and soak into the ground either side and so will encourage the roots to go in search of the moisture giving you a better root ball.

If you use fleece it will cut down on the light levels that are already low at that time of year.

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

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Hi there I too have bought 2 fleece tunnels. Can someone tell me when I should be using them, if its not too daft a question. We put ours over my Brassicas and onions on Saturday. I checked all was well on Sunday. Yet on checking them yesterday, they had drooped etc. I gave them a good watering and removed the fleece for the rest of the day. I put it back over last night. Today i have pulled them back to allow for air etc all seems to be well. Am i doing the right thing as i am also new to this I have 2 raised beds. 10ft x 4ft x 1 ft deep. I have also placed plant pots into the soil to allow the water to reach the roots. Do i need to water everyday even though we are now in Autumn. Cheers regards judith.

a fleece tunnel wil keep plants warm but let the rain and light in, a poly tunnel will let light in but not rain so you will have to water any plants growing in it. It'a a lightwieght version of a greenhouse but not as robust. fleece is quite flimsy and is likely to be damaged by strong winds.