Get a Polytunnel or not? and What to grow in it?

[MarkHackwell]

Im trying to decide if to buy a polytunnel or not could anyone give me the advantages and disadvantages of having one? It would be on my allotment and I would like to grow lots of vegatables for the winter in it soo could you please suggest what I could grow in it? I was thinking of getting one of these ones which is about 4m x 2m and quite cheap has anyone had any experience with them and how did you get on? and also does anyone know where I could purchase a cheap polytunnel?

Thanks

[RedThorn]

basically you can start your growing season 4-6 weeks early and end it 4-6 weeks later. Not had a poly tunnel, but had greenhouses. Disadvantage is rain don't water for you. My personal opinion is if you can, go for it. Just be warned, they are never as big as they seem once you start using them

[Alison]

I have a 10' by 20' tunnel and LOVE it. At the moment I have tomatoes, chillies, sweet peppers, the last of some early potatoes, aubergines, cucumbers, achocha, sweet potato, carrots and the end of some peas / mange tout. Over winer I had salads, spinach, brassicas, broad beans and various other bits and pieces. It's well worth it and if you can, I suggest getting one. I've rigged up an auto watering systems off water butts which is a Godsend and means I don't have to go to the plot every day.

[chris]

JUST to point out, I'm not an employee or on the payroll () of First Tunnels - but if you check their website they have a comparision chart of a greenhouse vs poly tunnel. They also have a month-by-month "what to do/grow" in your poly section, which I found very useful.

Polys are chepaer than greenhouses - I found out I could have bought the same size tunnel as Alison, as I did with my 10x6 greenhouse.. that's a lot more useable space!

I'm going to get one.. have thought about getting one for the allotment for my birthday next year.. I'm going to look into an auto (solar powered?) watering system from an IBC or similar incase I can't make it down to the allotment to water things [which really, is the only downside, as mentioned above].

Infact, reading Alisons post properly, I see she mentions that anyway!

[Aberdeenplotter]

Mark,

providing a warmer environment to grow vegetables in is one of the primary reasons for using a polytunnel so whether it will be a big advantage for you will depend on where you live and the climate there. You don't say where that is so maybe add this to your profile which will help us advise. I don't have my location in my profile but my user name kinda gives people a wee clue

I have a 25ft x 10 ft Tunnel with verticle sides (as opposed to curved) anchor plates, base boards, a venting kit and doors at each end. Add in the extras and it comes to a lot of money. I also added opening/closing lights over the venting area on my tunnel as it is just too cold up here without being able to close out the weather.

Best investment ever I made

[morverngirl]

I bought a polytunnel (2 x 4.5m) of e bay and erected it in April, since then I have used it to extend my growing season. I put in 3 left over 1st early potatoes and had fantastic crop after 8 weeks, yield much higher than those outside. i have also been picking courgettes for a few weeks now and at weekend had a lovely crop of french beans (again left over from out door planting,that are just starting to flower), 3 runner beans all starting to produce beans,cucumbers have been picked too.Strawberries very early.

[Florence Fennel]

Sounds fab, wish I had the space.

[Creemteez]

Ebay and freecycle would be worth a look to find a cheap deal!

[zazen999]

I built my second one today - it's gutting knowing I've done all that hard work and it's not mine.

Not that I begrudge the kids using it, but it's just I want to take it home and use it. *sobs

I'm sure by the end of the year we will have one. Mr Z is now onto it so perhaps for my birthday we can buy one and build it rather than go away for a few days.......

[SarzWix]

I have pointed out the existence of these: Polytunnel Gift Vouchers to my family in time for my 40th next year...

In reply to Mark; go the biggest you can afford - you'll always want more space after the first year

And, personally, I wouldn't buy one of the 'pop-together, pop-apart' types from eBay. From my observations of 4 of these over the years on our allotment site, they never last a season without blowing to bits and/or collapsing all over the plants
If you do have to go for one of those, put silicone/No More Nails/Araldite into every single joint before you put the tubes in, weight the cover down with slabs all the way round AND criss cross it with guy ropes...