PolyTunnel Help

[Snadger]

On second thoughts, if you get another two you will be over the English border!

[nick the grief]

This thread is scary !! I hope to purchase two tunnels at the beginning of next year and they will be 24' x 60'. There isn't enough soil in Scotland to let me change it !!!!!!

Ah but when you're a commercial grower you can use a whole arsenal of chemicals to steralise the soil, kill the pests off safe in the knowledge that your not eating it

[sewer rat]

Nick, I know but if I decide to go down the organic route, I'm buggered
Snadger - no offence to our neighbours over the border, but that just ain't ever gonna happen - it took me thirteen years to get back up here, and I am staying put.

[Snadger]

Good luck with your new venture sewer rat, whether you go organic or not!

[JennieAtkinson]

How to answer a question with a load of other questions!!!

I don't have a polytunnel myself but just wonder if it is hard to re-site them every couple of years?

If it was done during the winter when there wasn't much happening, would it be a viable proposition?

Failing that, is it much effort to take off the polythene or roll it down for a time to allow frost and rainfall to penetrate soil /break up soil and kill bugs. It would also wash away any surface salts build up. Would this along with crop rotation not work?

I would think it must be easier to re-site it as change all the bed soil!

Been off the Boards this week due to (unplanned) family commitments, but interesting reading this thread now. Snadger, I have had to concrete my frame in, as it would blow away otherwise! so I wouldn't be able to move the tunnel around. Also every time you remove the plastic it deteriorates and becomes more likely to rip and come apart, even rolling it up, so once up its best to keep it up.

Although I have a couple of raised beds, I also have some large soil beds too. I thought it would be best to have a mixture in case there was a build up of problems. So far I have not had any problems, but I do keep the doors open nearly all the summer, and I think that it is ventilation that is the main answer to disease building up. I work quite hard at putting together a crop rotation system, particularly as I grow veg during the winter too, so the rotation plan is more six monthly rather than yearly. Am still cultivating my pony poo following the gymkhana held in September and I hopefully will get some of that and my own compost into the ground in March. It'll need a bit of digging in as the weather wont be helping me. But with a poly tunnel you can work away when it is chucking it down

[Snadger]

Been off the Boards this week due to (unplanned) family commitments, but interesting reading this thread now. Snadger, I have had to concrete my frame in, as it would blow away otherwise! so I wouldn't be able to move the tunnel around. Also every time you remove the plastic it deteriorates and becomes more likely to rip and come apart, even rolling it up, so once up its best to keep it up.

Although I have a couple of raised beds, I also have some large soil beds too. I thought it would be best to have a mixture in case there was a build up of problems. So far I have not had any problems, but I do keep the doors open nearly all the summer, and I think that it is ventilation that is the main answer to disease building up. I work quite hard at putting together a crop rotation system, particularly as I grow veg during the winter too, so the rotation plan is more six monthly rather than yearly. Am still cultivating my pony poo following the gymkhana held in September and I hopefully will get some of that and my own compost into the ground in March. It'll need a bit of digging in as the weather wont be helping me. But with a poly tunnel you can work away when it is chucking it down

Thanks Jennie, looks like I'll need to re-think my polytunnel strategy!

[jlottie]

I only have a small PT 10 x 12 in my garden and I hadn't even thought about changing the soil I grew toms this year and have covered the soil in manure for winter, hopefully that will do for this year. I only have 2 small beds the rest of the space is taken up with staging for starting things off.

[dexterdoglancashire]

hi Bendm - welcome to the Vine! as you can see we are a friendly bunch of grapes with lots of friendly banter and advice! looking forward to reading your future threads with how youve got on with your tunnel - lucky you! Dexterdog

[bendm]

Thanks Dexterdog