What I Did Today (Undercover)

[SarzWix]

I soaked all the beds with the hose attached to the IBC tank before spreading muck on it. My thinking was that it's better to keep the soil moist now when there's water/rain around to refill the tank rather than waiting til the soil's bone dry and I'm filling the beds up with thirsty crops. No need for cleaning the plastic yet as it's only been on for 6 months

Weeds are my main problem, as with the rest of my plot; it was unworked for at least 8 years before I got it so there's trillions of weed seeds just loving the protected atmosphere of the tunnel...

[redser]

I think it was Bunty's blog on youtube where I heard that a really quick quick hoe every 8 days is the most effective way to hoe. Something to do with the cycle of germination. After a few rounds of this there is little left to germinate in the few cms of soil you are disturbing.

[Aberdeenplotter]

to keep weeds down in the tunnel and at the same time keep in moisture and deflect heat from the beds, put down black and white polythene, black side down. Plant through slots cut to suit in the plastic.

[marchogaeth]

I do quite the opposite but when the tunnel is empty .......so it is really important to give the soil a thorough wash through either by leaving a hose on, removing the glass/cover and letting the weather do the work overwinter or by physically removing the soil, taking it out into the weather and replacing after winter.

Here endeth the lesson

I can't argue with this. However, my tunnel is working all year round. I did say to VC at the weekend that I knew I would eventaully get problems but I am quite cool with the idea that I will have to start cycling soil, probably by the end of this year. I really struggle with the water coming in when it rains due to our position on the side of the mountain in Wales, where sunshine comes in a liquid form, so try to keep all added water to the minimum. Also if I can keep it dry it helps reduce slug numbers early in the season. In Summer I use upside down plastic bottles to get water to the roots while keeping the top soil dry to try and help with blight.

Weeds are my main problem, as with the rest of my plot; it was unworked for at least 8 years before I got it so there's trillions of weed seeds just loving the protected atmosphere of the tunnel...

to keep weeds down in the tunnel and at the same time keep in moisture and deflect heat from the beds, put down black and white polythene, black side down. Plant through slots cut to suit in the plastic.

It's also ideal for the cardboard approach but plant through the cardboard.

I think it was Bunty's blog on youtube where I heard that a really quick quick hoe every 8 days is the most effective way to hoe. Something to do with the cycle of germination. After a few rounds of this there is little left to germinate in the few cms of soil you are disturbing.

That fits in with my experience. I was shocked how quickly I got on top of the weeds that appeared last year but because I used soil from the field I expect a new lot will emerge on a regular basis for a few years if not forever!

to keep weeds down in the tunnel and at the same time keep in moisture and deflect heat from the beds, put down black and white polythene, black side down. Plant through slots cut to suit in the plastic.

I've been told baking foil works quite well, too but have yet to try it.

Great thread Sarz - cheers. It's so nice to be having a gardening discussion.

[Aberdeenplotter]

need a mortgage rto cover all the groundin a tunnel with baking foil

[Strawberry delight]

not quite to the point but weighed my greenhouse down with bricks as it blew away. a couple of panels have come out, so i have that to fix and screw down!! wonderful British weather!!!

[binley100]

I'd love that Paul Peacock, or Mark Gatter, or Andy McKee please

What do they sell or are they just experts ?

Seriously . I'd love a polytunnel , nowhere to put one tho' .

[marchogaeth]

How to Grow Food in Your Polytunnel: Amazon.co.uk: Mark Gatter, Andy McKee: Books

Mark Gatter and Andy McKee- experts IMO.

[veggiechicken]

I think it was Bunty's blog on youtube where I heard that a really quick quick hoe every 8 days is the most effective way to hoe. Something to do with the cycle of germination. After a few rounds of this there is little left to germinate in the few cms of soil you are disturbing.

I've been in Bunty's poly and she has a special trapezoid draw hoe that she uses over all her ground. Can't remember how long it took her but it was only an hour or two.
I've been in Marchogaeth's poly too
Anyone else want to show me theirs

[VirginVegGrower]

I've been in Bunty's poly and she has a special trapezoid draw hoe that she uses over all her ground. Can't remember how long it took her but it was only an hour or two.
I've been in Marchogaeth's poly too
Anyone else want to show me theirs

I will if you'll show me yours

I use an onion hoe - diamond shaped one side and a prong on the other.
Implementations - Shop - Long Polux Hoe

[SarzWix]

Paul Peacock is the chap who 'stars' in most of First Tunnels' instruction videos, along with the lovely Gail, but he doesn't work for them he's a writer and publisher

[SarzWix]

not quite to the point but weighed my greenhouse down with bricks as it blew away. a couple of panels have come out, so i have that to fix and screw down!! wonderful British weather!!!

I need a couple of panes of glass for my little greenhouse, one for the door which is an odd size so I'll have to get it specially cut

[veggiechicken]

You know I don't have a poly VVG but here is Bunty in her poly, talking about her hoe and its this time of year too - 15th February.
For Marchogaeth, Bunty lives near Laugharne. There's a public footpath past her veg garden and she opens her garden for NGS. Worth a visit

[binley100]

Hoes are banned in my lottie on any beds that have stuff I want growing ......too easy to slip and decapitate stuff . It's down to a hand fork and pulling weeds by hand .....the get in close and personal touch

[VirginVegGrower]

Planted three pots of chard into the polytunnel bed. Scrubbed greenhouse floor - chooks had been in and sh*t everywhere
Watered minimally.