Winter in the polytunnel

[annacruachan]

What do peeps grow in their tunnels over winter? So far I have just 3 PSB in mine in the hope that they will produce before those outside.

I'm particularly interested in what can be grown inside over winter north of Glasgow.

Thanks.

[Bigmallly]

Open both doors & put a washing line up.......................sorry, just being silly for a change.

[annacruachan]

lol Considering the amount of rain we get here all year round that's not a bad idea!

[Fleurisa]

The November issue of Grow Your Own has a feature on growing in polytunnels

[Alison]

I grow salad crops, spring cabbages, caulis, calabrese, spinach, winter type spring onions etc and also to get an early start on things like early potatoes and peas next spring.

[BertieFox]

"North of Glasgow" doesn't mean much, as you could be in an exposed site or a nicely sheltered one! What really matters is the lowest temperatures you get and light levels.
We rarely clear up the remains of tomatoes, peppers, melons etc until November and then we start off spring cabbage seedlings, along with turnips, and above all Mizuna greens which seem to go on growing despite the cold weather. It's worth getting a small crop of broad beans going too as these seem to do well in the tunnel. I buy in cauliflower plants in February which gives us beautifully headed caulis in April or May.
Winter or American cress would also do well in your climate, as would Pak Choi.
The real key with polytunnels is to constantly work new compost into the soil and give your plants plenty of light.

[annacruachan]

Thanks, Alison. We don't really feel much like salad in the winter, but starting things early next year is something I want to do. Can't really do much about it until next January so will have to make do with seed catalogues and imagination!

[marchogaeth]

Thanks, Alison. We don't really feel much like salad in the winter, but starting things early next year is something I want to do. Can't really do much about it until next January so will have to make do with seed catalogues and imagination!

You can start lots of the things Alison mentioned off now and they will start giving you food really early on next year - not necessarily after being planted out.

Peas do really well and seem to grow through all but the coldest weather - I do mange tout so I can harvest the pods as soon as I fancy. Broad beans give and early crop for the bees as well as me. Chicory is a good one. It's a bit late to start now but I do baby parsnips and carrots - if you've got seed left there is nothing to lose by sticking some in and seeing what happens. (I'm going to stick some more in as it's still so mild here .)
Coriander and kohl rabi will grow on through the winter - you could put some in now. Lots of the oriental leaves are short day light plants. What I look for is the germination temperature and start things off in a warm spot in the house and get them going before moving them into the tunnel.

If you fleece up well lots of things will get through the worst of the weather. I'll be putting hops over the beds next week and laying the fleece out even though I've still got peppers, tomatoes and aubergines in there. Any cold nights forecast and the fleece will be over and then down during the day to keep them going as they slowly ripen.

Once my strawberries in pots have had a good dose of cold, they come in to the tunnel for an early, early crop.

[annacruachan]

Thanks, Marchogaeth. I shall certainly give the peas a go. I have some petit pois seed which will be out of date by next year - even if it only produces shoots they are lovely as a fresh addition to almost any meal.
Carrots and parsnips are a good idea as well - and coriander which does not do well in the house and is unlikely to survive our winter.
I have some unruly strawberries which have spread runners in boxes I had put to bed for the winter, so they will go into pots after the first frost and into the tunnel.
I also have some Reine de Glace lettuce seed and will sow a few to see how they do.
Thanks for all your helpful advice.

[Bill HH]

I grew some pak choi this year and have moved them into the poly tunnel, since moving them they have started to rot at the base, whats going on there.

[marchogaeth]

I grew some pak choi this year and have moved them into the poly tunnel, since moving them they have started to rot at the base, what's going on there.

Well pak choi usually do really well in poly's so the only things I can think of are that they got damaged when you moved them and rot set in or that maybe you have the tunnel too wet where they are and rot set in or a combination of the two. If the stems haven't rotted all the way through, I would pull off all the damaged leaves and see if the growing point will pull away from the problem.

One thing I didn't mention before is "double cloche-ing" so, even though they are in the tunnel pop a poly cloche over them, too. You can buy really cheap ones as they are protected from the wind and still create extra protection. For single plants I use 2l clear plastic bottles with the bottom cut off and no lid (so not too humid).

[Bill HH]

Well pak choi usually do really well in poly's so the only things I can think of are that they got damaged when you moved them and rot set in or that maybe you have the tunnel too wet where they are and rot set in or a combination of the two. If the stems haven't rotted all the way through, I would pull off all the damaged leaves and see if the growing point will pull away from the problem.

They are in containers so didnt get damaged on moving but I think your on the button with them being to wet. They were soaking wet when i brought them in and I have not watered them since yet they are still sodden. Its been very damp here for a couple of weeks at least. Thanks.

[marchogaeth]

Can you put the containers up on bricks or stones (if you haven't done already) to make sure they are draining? I'd stick some more in - germinate in the house and them move out - I bet they'll still grow for you in sunny D especially if you use bottles over them as well.

For what it's worth, I don't water the soil much but use buried bottles, it really keep the humidity down.