The Poultry Keeper

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 423 Location: St. Asaph

I got a polytunnel last year and planted it up. Everything did really well in it but i don't think I used it to it's full potential.

What could I grow in it to extend the season?

I can't find any books to help.

Any ideas would be welcome.

Duckie · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 198

I'm sure I've seen books somewhere - have you tried amazon or one of the really big high street chains?

As to what you can grow I think its almost anything - earlies a month earlier and lates running later, plus vines or fruit have longer cropping and survive the winter where they might not otherwise.

Although with the weather strange as it ts this year I suspect you could already be planting into it if it warms up qite well in the daytime.

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 423 Location: St. Asaph

Hi Duckie

Thanks for the advice.

I've started getting my seeds together.

Hopefully i get my first chooks on Sunday and i'll let them roam in the polytunnel to help me clear it ready for planting.

Linda

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2200 Location: South Cumbria

http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/forum/index.php

lots of useful information on here Very Happy

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6750 Location: isle of lewis

put some green netting around the bottom ,the first year we didn't and the chickens scratched to the edge and put holes in it ,we brought some netting and cut it in half and haven't had the same problem Wink

this year

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 423 Location: St. Asaph

Gilly C, excellent site, thank you. Very Happy

Milkmaid, thanks for the tip about the netting, my polytunnel is right next to the where the hens will be so will be the first thing they head for probably. Mad

I've got some over from the hedges we put in so can sort it asap.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6750 Location: isle of lewis

it was something i just hadn't thought about till i looked and it was a mistake that cost a lot over 200 pounds and it took me a year and a half to resave up the money Wink

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 423 Location: St. Asaph

I've only had the polytunnel a year, hubby put a hole in it within weeks with the strimmer!. I expressed my unhappiness with a few not too good expletives Embarassed

So suprised it is still standing after the winds we've just had I really don't want to loose it to the chooks.

they are coming tomorrow Very Happy

Hope there are a lot of people on line incase I panic Shocked

But i'll keep them in the pen for a day or two unless i'm with them and that'll give me a chance to put the netting on.

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject:

the netting is good for ventilation too - we've got probs here with algae and mould killing off plants, particularly toms, aubergines, courgettes, peppers and pumpkins. Our chooks didn't touch the plastic - it's the %%^% seagulls who land on the ridgepole on the top who've made a 'tea bag' effect! But the cover's still on...

Note for Milkmaid - do you know where to get extra strength or storm hinges for the polytunnel? I couldn't find anything on google and First Polytunnels, while carrying lots of accessories for the polytunnel, said they don't carry them.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6750 Location: isle of lewis

i'll look though the stuff at home i've remembered where now just cannot remember the name Embarassed

Barny_Velder · Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 164 Location: North Wales Coast

Try some blueberries they do really well in a poly and the chooks will follow you to the ends of the earth for a few:)

peatiron · Joined: 07 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Scotland

Grow what ever you like. we even grow peaches and apricots in ours. Strawberries are the favourite. beware of vine weevile. (see our web site for pictures www.the-poly-croft.co.uk) How about a crop of early potatoes followed by climbing french beans then you get two crops. DONT use canes for them to climb up. When you take them out you often puncture the polythene. There is a very good repair tape slightly green in colour. I repaired a tear on ours and it survived a gale of 134 mph! (Hurican). Cheap tape doesn't work.

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 423 Location: St. Asaph

Peatiron thank you for the advice, did potatoes last year and like everything else grew fantastically.

Where did you get your repair tape from?