Neglected Polytunnel

Hi,

I have been in hospital for the last 3 months and there wasn't anyone to take care of my polytunnel while I was away, actually I've been back about a month but couldn't pluck up the courage to look. Today I girded my loins and peeked inside and to my amazement the tunnel was full of foliage.

I'm doubly surprised because all the vents had been sealed all through the hot summer months, and I would have thought the heat alone would have killed everything. Second for whole three months they have had no water, the tunnel has raised beds so there couldn't be a lot of moisture retained in the soil.

The tomatoes had grown to fill about a third of the tunnel, very few fruit and most of the ripe fruit was rotting on the vine, but they are still covered with flowers.

The peppers and chilli's are covered in fruit, some are rotten but most are edible.

Only one of the cucumbers survived, but with only one yellow fruit.

The marrows have a lot of buds but no fruit.

The squash are also covered with flowers but still no fruit.

All the strawberries have died except one.

The question is what should I do?

1. Could the tomatoes still produce fruit? if so should I prune them, say remove any foliage from the bottom of the stems and prune any brunches without flowers?

2. Is it to late for the marrows to mature?

3. Same question for the squash.

KaySee

Ok, I thought as much.

I think I will just clear it out and start prepping for next year.

Any suggestions regarding planting an interim quick growing crop?

KaySee

Ok, I thought as much.

I think I will just clear it out and start prepping for next year.

Any suggestions regarding planting an interim quick growing crop?

KaySee

That sounds very realistic, you can take your time & enjoy the process, might be quite cathartic

I would doubt that radish or beetroot would grow much of a root at this time in the year tbh, but you could start off some spring onions, which should overwinter and then grow away quite quickly next season

Plus broad beans, or mangetout peas