[kitch]

HI Team
I don't get on here to chat so often but here goes, I've got my 12 ft by 20 ft poly tunnel up but a little undecied what to grow and when to start any ideas from any experts out there

[arugula]

Hi Kitch,

I'm certainly no expert so perhaps I shouldn't be replying  , but this year is our polytunnel's first full season and we're going to grow tomatoes, peppers and chillis in it.

[kitch]

Last year the birds devoured my young peas so think i'am going to try my 7ft victor ones in it. just a case of trying stuff out i guess

[JayG]

(Morning Argyllie!  )

If DD isn't already coughing and limping his way to his allotment I think he might have something to say about growing peas in a polytunnel!
(He might also be moving this thread to "Growing your own"!

I'm no expert either but a polytunnel is clearly most useful when used to grow things which need a longer growing season and/or more warmth than they would get outdoors.

I would add cucumbers to Argyllie's list and since it's a good size how about trying something exotic like melons?

[DD.]

Correct.

Correct.

Correct.

[kitch]

Thanks for the advise boys but tried everything last year to keep them there young starlings off my peas but to no avail so if this don't work my pea growing days could be over.
My mate at work says i've wasted my money on a poly tunnel think he's just jealous.
Bon Jour
Kitch

[DD.]

At what stage do they attack the peas?

We have a severe pigeon problem, but keep them off by netting when they are young shoots and again when the pods set.

And that's knocking on for 200 feet of peas I'm able to protect.

[kitch]

Hi DD
Last year got some early peas off but when them starlings fledged from the nest i kept trying to plant even in pots when i put them out them blighters still got through.
Bon Jour
Kitch

[dogdave]

Hi Kitch
You seem to have enough info re summer dont forget full use for winter crops
dogdave

[GrannieAnnie]

I've grown melons, courgettes, peas, runner and broad beans, aubergines, carrots, potatoes, perpetual spinach, cabbages, lettuce and cauliflowers as well as my tomatoes, chillies and peppers in my polytunnel.  The only thing that I didn't do well with was melons, but that was probably my fault.  Courgettes didn't do as well as outside on top of my compost heap, and the potatoes (only put a few leftover seed potatoes in there) didn't have such a big crop, but all were scab free!  

[rem858]

i grew toms,cues,peppers, last year in my tunnel i also had a fantastic crop of early amsterdam forcing 2 carrots using a few pks of seed tapes i was given going to try the same this year as well as some different lettuces

[Poolfield2]

I live high up on an exposed plot and the polytunnel is a life saver. I grow eveything that "normal people" grow outside. My crops come 3 or 4 weeks earlier than outside and only in a good year (not the last 2 than ) can I grow decent courgettes outside.

The best for me is the strawberries, fantasti., I have 6 beds in there (no not the sleeping sort ) and I move everything on one bed each year. Once we have a garage I will be able to reclaim some area that are being used for staorage and I wil be able to double the number of beds.

Nothing beats working in there when the rain is hammering down outside and I know that there would be no gardening I could do if I didn't have the polytunnel

[BostonInbred]

A polytunnel??

Grow chillies, red and green peppers, fruits of all sorts (esp oranges and lemons and strawberries.), cucumbers.