Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: Kathie on March 01, 2011, 11:08

Title: Using a polytunnel
Post by: Kathie on March 01, 2011, 11:08

Hi all,

I have a polytunnel with a reinforced frame sat on concrete. Last year I used it as a potting shed, my question is ..... is there a great deal of difference in what I can use it for as opposed to having a greenhouse?
Apologies for my ignorance

Title: Re: Using a polytunnel
Post by: Kristen on March 01, 2011, 19:23

Quote from: Kathie on March 01, 2011, 11:08

I have a polytunnel with a reinforced frame sat on concrete ... is there a great deal of difference in what I can use it for as opposed to having a greenhouse?

I'm struggling to think of anything.

Polytunnel loses heat more quickly than glass, so it may be more expensive / more difficult / more impractical to heat.

Ventilation in a tunnel is different to glass - it tends to be forced-ventilation ("draught") rather than convection - which can stress plants more. But on any small greenhouse convection will not be enough on hot days, and owners will have to throw open the doors, and vents, to get a through-draught ... so I expect that is a moot point for domestic greenhouses.

Some poytunnels don't have very vertical sides - so cropping close to the plastic is more difficult than in a glasshouse with vertical walls ...

... you can see I'm clutching at straws, already, trying to find much of a difference :)

Title: Re: Using a polytunnel
Post by: Kathie on March 04, 2011, 17:28

Thanks for that Kristen,  I will pot away and give whatever comes to mind a try, maybe grow peppers and toms in there as an experiment. It's all hit and miss with me at the moment as I'm fairly new to all this.