[devonbarmygardener]

Our blank canvas...I'm a bit daunted by the prospect TBH. 

Adri

That's brilliant!
So jealous - you could do so much with that space!

Enjoy it Adri

[adri123]

Thx Barmy.

Just planning raised beds and staging at the moment.  Nightmare!  At the moment it looks like staging all the way down one side and about 8 8 foot by 4 foot raised beds.  I'm going to make sure there's lots of space on pathways.  Don't see why I should be cramped in a 54 x 14 PT.

Any suggestions re layout welcome.

TIA

Adri

[Sparkyrog]

My PT is 14' wide .Do ensure you use 2' path's ! any wider in the center makes working round the outside very awkward 

[adri123]

2' paths are currently in the plans.  thanks.

[Kristen]

Our blank canvas...I'm a bit daunted by the prospect TBH.

Looks fabby - what concerns you? perhaps with some help with planning the work etc. it will seem more manageable?

[adri123]

The main concern is getting the very most out of it as possible.  I'm happy to put the hours in if we get a decent return veg wise...

Need to concentrate on successive sowings etc and what can go in when something else comes out.  That sort of planning which will maximise the output.

TIA

Adri

[Kristen]

What crops are you after? Quite a lot of "common" greenhouse crops are whole-season, so the succession thing is not so much of an issue - Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Aubergines, Melons.  Getting the greenhouse into production over winter, following on from summer crops, takes a bit of experience/planning - for example some things like Lambs lettuce, which grows well over winter, really needs sowing 1st week of August as it grows very slowly initially ... but is then ready for planting when the summer crops are removed.  Looks like you are planning to grow in containers though, as you have covered the soil - or maybe you are planning to grow "through" the membrane?

OTOH greenhouses (and I suppose Tunnels in particular) are also often used to bring on crops more conventionally grown outdoors "more quickly", so maybe that is part of your plan?

Are you familiar with growing veg outdoors, or is the whole thing new to you?

[diddy tops]

I bought a polytunnel with the zip door too as long as its secured well its brilliant.ive had so much produce from it its been well worth the money

[adri123]

@Kristen.

Am familiar with veg as have had allotment before.  Also had a small DIY PT before too.  It's just the size of this one that's daunting.

I'm going to have staging all along one side.  Some of it will sit above one of those heat sinky things that draws air from the top of the PT into a gabion cage filled with rocks or some such so that heat is released during the night.

The other part of the PT will be dedicated to 8 raised beds of 8ft by 4ft.  Lots of paths around them using the weed fabric and chippings on top but where the raised beds are I'll cut open the weed fabric and incorporate the soil below into the bed.  Adding well rotted manure should just about bring the bed to the height of the scaffold board that I'm using.

I see what you mean about many of the things to grow in a PT being whole season.  I'll be doing some spuds though and some onions which will lift and allow for the likes of pak choi/radish/beetroot to go into the beds after they have been lifted.

I suppose I just need to get started and take it bit by bit.

TIA

Adri

[Kristen]

I suppose I just need to get started and take it bit by bit.

 

Couple of thoughts:

I would want to grow the crops for a year to see how I feel about them, and then decide on how much space etc. I want to devote to each.  I worry that your fixed layout might prove to be inflexible for what you find you prefer growing.  Consider if you are likely to want to change the soil in the tunnel.  Perhaps not if you can rotate the crops, I grow the same thing every year, and replace the soil annually (I use 50:50 compost heap and manure, so its actually quite "light" to work with, and not as onerous as it may appear)

Secondly, Raised beds will take some of your cropping height (for tall plants).

[mickmick]

heres mine

[adri123]

Latest piccy.

The staging is in and started setting up raised beds.  On top of the weed suppressant fabric where the paths are I'm putting chippings.

Now just need some soil improver for the beds....

Adri

[diddy tops]

Oh god im so jealous...i want one that big

[devonbarmygardener]

Me too!

[miggs]

That look fantastic. Keep the pic's comming.