Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: Mark's Sussex Allotment on April 25, 2014, 12:56

Title: What Veg Cannot Tolerate Polytunnels?
Post by: Mark's Sussex Allotment on April 25, 2014, 12:56

Hi Guys,

Is there anything that cannot tolerate the heat of the tunnel?

It was 47.9 degrees in my tunnel yesterday and a few things looked a bit limp!!

The potatoes in 45 litre pots looked very tired....

But everything is coming along amazingly well.

I've heard lettuce doesnt grow well in a tunnel, but some people have said they get amazing lettuces......

Title: Re: What Veg Cannot Tolerate Polytunnels?
Post by: GrannieAnnie on April 25, 2014, 13:07

I think much depends on how well you can ventilate it.  My PT, before disaster struck had a double door at the front and single at the rear, which helped a lot, as its always windy here.  I've grown lots of things in mine, but probably lettuce was the worst as it hates too much heat and sun.

But with enough ventilation and water, most things grew okay.

Title: Re: What Veg Cannot Tolerate Polytunnels?
Post by: mumofstig on April 25, 2014, 15:02

You get good lettuce early and late in the year, before it gets hot. Lettuce seed tend not to germinate over 25C
and they won't grow in high summer temps, if you can give them shade it helps a bit.

Title: Re: What Veg Cannot Tolerate Polytunnels?
Post by: gypsy on April 25, 2014, 16:59

Thanks for that, I have put little gem lettuce in the poly this yr for the first time, I think I will take them out as soon as they are big enough to handle