Polytunnel internal layout

[Justme]

Not sure I get the idea of the pond to raise humidity then you have mesh sides & open ends to let it out.

 

Our tunnel has a normal sized door at each end that are left open for most of the year & it is very humid.

[SteveA]

Sounds like a recipe for disaster but then what do I know I only grow commercially.

 

It works and will help us out in slug patrol. However I wouldn't advise it if you're using slug pellets.

 

A down side is that baby frogs will sometimes stick and fry on brick paths.

cheers, Steve

[SteveA]

Not sure I get the idea of the pond to raise humidity then you have mesh sides & open ends to let it out.

 

Our tunnel has a normal sized door at each end that are left open for most of the year & it is very humid.

 

Any extra water in a polytunnel will raise humidity, even with mesh sides.... although it won't raise it as much as misting.

 

The main purpose of the pond is to introduce slugs and toads to chomp slugs. We don't use slug pellets so it'll help towards controlling numbers.

 

I'm not the first to have a polytunnel pond, honest guv!

cheers, steve

[cornish wood burner]

It'll have green vented mesh on both sides and big doors at both ends of the tunnel.

 

I do like the roll up systems but it's a bit of a faff to fit and more expense.

cheers, steve

That's all we fit now. When you have long tunnel (40 to 50 Metres )end vents don't do much unless its on a good slope. I have a couple of lads who have the hang of doing it. I believe they start at one end, one clipping on to the tube and the other keeping the poly straight and taut. Keeping every thing straight and square helps. I appreciate the expense thing but it would give you better temperature and humidity control as the seasons change. If you change your mind I will ask them for some hints.

I presume you know about bracing the end hoops and not putting the polythene on upside down.

[renewablejohn]

It works and will help us out in slug patrol. However I wouldn't advise it if you're using slug pellets.

 

A down side is that baby frogs will sometimes stick and fry on brick paths.

cheers, Steve

 

I dont have a problem with frogs and toads my polytunnels are full of them without any ponds.

My problem with your system is pests and diseases not a problem if your an avid pesticide user but I operate on a pesticide free basis which means keeping everywhere sterile from one season to the next so deep beds and retained soil are a definite no no instead weed matting,growing trays, deep pots, and flood tables.

As for ventilation down the sides you might as well grow your crops outdoors. The whole point of growing in a polytunnel is that the climate is warmer. To achieve that we have a sloping ridge line which gives a 10C differential in temperature from one end to the other allowing you to grow a wider variety of crops, you can even install curtains so you can have low and high humidity areas in the same polytunnel.

[Justme]

I dont have a problem with frogs and toads my polytunnels are full of them without any ponds.

 

Same here.

[SteveA]

That's all we fit now. When you have long tunnel (40 to 50 Metres )end vents don't do much unless its on a good slope. I have a couple of lads who have the hang of doing it. I believe they start at one end, one clipping on to the tube and the other keeping the poly straight and taut. Keeping every thing straight and square helps. I appreciate the expense thing but it would give you better temperature and humidity control as the seasons change. If you change your mind I will ask them for some hints.

I presume you know about bracing the end hoops and not putting the polythene on upside down.

 

Our tunnel will be 16m maximum length so pretty easy to ventilate and most days we get a good breeze.

Yep, got the bracing bars sussed. Will also be fitting some crop bars.

 

I'm spacing the hoops at 5ft so that will also help keep it polytunnel shapes during strong winds. I'm cementing the foundation tubes as well.

 

cheers, Steve

[SteveA]

I dont have a problem with frogs and toads my polytunnels are full of them without any ponds.

My problem with your system is pests and diseases not a problem if your an avid pesticide user but I operate on a pesticide free basis which means keeping everywhere sterile from one season to the next so deep beds and retained soil are a definite no no instead weed matting,growing trays, deep pots, and flood tables.

As for ventilation down the sides you might as well grow your crops outdoors. The whole point of growing in a polytunnel is that the climate is warmer. To achieve that we have a sloping ridge line which gives a 10C differential in temperature from one end to the other allowing you to grow a wider variety of crops, you can even install curtains so you can have low and high humidity areas in the same polytunnel.

 

I understand your points.

 

Initially we're looking at extending our flowering seasons more than growing things during cold weather and the trouble with not using mesh sides means that when we transplant outdoors the plants won't be hardened enough to cope with our Pembrokeshire weather elements....

 

However, if we do want to raise the temperature in the tunnel we could fleece where the mesh is.... or fleece individual beds.

 

So far we've been using a half hoop lean to polytunnel - that has a mesh side up to about 3ft height. Overall, that's been working great.

 

Pests shouldn't be too much of a concern where predators are allowed.

Diseases can be less predictable... but seasons change, one year is different to the next.

 

cheers, steve

[renewablejohn]

We dont have that problem when we transplant out as being on a hilltop everything has to protected with windbreak cloches which also gives excellent rabbit and bird protection.

[SteveA]

We dont have that problem when we transplant out as being on a hilltop everything has to protected with windbreak cloches which also gives excellent rabbit and bird protection.

 

What cloches do you use?

Our DIY attempt at cloches failed at the first strong winds.

Luckily we don't have any rabbits on our farm.

 

We're looking to erect a shade tunnel next to the polytunnel some time in the future to help harden plants a bit more before planting out.

 

cheers, steve