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HELP!!! Polytunnel.

• Message 1. 

  Posted by whatalottie (U9072847) on Wednesday, 1st June 2011

  Through a long series of problems/ discussion, arguement etc with the polytunnel supplier I've ended up with TWO 3m X 6m.
  
  I originally planned to get one for tomatoes, peppers etc. and the 'new' one is planted up and growing nicely.
  
  At the moment the other has french beans (already producing), early potatoes (nearly all eaten), carrots, one courgette, plus a few bits and pieces. The stuff in there will be finished soon, and I don't know what to replace them with!!! Carrots obviously, early sweetcorn (I've only just thought of that so it's going in today, they'll just have to bend over if they're too tall!).
  
  I'm going to use it for winter crops, but I don't start putting them in till August.
  I need ideas for crops which will out by August/September. It's too hot for lettuce (guess how I found that out?). I think brassicas will do better outdoors, and so would legumes. I don't think it's light enough for peppers - although I do have a glut of plants so I might try some.
  
  I feel really STUPID, but I didn't think I'd be in the position of having two large tunnels. I didn't plant up the 'old' one early enough, because I thought I'd be using it for tomatoes etc. At the moment I'd even buy plants for it.
  
  Hoping you'll have some ideas please.
  
  Lottie.

  Link to this forum: HELP!!! Polytunnel.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by figrat (U3054696) on Wednesday, 1st June 2011

  Well one idea would be to sow a green manure which would be ready to dig in when you're ready to plant up polytunnel 2. It would get your soil in good nick, suppress weeds and perhaps ease the panic a bit.
  Or offer the space through the summer for friends to use?

  Link to this forum: HELP!!! Polytunnel.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by northwards (U14324094) on Wednesday, 1st June 2011

  Not sure if my experience will be any help to you as I live in a coldish climate whereas you sound as if you're further south. However, for what it's worth, I grow anything in my polytunnels that I would outside. That includes salad crops (although I generally germinate lettuce in pots outside and then transplant them inside), and things like beetroot, kohl rabi, turnips, spinach, all kinds of beans, also brassicas and Chinese vegetables. You wouldn't want to plant sprouts and things like that, but cabbages like Greyhound might do well for you
  
  If you move fast, it wouldn't be too late to put in some early peas and early sugar snaps (Sugar Ann is pretty fast) You might have time to put in some summer squashes (patty pan etc.) too
  
  Also, if I can grow peppers at my latitude, you should have no problems!
  
  You sound as if you don't like the idea of buying plants (rather than sowing your own seed) but if you want to make quick use of your second tunnel, it's really a sensible thing to do

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Thursday, 2nd June 2011

  You could also grow plants that need a long ripening season. On Beechgrove, they use them for sweetcorn and sweet potatoes as well as peppers, cucumbers, toms, aubergines and some squashes and pumpkins.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Amazingrotavator (U14058080) on Thursday, 2nd June 2011

  When August arrives plant your potatoes for Christmas harvest.

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