what do you use your polytunnel for?

[emmy1978]

We have the goods to make a polytunnel, but I am slightly unclear about what they are used for. Is it like a greenhouse with soil for things that like it warmer/ more sheltered, or for protection against birds/bugs or what?
What should i be using it for? There are lots of pictures of them in my books but unclear as to actual purpose. Feel very silly even asking, but if I don't ask I'll never know and never seem to catch those who have one on site.  :-[

[emmy1978]

[ACE]

It protects your plants from the wind and cold. Some people use it as a covered bed. I use mine for bringing plants on a few weeks earlier, a potting shed, somewhere to work in the rain, tea breaks, even dry storage.

Use it the best way it suits you.

[manicscousers]

potatoes in may, french beans early, peas, 7' tall sweetcorn, fantastic winter salad crops, loads of space to put seedlings to protect them..we love it  ;D

[emmy1978]

Brilliant pic manics, makes it very clear! thanks very much both of you. So then, with a polytunnel like yours manics, on a half plot, could that do instead of getting a greenhouse too?
Love the idea of having tea breaks in there, much more glam than the shed! Brill, something else to get excited about!!

[saddad]

Tomatoes, Peppers, Chillies, Aubergines, Basil, early potatoes, bringing seedlings on, winter salads.... really need two a summer one and a winter one!
;D

[Chantenay]

Even I (indolent and old fashioned) am thinking of getting one to protect my tomatoes and stuff from airborne pests, to have early potatoes and carrots and maybe some winter salad stuff - although I don't generally hold with too much lettuce, it's flimsy, hysterical stuff. What are the goods you have got lined up - maybe I could copy some of your ideas. ;D

[emmy1978]

Hysterical lettuce.  :o  Brilliant.
I've got pretty comprehensive range of seeds really, and as a rule grow whatever takes my fancy. If it doesn't work I tend not to worry about it too much, unless i fail a few years in a row, as in the case of tibetan poppies.
I was thinking about it for things that like it that bit warmer, like chillies and peppers, but really was thinking of it as bit of year round lottie, as saddad says, wintersalads etc. Hmmm.lots to think about.

[manicscousers]

Brilliant pic manics, makes it very clear! thanks very much both of you. So then, with a polytunnel like yours manics, on a half plot, could that do instead of getting a greenhouse too?
Love the idea of having tea breaks in there, much more glam than the shed! Brill, something else to get excited about!!

sorry, emmy, computer's been sick since monday, only just got it back..our poly still has mixed chinese leaves in, overwintering lettuce, radish, mouli and this years summer crunch , the very early potatoes hae been earthed up three times..
the strawberries we brought in for forcing are going great guns..we don't have a greenhouse personally on the plot, there's a communal one but I just love my poly  ;D

[emmy1978]

I love your poly too. Just showed it to OH, his response hmmm, thats a bit good innit!

[manicscousers]

wait 'til it's so full it's like walking through the jungle, makes me feel great just wandering around it, 30 feet of heaven, especially like today, 72  degrees with one of the doors open !!, sorry, going on about it too much  :P ;D

[emmy1978]

Carry on, I'm listening!!

[manicscousers]

when we finally get the pictures downloaded again, I'll try to find a picture from last year, 7 feet tall corn, huge cucumber and melon plants, tomatoes all over the place..clean lettuce, lovely place to go when its raining ..anyway, late night last night so back to it tomorrow  :)

[Zoglet]

what do you use your polytunnel for?  - a tent for really small people! : ;D

[flossie]

I love the picture manics - a polytunnel is now on my wish list - thanks.

[emmy1978]

what do you use your polytunnel for?  - a tent for really small people! : ;D

That'll do me then. 5' and not a centimetre more!

[Zoglet]

then you wont need a sleeping bag cos it's sited over a bed! :)

[emmy1978]

Arf arf!  ;D

[Zoglet]

then you wont need a sleeping bag cos it's sited over a bed! :)

some people are easily pleased!    ;D  ;D

[Zoglet]

the above post might have worked better if I had posted the right quote which should have read:

"That'll do me then. 5' and not a centimetre more!"

:)