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Getting myself abit confused about which route to take

Stephanie@GreenwayStephanie@Greenway Posts: 4
in Fruit & veg

Hi all,

I am relatively new to veg gardening, having only been stumbling through the last two years.  I have a large veg plot which consists of:-

40ft Polytunnel

5 - 8ft x 4ft Raised beds

Two large beds (100ft x 20ft) that i mostly use for potatoes & Onions.

I have recently been offered a greenhouse for free.  I was tempted to accept this to then heat it for use as a heated Frost free place to germinate all my seeds destined for the polytunnel to get a head start.

Hubby isn't convinced of the hassle of constructing the new greenhouse considering the size of the polytunnel I already have.  (Understandable i suppose).

My other idea was to construct some cold frames near the house and buy some of that heated cable with a thermostat.  This would be a less hassle route.

BUT

Reading some of the past posts on Heated propagators I am unsure whether I am just creating myself a problem that doesn't exist??.

Should I just calm down and wait until the polytunnel will be frost free and just sow the seeds then.

Am i fooling myself that all polytunnel owners have some heated frost free area where they start their seeds to get a good head start on the season.

Can you guys kindly set me straight.  Am I being silly??

Many thanks

Confused in Dorset

 

 

 

Posts

  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    Hi image



    Firstly, wow! How much would i love to have your garden!!!image



    Secondly, it really depends on what you want to grow, heat can be useful for some things, but often creates a bit of a bottle neck when you are trying to find hardening off room, i prefer to wait a bit, sow what needs it under cover (cold frame etc) then plant out, only minimal hardening off is needed,if any depending on the time of year and weather.



    And, are you planning to rotate your crops?growing spuds and onions in the same place too often can result in diseases...ignore me if you are doing this! image
  • Stephanie@GreenwayStephanie@Greenway Posts: 4

    Hi Bekkie,

     

    It was mostly to get veg started early before moving into the permanent veg beds in the Polytunnel.  

    I have been alternating the potatoes and onions each year but not sure if that is enough of a rest for them.  I tend to use them just for the veg that are grown in quantity and need very little tending to.

    As you can probably tell i am in the unusual situation of too much land and too little knowledge image.

    Thanks for your help x

  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    Most veg dont need lots of heat or protection, there is the exception of chillies, tomatoes etc, so you could maybe use a propgator for those if you really want to get oneimage



    A four year rotation for veggies is reccomended, its not always possible, but i would try to maybe make another bed so each crop gets at least wo years before its back in the same soil, the soil will get exhausted very quickly too.



    If im honest, your poly tunnel will probably be enough protection for the vast majority of veg, from sowing to harvest.



    We are all learning, still loads of things i ask questions about, wish forums/internet had been about when i started growing! image
  • Ian 4Ian 4 Posts: 26

    i start all my chillies and tomatoes and home at the end of Feb. I move them to my allotment towards to end of march & i use a propane gas heater at night as even in early April a 3C frost will do damage.

    You could get some huge thick polythene sheets and create an area in your polytunnel which you could heat at night with a gas heater.

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