Polytunnels and Why to Consider Buying One

 


Looking for a cost-cutting way to try and grow your own fresh garden produce and protect seedlings and young plants and crops from the UK’s weather elements? Consider investing in smaller-sized polytunnels, not only can they help to extend a growing season, but they also offer a protected and safe space for a variety of crops.

Ready to enjoy fresh veggies year-round? Discover the benefits of owning a polytunnel! Ready to enjoy fresh veggies year-round? Discover the benefits of owning a polytunnel!

These simple half-hooped structures come in various dimensions and designs. Each one can create various and unique microclimates, depending on the type of polytunnel covers used. Their purchasing category names range from, mini, garden, domestic, and commercial polytunnels, these are usually categorised dimensionally by their varied availability in width, length, and height size.

The main function and purpose of polytunnels and their simple designs are to offer a sheltered, controlled microclimate, where crops. plants fruits and young trees are protected and shielded from the UK’s harsh and very different blustery weather conditions, such as strong winds, torrential rain, freezing conditions, and snow and hail.

Their varying size frame dimensions and different designs they are available in, as well as the various grades and thickness strengths the manufacturers produce them in and the various clear and coloured options polytunnel covers, can be selected from. The covers are gently placed over the frame structure and can be anchored in various ways, providing robust housing with a protective versatility, allowing gardeners, nursery growers, and commercial polytunnel producers, to access other areas of production opportunities, and to experiment in cultivating differing varieties of flowers, plants, fruits, and vegetables that are not necessarily native to the UK, or naturally suited to the UK’s year-round climate. Allowing for a more diverse range of differing produce to be cultivated, such as vegetables, salads, herbs, peppers, flowers, fruits, plants, and lots more. It also offers an extension of their individual growing seasons by several weeks or even a month or so.

How Do Polytunnels Function?

The quality of construction materials used can differ, from the smaller garden and domestic types to the much larger commercial polytunnels that can be either single or multi-span constructions.  The various polytunnel covers allow a percentage penetration of UV rays to enter through the cover type and then trap the sunlight and heat in, creating a warm and humid environment ideal for plant growth. Growers have the option to manually regulate temperature and humidity by adjusting in-built ventilation or using system-specific equipment designed for climate and irrigation control within the tunnel.

 

Some tunnel types are spacious enough for large-scale cultivation and production, commercial polytunnels can accommodate harvesting machinery and working and growing platforms, helping to streamline the production process. This is particularly common in the cultivation of vine crops and soft fruits like tomatoes, strawberries, and raspberries,

Domestic vs. Commercial Polytunnels

Small and large, garden and domestic polytunnels: These are ideal for home, allotment, large domestic spaces, and field use, for gardeners and smaller growers looking to extend their growing season, or to diversify into different crops and plant types. They are generally smaller and more affordable and can be easily installed. The polytunnel covers are normally, a standard issue that can last from anything up to 4/6 years.

Commercial polytunnels: The various designs and dimensions they are available in are aimed at larger-scale farming, niche growers, nursery, and market garden businesses.  These structures are versatile to whatever crop type is required to be cultivated from, plants, flowers, vegetables, and fruit production. They are dimensionally and vertically expansive, thus more expensive, as stronger frame materials are used, along with heavy-duty polytunnel covers, with differing 6/8year cover guarantees.

Bespoke builds are also available for businesses and customers with specific requirements.



Read More:

A Guide to Polytunnel Models

Polytunnel Installation & Construction

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