Since I moved to my new half-acre homestead in Wales I have looked forward to August with great enthusiasm because it means the arrival of my polytunnel.
In my previous garden, I had a 12 x 40ft polytunnel for 10 years or so and absolutely loved how it meant I could grow so much more, especially warmth-loving summer crops. It has been strange only growing outdoor varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, and aubergines this year, but I am looking forwards and planning what I will grow once this new polytunnel is up.
When I was looking for a new home, space for a polytunnel at least the size of my previous one was crucial. I’d pace the gardens, imagining where a tunnel would go – I wonder what the estate agents thought of me! Here at Ael Y Bryn, the orchard had enough space, next to Dai’s sheep field.
PREPARATION AND PLANNING
A polytunnel is a long-term decision and investment and it is worthwhile considering all of your requirements carefully. Always buy the largest you can afford (and legally fit in your garden). The first thing to do is find out your local planning rules. These vary from county to county. There are regulations about distances from roads, neighbouring boundaries, and the height of the structure.
You may need planning permission. Usually, any polytunnel over 14ft wide is considered a commercial structure and requires planning permission, whereas one 14ft or less is a domestic tunnel and does not. A phone call to your local planning office is usually helpful in this respect.
Denne historien er fra August 2022-utgaven av Kitchen Garden.
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Denne historien er fra August 2022-utgaven av Kitchen Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A FOOD FOR ALL SEASONS
Another Christmas has passed in a whirl of twinkling lights, naff jumpers and Brussels sprouts. No doubt we smug kitchen gardeners were patting ourselves on the back after another year of home-grown delights on the dinner table. Frost-sweetened parsnips dripping with butter, tender carrots and potatoes grown and roasted by our good selves. Not to mention the swede, turnips, cabbages and other winter treats. If you're reading this while Christmas memories are fresh, you might feel your waistline expanding just thinking about it. For some, it might even be too soon to talk about food full stop!
DIGGING THE DIRT THINGS THAT GO CLUNK IN THE LIGHT
John Holloway finds the mechanical and electrical tools on his allotment site somewhat 'challenging', shall we say. But has he found the perfect solution?
THE BIG (OR LITTLE) PARSNIP GROW-ALONG
Back in December we included a free packet of parsnip seeds with every issue and invited readers to join us in growing the longest root. Here are some top tips to get you started
DIGGING FOR DEVON!
Rhiannon Alcock thought gardening was definitely not for her. So who could have foreseen that one day she would go on to found a thriving community project growing food for food banks?
WINTER WONDERFUL
This month Anna Cairns Pettigrew has prepped a range of delicious and nutritious dishes for us all to try, with mustards, Savoy cabbage and 'Cavolo Nero' kale on the menu
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR COMPOST
Dr Anton Rosenfeld from Garden Organic shares some great ideas for ways to use your composted waste effectively
A wildlife pond is born
Jane Kelly finally got round to making her own pond in the hope that it would attract a variety of wildlife. And it did!
UNDER COVER
HARVEST WINTER SALADS - Winter salads, whether they have been growing outside, on a windowsill or under cover in the garden, will be starting to grow faster as the day length increases. Regular picking of the outer leaves helps to keep the plants healthy and producing for much longer.
HERB OF THE MONTH: SAGE ADVICE
Sage has been an important culinary and medicinal herb for centuries but it also comes in a range of leaf colours that makes it a real treat for the eyes (and nose) in borders and pots
CREATING A POTAGER GARDEN
Creating vegetable beds in patterns with dividing pathways can be an attractive and practical way to grow. Emma Rawlings offers some tips on making a potager
