When to start portable polytunnel planting will depend on your schedule or when you want. As you control the environment inside, creating a polytunnel is what you’d do to provide for your plants’ needs.
However, if you plan to grow your plants from seeds, you’d want to start placing the seeds in 6 to 8 weeks in your polytunnel before the last expected frost date for your specific location. So your plants will be able to avoid the harsh seasonal conditions.
In this article, we’ll talk further about when to start portable polytunnel planting. So, just read on to find out!
Portable Polytunnel Planting
Portablepolytunnelplanting is a trend. When to start portable polytunnel planting, you’ll know about a technique that has produced the best plants and crops for so many farmers and gardeners in the UK and generally worldwide.
Some best plants or crops to have in your polytunnel may include carrots, green onions, asparagus, spinach, eggplants, turnips, kale, zucchini, microgreens, okra, salad greens, and more.
Indeed, humidity and temperature are two primary factors that one should contain in your greenhouse. They are crucial not just for the propagation of seeds but also for their growth. So, if you’re a British gardener, you should start whenever you’re convenient.
For best success in your portable polytunnel planting, you should germinate most seeds in your polytunnel in temperatures around 70-80 F. (21-27 C.), at night without dropping to 50-55 F. (10-13 C.).
Starting Portable Polytunnel Planting
So, when to start portable polytunnel planting? According to most experts’ professional advice, the best time to start planting your crops in your portable polytunnel is until March and April.
The best crops for those months would be early spring vegetables – like lettuce, peas, and spinach.
Why start portable polytunnel planting in warm seasons?
Warm-season crops would also suit that time frame and vegetables that often need more sunlight and warm days.
You can also choose other crops to plant in your portable greenhouse, as long as you make sure to plant them during warm and bright seasons with enough sunlight.
Yes, many seeds can be sown from your garden in the United Kingdom either in autumn or spring. They also grow naturally despite changes in weather condition. Unfortunately, other seeds are pretty sensitive, thus requiring more of your attention.
That means that they need stable temperatures. For them to germinate, it’s obligatory to have a controlled environment. It only shows that if you’re planting seeds in your greenhouse, you have to maintain a stable atmosphere to ensure the germination and growth of seeds.
You can immediately start planting portable greenhouses due to the controlled and adjustable temperatures and conditions enclosed within the plants’ structure or space.
However, it is for the best results that most professional and experts would state or recommend to start planting your portable greenhouses in springtime or even summertime for that abundant sunlight and warm temperatures.
Why not in other seasons?
Most British gardeners and farmers would often start their portable greenhouses in the autumn time, which would also be applicable.
But when you decide to start planting in the autumn season, please note and remember to start earlier than expected, so you will not let the first frost or cold season catch up to the growth of your plants in your portable greenhouse.
Types Of Greenhouses And When To Start Planting Them
Attached
The great advantage with an attached or lean-to polytunnel is that you don’t need to build all four walls for this greenhouse.
In addition to that, you’ll have at least one sturdy and weight-bearing wall in place (usually your house or garage), so you can build the three polytunnel sides lighter and overall more efficient.
Thesepolytunnelstructures are cheaper than other models, as it is best for growing herbs, some vegetables, and, most importantly, seedlings in places where space is abundant.
However, the only disadvantage is the limited sunlight to only three sides, so make sure to start planting during hot sunny days or a warm and bright season.
Freestanding
Freestanding or portable greenhouses, of course, stand-alone, enabling you to place them wherever you want on your property or garden in the UK (as long as the site is level and receives plenty of light).
Although this freestanding polytunnel can be pretty pricey compared to an attached greenhouse, they would offer a lower cost per plant, as the larger space allows you to grow more plants.
In most places, a freestanding or portable polytunnel will allow you to start plants much earlier in the growing season (months of January or February).
And then, at the first sign of frost, you can bring your plants or crops back inside to extend the growing season through October or November since most plants can’t stand the harsh cold during this season.
Conclusion
Once again, portable greenhouses are controlled environments where you can start planting at any time convenient for you as a UK gardener or farmer.
Ideal for plants to take good care and monitor the temperatures within your portable polytunnel regularly, you will have healthy-looking plants and crops in no time.
Growing your plants in a portable polytunnel takes investments in your time and many resources.
There are greenhouses famous for berries, herbs, and vegetables. These crops would also include wild berries, strawberries, potatoes, herbs, cauliflowers, beets, radish, cabbage, onions, and more.
Thank you for reading our article on when to start portable polytunnel planting. We hope that you learned and understand our content!