If you’ve recently purchased a polytunnel, you’ve probably asked, “What can you plant in a mini polytunnel?” The good news is that you can plant almost anything in a mini polytunnel. Fruits, vegetables, and other plants grow better inside a polytunnel.
Do Plants Grow Better in a Polytunnel?
Polytunnels allow you to create a controlled environment specific to the plants you’re growing. Whatever the weather is, your plants remain safe and healthy inside the polytunnel. You can customise your polytunnel to grow warm- or cold-season crops.
For instance, you can connect an automatic timer to your watering system. The automatic timer lets you save time in watering your plants and controlling the environment. You can also add heating and cooling systems to grow warm-weather crops during the colder season and vice versa.
Automatic ventilation allows you to control the air that goes in and out of your polytunnel, giving your plants a steady supply of carbon dioxide. Your plants need Co2 for sugar and oxygen production. In this way, they’ll be able to grow more giant leaves and stronger stems. Additionally, enough Co2 increases the chances of early flowering or fruiting.
What Plants Can You Put in a Polytunnel?
Polytunnel gardening in the UK is exciting, significantly since you can grow different types of crops. With that said, here are some of the plants you can put inside your polytunnel:
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are easy to plant on the ground and even easier if you grow them in a polytunnel. They love the heat, and they don’t survive freezing weather. If you don’t give them enough light, your tomatoes can grow pale and frail.
Your plant’s soil should be moist but not wet, and it should be well oxygenated. Only place one seedling per pot for healthy growth.
Strawberries
Strawberries are among the most common plants to grow in a polytunnel—strawberries grown in a polytunnel taste better than store-bought ones. Plus, if you grow your strawberries, you can ensure that they’re free of harmful chemicals, pests, and diseases.
Plant your strawberries in pots with well-draining soil. You can add mulch to control the soil temperature. Additionally, drip irrigation is best because strawberries have shallow roots. If you sprinkle water from above, you may attract pests and disease.
Spinach
If you’re looking for a cold and hardy leafy vegetable to grow all year round, consider planting spinach. These plants grow best in cold weather. Plant them in well-drained soil and place them under direct sunlight to light shade. Soil temperature for spinach should not go beyond 70 degrees F.
Kale
When planting kale, it’s easier to use seed trays for sowing because it’s easier than planting them directly in a seedbed. Kale is one of the easiest plants to grow because it’s one of the most disease-resistant greens. All you need to do is to keep the weeds away and remove yellowing leaves. Kale can grow in almost every climate, even in sandy soil and partial shade.
Salad Greens
Did you know that it’s easy to grow lettuce, romaine, beet leaf, and other salad greens any time of the year? You can plant at least two seeds per week. Let them grow for a few weeks to a month before transplanting them into your British garden.
Green Onions
Green onions faster in a cold, coastal climate or inside a climate-controlled polytunnel. They’re one of the easiest crops to plant, and they are relatively easy to maintain. Easiness to maintain is why many gardeners in the UK recommend onions as the perfect starter plants.
You can plant green onion from seeds or sets, but the easiest way is by growing them from sets. Plant the bulbs in well-oxygenated soil, especially if you live in warmer zones. Refrain from watering your plants once they have swollen up. Harvest it when the foliage turns yellowish and dies back. Lastly, dry them under the sun for a few days.
Investing in a Minipolytunnel– Is It Worth It?
Investing in a mini polytunnel is worth the price because of its versatility and convenience. You’ll be able to grow different types of plants, control the climate, and extend the growing season.
Here are other reasons why a mini polytunnel is a significant investment:
Best for UK gardeners with limited space
Don’t let limited outdoor space stop you from growing fruits and vegetables. You can place your mini-polytunnel anywhere – from balconies, patios, decks to tabletops. Even though it’s small, mini-polytunnels provide the same benefits as a regular-sized one.
Protect tender plants
If you have tender plants, you can place them inside a polytunnel during lousy weather. In this way, you can protect them from frost, storm, heavy rain, etc. Once the weather clears, you can transplant them back into your UK garden.
Repel insects and critters
Insects and animals love to munch on your plants. Prevent them from devouring your crops by placing your plants inside a mini polytunnel.
Extend your growing season
With a mini polytunnel, you can start planting even before the cold season begins. You’ll be able to enjoy an early harvest and grow more along the way.
Final Thoughts: What Can You Plant in a Mini Polytunnel?
So, what can you plant inside a mini polytunnel? Aside from the ones mentioned above, you can also plant carrots, asparagus, eggplants, beets, okra, raspberries, peppers, chilli, and even exotic plants!