You are wondering when to start a mini outdoor polytunnel in Highlands Scotland? If you live somewhere in Ullapool, Invergordon, Dingwall, Beauly, Ledgowan, or Strathcarron, you’re living in areas where steep hills, as well as valleys, are more common than in the other parts of Scotland.
More often than not, the summer season in Highlands Scotland is also the rainiest seasons of the year. However, this doesn’t change the fact that summer days in these areas are sweltering and humid. The usual day temperatures can range from 90˚F (32.2˚C) to 100˚F (37.8˚C) in July.
When you’re planning to start a mini outdoor polytunnel, you need to consider a few things. The good news is, you’re not alone. To help you get started, check out the most common questions people ask about the mini polytunnel, commonly called “polytunnel” gardening in Highlands Scotland.
When is the Best Time to Start a Mini Outdoor Polytunnel in Highlands Scotland?
If you’re planning to set up your mini polytunnel outdoors, it’s best to do it in April. However, since mini-polytunnels allow you to do nonstop gardening, you can also choose to set yours up even during the middle of winter.
Do Mini Polytunnels Protect Your Plants from Frost?
Yes, a mini polytunnel can provide your tender plants with enough protection from frost. However, it would help if you ensured that your mini polytunnel is securely anchored to the ground to keep it from getting caught by strong winds.
What Vegetables Can You Grow Inside a Mini Polytunnel?
You can grow a variety of vegetables in a mini polytunnel, including eggplants, peppers, lettuce, asparagus, tomatoes, salads, cucumbers, courgettes, squashes, sweetcorn, chillies, spring cabbage, and French beans.
What Fruits Can You Grow in a Mini Polytunnel for Beginners?
The easiest to grow fruits in a mini polytunnel include strawberries, raspberries, peppers, cucumbers, cherries, cantaloupe, grapes, chillies, and lemons.
What Flowers Can You Grow Inside a Mini Polytunnel?
The best kinds of flowers that are easiest to grow in a mini polytunnel are peace lilies, African violets, kalanchoe, begonias, marigolds, sunflowers, nigella, daisies, and morning glories.
What are the Herbs and Spices that are Best Grown in a Mini Polytunnel?
The best kinds of herbs and spices that are easy to grow in a polytunnel include liquorice, lavender, cumin, anise, rosemary, catnip, bay laurel, thyme, tarragon, sage, cilantro, and mint.
What Can You Grow in a Mini Polytunnel in Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter?
The best time to keep your young and tender plants growing in mini polytunnels during springtime. At the start of the season, go ahead and grow plug plants that include begonias, busy Lizzies, and petunias.
During the summer season, you can use your mini polytunnel for seed starting and cloning the plants that are already growing in your outdoor garden. On the other hand, you can also start growing spring cabbage, take cuttings from geraniums and fuchsias, and plant salad crops inside your mini polytunnel in the autumn. You can also choose to grow cacti, orchids, and various carnivorous plants in it once you’ve managed to learn how to control the climate inside the enclosure.
In case you’re wondering, your mini polytunnel can also provide your young plants and cuttings with enough protection from cold, as well as first mild frosts. The mini polytunnel also serves as the ideal environment for the young plants you’re planning to overwinter.
Do Plants Grow Better Inside a Mini Polytunnel?
Yes, they do! Since mini-polytunnels offer indoor settings, you can easily take control of your plant’s growing environment. To give you an idea, you can connect your watering system to an automatic timer so that you can save time and control the internal temperature regardless of the time of the day or season.
Moreover, the enclosure can also allow you to implement automatic ventilation to facilitate ideal indoor airflow and a steady supply of carbon dioxide for your plants. In case you’re wondering, your crops need this to produce sugar, as well as oxygen.
Getting concentrated amounts of carbon dioxide will cause your crops to produce larger leaves and stronger plant stems. To top it all off, this can also increase your plants’ potential to produce early flowers, as well as fruits.
You’re probably aware of the fact that most plants thrive in a humid environment. For this reason, your plants can experience peak development when you install moisture regulators that can help keep the level of humidity consistent inside your mini polytunnel.
Besides helping your plants focus on producing flowers and fruits, a mini polytunnel helps keep the soil moist. When you grow your plants in moist soil, their chances of being attacked by pests or developing various forms of diseases are significantly lower.
Final Thoughts on When to Start a Mini Outdoor Polytunnel in Highlands Scotland
A mini outdoor polytunnel lets your plants get most of the sun, experience longer growing seasons, and produce a great harvest at any time of the year. Now that you know when to start a mini outdoor polytunnel in Highlands Scotland, the next logical step would be to purchase your own mini polytunnel and experience the beautiful benefits of mini outdoor polytunnel gardening!