Big Polytunnel Changeover | Gardening Jobs For May

[@TheRightPearPlot]

Feels great doesn’t it. Tomatoes in, doing my peppers tomorrow and some more flowers. We will be harvesting before we know it ☺️

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

It feels brilliant! I was so excited. Had to edit out the sections where I was so excited I went high pitched to a level only dogs would hear 😂

[@rebeccazody1278]

It just looks great! Anxious to see everything growing.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I’m anxious too. 😅😅

[@ericandrachallotmenteers]

Great work getting things started and the spring onions! Wow. Lovely Haha loved watching the cows following Duncan 😂🐄 I have some halos and I love them. We had a load of cherry toms out of the greenhouse last year. Be fab watching all the tomatoes growing! And I love that idea of the cord on the stake, I might try that at home 👍🏽 And good job on getting lutha out safely 😮 I'm so jealous though 😂 gutted mine died 😢 It looks fantastic Clare. Well done 🌼🌱

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Definitely try the cord for a stake. Loads of people swear by it. Hope it works 🙈 I’m so excited for us to all get a good season this year. We all deserve it. What a shame yours died. He’s doing ok at the moment but the other one is still in the garden room. Daren’t bring them both out 🙈 Hope you’re feeling more human now x

[@latebloomerdiaries4219]

Very professional-looking polytunnel setup, Clare! Good work. It probably felt chaotic while you were doing it, but it looks very orderly at this stage. Can’t wait to see how your plants grow and for the polytunnel to get some color throughout the season!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

It did a bit chaotic as I generally wing my way through any project. Happy with how it’s turned out and also cannot wait to see things growing and the jungle to take over in the polytunnel ❤️❤️

[@jamiesallotmentgarden]

Those halo's look brilliant for keeping things nice and hydrated, I might have to invest in some for the future.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I picked them up on offer over winter. There’s such varying prices for them.

[@royedwards5913]

looking good Clare. I used galvanised electric conduit pipe down the centre of my polytunnel fixed to the cross bars with cable ties. they come already threaded so you can join them easily.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

That’s a good idea, as very subtle, being the same as material as the tunnel hoops. Thank you for that tip. Much appreciated ☺️

[@Jimmy.Plot.41.b]

Great video Clare, the toms in the poly tunnel look just right, paracord is better than string or twine in my opinion. Loved the bit during your break, Sir Duncan with the cows and the Navarra. Another great video, well done Clare, oh and well done on the companion planting to

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I think 8mm cord might have been a bit too thick but the trusses will be heavy when the time comes, so they’ll need the support. Let’s hope it works. It’s gentle on the polythene and the stems of the plants, more so than twine or wire. Should have pointed that out on camera 😂 That poor car is so abused. I love marigolds. I hope the slugs keep off them 🙏🏻

[@AnyKeyLady]

Great video Clare! We just got our tomatoes out and i feel i am so behind on stuff. We normally have ours out in the London garden/ no cover by the beginning of May but the weather hasn't been great plus i forgot to order the new cord for the new trellis setup when i was doing a bulk order of perlite and vermiculite. (Didn't realise that it was a lot cheaper in bulk!) I got some 3mm purple para cord as i thought it would look nice against the green. Was meant to plant last week just gone but it turned up late. Was going to plant on my birthday when it finally arrived but out of no where surprise, my sister and her family that live in the Netherlands turned up! Quite the shock i can tell you! She got me these lovely big butterfly solar lights for the garden. They all looked at me funnily when i was really excited about what got me. A compost thermometer! lol I have been wanting one for years! He also got me a big bee/ insect hotel, which is pretty well made. He said i can also get stuff for canning/ preserving, like a proper jar/can lifter, etc in stead of using tongs but i have to order it. Well over the moon! I also got to see my Nephew (in his early 20's now) that i haven't seen since 2019! So that was nice. They go home tomorrow. We had to make room for two more tomato plants in our bed with garlic, so had to pick our first lot of rhubarb. Stems were a nice 1.2kg! I might pick from the other one tomorrow as i want to make rhubarb crumb ice cream and our favourite jam (we are on our last so great timing) of rhubarb, orange and ginger jam. If you think the cord might be too thick, you could always get tomato clips. I do a mix of winding the stem and then clipping them just before a truss to give it a loose anchor around the tomatoes, so the cord doesn't strain the truss stem. I love that you plant a Money Maker for your late FIL. We were handed down a tomato plant that my late step FIL hybridised over a number of years. He had a Dr in geology and we never knew what he called them, so we call them Dr Tony after him. They are really big and round pinkish skin tomatoes but very red flesh and not much seed/water that rarely split and are more robust against blight and are always good to germinate well. We are also growing money maker, beefsteak, gardeners delight, honeycomb (new for this year) and mountain magic (new for this year). Managed to get our California Wonder sweet bell peppers in today too! Yipee progress! Have a great weekend Clare and hope Duncan enjoyed his pampering! Take care!

[@GardenofEmma]

Fab polytunnel set up Clare. Agree about the crop bar. Will be useful to hang from

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you Emma. I’m loving the set up 😍

[@GardenMyselfHappy]

I've been following along and loving your journey. The recycled greenhouses and your honesty with you starting out growing etc. The investment you've put into the polytunnel and have laughed the ability to get manure and chippings on mass. It's part of being a farm. As you say Clare it's a different life and what you grow will certainly buffer your own food bills. As a budget gardener myself you still bring relevance and are relatable. You helped me make a choice of my mini polytunnel and then rehoming my old greenhouse and support me on my channel. There are lots of channels and lots of variance. Keep being you.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you Jane. I love the different journeys we’re all on. It’s not a competition. I garden to make myself happy.. which is ironically epic given it’s your channel name too! I love that you have the greenhouse for this year now as well. It’s brilliant seeing it all evolve. I don’t think it matter how little or how much we spend on our growing spaces, so long as we are enjoying them ❤️❤️

[@GardenMyselfHappy]

@@TheFarmyardGarden you are absolutely right. And many of us really do garden for that very reason. It's by far the most important. Have a lovely week. You're very much appreciated across the community. X

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@GardenMyselfHappy hope you’ve had a lovely weekend in the garden, with glorious weather, and wishing you an excellent gardening week ahead. Batch bread baking day tomorrow.. I’ll be catching up on videos ❤️

[@chriseverest4380]

All my Tomatoes are going outside. Everyday I put a couple more out. Some failed to germinate but I've got Garnet, Burlesque, Outdoor Girl, Green zebra (or doctor: can't remember), a siberian one and a Czech one. Will try sowing again soon when I empty the house.😂 Love the named Loofahs - Lex Loofah (perfect) but I'd have called the other one Martin Loofah - then you can have the classic battle between Good and Bad!😂

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I gave away Martin Luffa King to The Weekend Gardener 😂 I mostly have the blight resistant ones outside, apart from honeydew. My germination station is empty, it seems so alien. We’d gotten used to the “ambient lighting” too 😂

[@spudsandroses]

Your setup is fantastic, Clare 🎉 So neat and tidy 😊 I'm tackling our greenhouse next week 💚🌿

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you Maiju. I love your greenhouse. I very nearly bought a Polyeco, which is very similar to yours. (is yours KSB, being in ROI?) I’ve found the changeover to summer crops so exciting. I’m buzzing by it all. We have an exciting summer and autumn ahead of us all. Look forward to seeing your greenhouse next week ☺️

[@GardeningWithCoffee]

That looks wonderful ❤

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you ☺️

[@JoesPatch]

Well that tunnel sure looks like perfect tomato growing conditions 👍🍅. Great support and those halos should help with watering, was thinking about getting some myself as had issues wigh blossom end rot last year but running the risk without. Luthers in! 🙌🙂. Looking forward to the tour!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I didn’t have issues with Bloosom end rot last year but some of my bigger tomatoes did split a little bit. Hoping it’ll help guide a uniform watering schedule and minimise soil splashing on the stems. I can’t help pinching myself that the tunnel is mine. Been a dream for years to have this set up and it’s finally all happened… rather swiftly in the end. Think I am still in shock

[@RobinGardens]

That poly is looking wowzers.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you Robin. I have to pinch myself that it’s really mine ❤️

[@haydngreenow8407]

Thank you again for an enjoyable video

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you for watching 🥰

[@sunilambika322]

Great Thank you again for an enjoyable video💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you for watching ☺️🤗

[@doras.allotment]

Wow look at all of those onions! I’d love to hear what you plan to do with them? 🧅 Seeing the cows move into their new field is a wonderful sight 🤎

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I’ve chopped some up and put in a tub in the freezer. The rest have been busy making up sandwiches, salads and quiche. The cattle love new fields. They’re so funny following the car down to their field

[@doras.allotment]

@@TheFarmyardGarden envious! Mine have been severely grubbed by slugs in the last day or so. Aw gorgeous things! 🐄

[@dogontheplot]

Neatest poly planting in history I'm sure!! I can't get over the size of Luther. Mine are like 5 inches tall, if that 🤣 not sure I'll be getting any loofas! I put the pins under the toms last year but forgot to pull them out when I removed the strings so then had to dig around for them - doh 😂 I like the idea of just lifting the shelf.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I suspect I’ll do the same, and be digging up pegs for a while next year 😂 The two luffas have been ridiculous. So lucky we had the garden room to offload them to. It will look like an untidy jungle in there soon.. hopefully!!😂🙏🏻 I think raising the shelf is a good idea. We have plenty of storage but no need to remove it is there? See you soon in Malvern ❤️

[@royedwards5913]

❤

[@myrustygarden]

If it’s not in the way I’d leave it in place too. Yes I’d not use BFB either if we learn anything from JB that is key. Ah Sir Duncan of the Shorts with his playmates 🤣. Why do they follow the truck 🛻? I would go with the cross bar because you can slide the rope along as needed. My tomatoes look like crap but I’m hopeful 🤞. Great job on Luther 💪💪. Have a super week guys and don’t worry about the Karen’s there’s one in every crowd ❤, Ali 🌞🌞🇨🇦

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I’m glad I’m not alone I’m being traumatised by JB’s experience. The cattle are following Duncan as he was calling them out of the window. He was moving them to a further field over. It’s the same call he does when he’s shouting them over for corn to eat, so they were probably expecting something yummy. Hope your tomatoes pick up. It’s a funny year isn’t it?

[@adysveggarden]

Hi Clare, very tidy set up, you will be soon able to open the doors and smell the tomatoes. If you are looking for extra tie in points in the poly tunnel replace one of the nuts in your cross over brackets with a eyelet (lifting eyelet).

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Oh that’s a fabulous idea! Thank you Ady. I cannot wait for the smell of tomatoes to hit me when I open the doors. Exciting! I bet your early sown tomatoes are huge now

[@adysveggarden]

@@TheFarmyardGarden Hi Clare they are not as big as you would expect but 50% have at least there 2nd truss so the experiment is working. Please be aware that when filming (so talking a lot) that tomatoes in an enclosed space can be an irritant (dry throat) on the throat so if it happens take a breath outside. Look forward to see if you like some of them.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@@adysveggarden I never shut up, I’m doomed 😂🙈

[@PetalsonthePavingSlabs]

happiness is...... a shed load of tomato plants in a polytunnel, bring on the flavour!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I am SO excited! I even like the smell of the marigolds. I think I’m in the minority there 😂

[@Garden-of-weeden]

Your poly looks magnificent! ❤ my luffa is 2” tall lol 😂

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Mine will probably wither and die soon. I’m surprised its survived planting out so far 🙏🏻😂

[@Garden-of-weeden]

@@TheFarmyardGarden I doubt it! They’ll sulk for a bit but will soon pull their britches up and grow grow grow🩷

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@@Garden-of-weeden I hope so! I’ve heard they’re complete divas 🙈

[@Ragt0p]

I started putting my lanky, overgrown tomatoes into the greenhouse today. But temperatures dropped, so I had go rescue them back in. Of course, I’m in Norway and last frost date is not really passed, but I’m very impatient. And very overrun with plants inside… 😅

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Oh no.. the spring shuffle with the unreliable temperatures and even more unreliable forecasts is such a bind. All the plants end up feeling like yo-yo’s. I am trusting the last frost date website with their lives. I did occur to me that I can’t reduce anything not in pots now 😅😅😅😅 Here’s hoping it warms up for you soon too 🙏🏻🙏🏻 Thanks for watching

[@Ragt0p]

@@TheFarmyardGarden Thanks for the well-wishes! It’s cool tonight and then unseasonably warm for at least a week. It’s driving me a bit crazy, hardening off has become quite a to-do

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@Ragt0p it is so tricky. I cheated and waited for the heatwave, as it’s been warm overnight here too. Back to usual temps next week, as well as wet weather 🙈

[@GardenMyselfHappy]

I've seen it two ways with the halo planted as you did and also using the middle as of its a pot so the soil is up to the top, but that may be in a grow bag.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I might actually heap mine up inside the halo as they grow taller. Undecided yet. Depends if they go leggy at all. Definitely a good idea in a grow bag, as it’ll give extra depth for the root system

[@GardenMyselfHappy]

​@@TheFarmyardGardeni only have 3 but think I'll try them planted this time. Maybe in b&q buckets. Mine are currently seedling leaves still. 😂

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@@GardenMyselfHappy they grow like weeds, so they’ll soon catch up to ones sown a few weeks before yours. Exciting ☺️

[@GardenMyselfHappy]

@@TheFarmyardGarden the week of hot weather has really helped. I've got sooooo many seedlings now. Even things that need heat. It's colder tonight and rain forecast. But it's been lovely to see.

[@davidjohnscully93]

I’d be planning where Luther is going to go in about 2 weeks when he’s reached the top of the rope 😂😂 them gourds get out of control (if they don’t die) 😅

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

He can grow across then to the other side (if he doesn’t die) 😅😅😂

[@davidjohnscully93]

@@TheFarmyardGarden that buys you 2 more weeks 🤪

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Erm.. all the way across the crop bars like a grape vine. I have two of them too 😂😅

[@davidjohnscully93]

@@TheFarmyardGarden they took over my greenhouse. I had to keep cutting it back. Very distinct smell to them too - not necessarily bad, not necessarily good 🙈 to be fair though, your polytunnel is huge, you’ll be rite

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@davidjohnscully93 oh dear.. I found more marigolds tonight.. quick fill the tunnel with smelly flowers 😂

[@WendyL63]

😊❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

❤️🤗☺️

[@trold1969]

Good luck with the luffa and everything else.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you so much. Fingers crossed they do ok. Our lovely run of weather just broke. Heavy rain and thunder 🙈😭

[@trold1969]

@@TheFarmyardGarden Oh dear, hope it's brief and as mild as can be.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@@trold1969 me too. Hope your weather is milder now too

[@trold1969]

@@TheFarmyardGarden Oh absolutely, around 20 at daytime and 10 at nights. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and squash are all out in the zip-up greenhouse all the time, except for when I'm home after work, I take them out to enjoy the sun and wind. Only ginger and a few starts inside now. It went from frost and snow to 20 degrees in one week. Spinach bolted. ☺

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@@trold1969 sounds similar to how the weather behaved here too. Winter - summer literally overnight.

[@chriseverest4380]

Yes we all need to see. Not the tomatoes. Not the spring onions. But Sir Duncan's pampered feet : dusky maidens perfuming his wellies while goldfish nibble away at his poor damaged metatarsals😂😂😂

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Oh my.. so funny! 😂 I pity the poor chiropodist personally 😂

[@Petetrenouth]

Your tunnel is looking fantastic, just out of interest, how are the doors holding up? I’ve nearly finished building mine and when I went to fit the doors, they had warped and bowed really badly. First tunnels were excellent though and offered me either replacements or a refund. I decided to take the refund so I can build my own improved version. Look forward to hearing how yours are doing.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Oh wow, that’s interesting. Ours seem to be ok no problem with them at all. I have heard their customer service is top class, which is reassuring. Hope your improved self build doors run smoothly.

[@Petetrenouth]

@@TheFarmyardGarden Glad to hear yours are OK, I certainly can’t fault Their customer service, they delt with it quickly, apologised for the inconvenience and refunded my money the same day. Very refreshing in this day and age. Hope your growing season goes well.

[@amykent6934]

Where did you get the Polly tunnel from?

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Hi Amy. It’s a 20x12ft tunnel from First Tunnels ☺️

[@bethanskitchengarden]

Great looking polytunnel Clare, you are far more restrained than me, I'd have crammed all the plants in 😂 Do you keep your cows for dairy or meat? Your tomato plants are so much bigger than mine, hope Luther does well, take care 😊

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you, lovely. I am so pleased with the tunnel, Bethan. It will all become a jungle soon though but for now it satisfies my mind. They’re ultimately beef cattle. Don’t eat beef myself. I’m too busy naming them all instead 🙈

[@bethanskitchengarden]

@@TheFarmyardGarden You need to keep watching them, if you watch them they don't grow, if you turn your back they go bonkers 😂 Take care 😊

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@@bethanskitchengarden I’m going to camp on the plot and hope the weeds daren’t grow then too! 😂🤭 You always make me smile 🤗🤗

[@bethanskitchengarden]

@@TheFarmyardGarden 😁😍

[@katherinewright6526]

Hi sorry I won't be watching you again. You stated that as a poor farmer's wife, you couldn't afford an automatic stapler. However, your allotment setup is the dream of many greenhouses, polytunnel, raised beds, arches, and bountiful supply of compost . I am on a limited budget, being an NHS nurse, do what I can on my budget, and manage perfectly. Please don't claim poverty when it's not a true picture you show.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Hi Katherine I’m sorry that you didn’t understand or appreciate the tongue in cheek humour in that statement from my previous video. I did think someone might pick up on it and take offence, if they didn’t understand it. We all have varying budgets in this gardening journey. As farmers we don’t take proper holidays, just the odd night in my old camper van in the local national park. We don’t drink, rarely socialise etc, so our limited disposable income is saved and spent on the new project in the garden. I apologise that this causes you offence. Thank you being part of the journey up until now and thank you for looking after people in your role as a nurse. I wish you well. Happy gardening.

[@Ragt0p]

I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a genuine poverty claim, but rather a joke about an old tool? We all have different levels of prosperity and different priorities. But that doesn’t take away from the fact we can learn from one another. Best wishes for your gardening efforts 💕

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@Ragt0p thank you for understanding the way it was meant of be taken. I have to admit I’ve always been told sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, so I do apologise to Katherine for having taken offence and my comment quite literally. In reality it’s a standing joke in the farming community that farmers often look homeless in their attire, yet all drive around in brand new Land Rovers or Range Rovers and drive new tractors. Our Navarra is 10 years old, no Land Rover here and our newest tractor is 20 years old 😅

[@myrustygarden]

@@TheFarmyardGardenno need to apologize as no real loss, you don’t like just leave and don’t let the door hit you on the way out Karen 🤣

[@donnabailey5325]

Good god. I watch these channels for peace and to get tips as a new gardener. I have never ever seen a negative comment ever! You really need to give yourself a good talking to. You should have chosen a different carreer, NHS have had and lost sympathy!