Greenhouse vs Polytunnel: Which One Should You Choose?

In this video, we dive deep into the pros and cons of greenhouses and polytunnels for gardeners. We compare key factors such as cost, ease of installation, maintenance, environmental impact, temperature control, ventilation, and light transmission. Drawing from personal experience growing in both structures, we provide valuable insights and recommendations to help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and budget. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this video will guide you in choosing the best option for your garden.
Accompanying article: chillichump.com/greenhouse-vs...
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[@PacificGardening]

Excellent video that I’ve been wondering about for a while. Both are better options than my current solution of covering each plant with a blueberry bag 😅

[@ChilliChump]

Nothing wrong with a blueberry bag 😄

[@dean-Conjured-Vaporz]

Definitely the best video I have ever seen on the pro's and cons of both! Thanx Shaun. :)

[@daves1563]

Lots of mods for both. I got double polyethylene inflated with shade cloth on top and twin wall polycarbonate on both ends. Inflated poly has the highest R value. You can easily upgrade that poly tunnel with a blower and extra layer if you wanted to heat it.

[@oz969]

What a fantastic video Shaun, thank you

[@ChilliChump]

My pleasure, I hope it helps you out!

[@we_want_chilli_willy]

nice comparison video, I currently have an old garden shed converted into a greenhouse using clear corrugated roofing plastic but plan on upgrading in the future. This video is very helpful.

[@brianhall2694]

My 2c worth: For people that are uncertain what they want or just need something short term like renters, polycarbonate greenhouses can be looked at. They assemble and disassemble without too much hassle so you can bring them with you if you want to move house or upgrade to a bigger one. Some brands can have very thin panels though so they might bend or buckle and pop out of place or even fly away if you place it in an open area or somewhere that gets heavy wind loading, many youtubers recommend using acrylic sealant around the panel edges, but it can look messy and make disassembly more difficult. Even small size greenhouses or polytunnels can get incredible heat build up, so air circulation can be a problem if they're too well closed without automatic venting like Shaun showed. A small solar panel with 12v fans can do a good job to get a bit of airflow going in a small space, even if it's just enough to shake the plants lightly and avoid powdery mildew and keep tiny crawlers away. There's some great ideas on the More Chillichump channel (www.youtube.com/@ChilliChump2) that I'll be getting into for automation, temp and humidity sensors over the rest of the summer. Lastly, don't be getting stressed about your polytunnel/greenhouse/gardening issues, it's meant to be stress relieving and enjoyment! Everyone has issues at some stage or another, solving them is pure satisfaction that you're making progress :)

[@joemoer1]

Great video. You answered questions I never thought I needed answered. I only grow about 20 chilli plants, so I can get away with a heat pad close to a sunny window.

[@murdog04]

A boatload of great information. Thanks so much for giving us the 411. Your space always looks amazing. I am looking forward to your next LS. Until then Stay Spicy.

[@PreatorRaszagal]

Nice and informative. I guess another bonus with having a greenhouse is that you can quite easily collect rain water from it as well. I heard JB talk about having seen something for polytunnels as well, but it at least seems a lot easier with a greenhouse.

[@ChilliChump]

This is true ...much easier collecting off my greenhouses. You can get little gutter ridges that fit along the sides of the polytunnel.

[@briangregus5225]

I built a small greenhouse on wheels. 3'x8'x6' on wheels. Too bad I can't do a photo here on KZbin as it's easier than describing. I skinned it like a drum or an artist's canvas with plastic sheeting and some plastic molding that I stapled down. To assist with the heat I had shade cloth, which could be rolled out over the top. This helped immensely when the ventilation wasn't enough (or I didn't want to roll the greenhouse into complete shade). The caveat here were the surprise hot days (external temp 115F). The sun is BRUTAL here. I didn't realize the temperature and the plastic was destroyed. I'm planning on moving but I'm leery of plastic now. Greenhouse all the way and perhaps a few external mounting points for shade sails if things get rough.

[@ChilliChump]

Sounds interesting! Send a photo over through my contact page, would love to see it!: chillichump.com/contact

[@paulkerrison3342]

Thank you so much. I have recently cleared what was a huge raised bed and my first intention was to level it and put a poly tunnel in. I'm not going to now, I'll still level it but it will be a long greenhouse or two back to back. Hands down the best comparison video I have seen and as always honest and insightful. I also remember the problems you had with "that" greenhouse, I'll get mine elsewhere :)

[@ChilliChump]

I'm glad it helped you out Paul! Bet you can't wait to get the new grow space set up!

[@erikhartwig6366]

very helpful video! @9:48 i am curious about keeping the green house clean. Here in Birmingham Alabama, at the Botanical gardents, they have an awesome green house (they grow citrus, coffee, banana's), but there is this 'growth' on the glass that they cant clean and dont know what it is. I notice a 'green growth' on your glass and wonder how labor intensive is it to clean.

[@markbedard6238]

Thank you

[@wranther]

Very informative video Shaun! Hopefully you have answered many questions that viewers may have. In these parts there are times when the hail comes through, and not only spiders a front or rear windshield, the hail will also enter into the vehicle. Not all that often, but all it takes is that one hailstorm to defeat the long term benefit of a glassed greenhouse. On the other hand, the poly tunnel or hoop house can be a one person operation, although two sure makes assembly so much easier. In either event, one or the other can lead to an extended growing season. Stay Spicy! -Bob...

[@Hagzorz]

You can join smaller greenhouses as I've just had this done on ours, as we were offered another greenhouse the same size as ours as it was no longer used. I can clarify it is a pain though and required some jerryrigging, wouldnt recommend for anyone some decent DIY skills. If you are very handy though its a nice way to double up size if you get an offer / see a second hand greenhouse going cheap the same size (or at least width) as the one you currently have.

[@BlackJesus8463]

Think I'm going to be happy with two layers of row cover but I don't have that UK wind to worry about either. ✌😁✌

[@bradleycrossland8451]

Another fantastic video shaun very informative, just realised poly tunnels dont have any gutters to collect rain water big disadvantage compared to a greenhouse. Keep up the great videos, regards brad from north lincs

[@gardeningtroutmaster]

looking at bg chump.. you obviously don't get to much snow... it would be rushed from snow load in the middle here.. it's just beautiful.. wish i had one.. little chump that is.

[@ChilliChump]

You are right, we have minimal snow here. I would hate to think what would happen with Big Chump if we got a big snowfall, it would just collect up in the center.

[@gawain8000]

Nice vid

[@jasongee8067]

Live close to (and visit regularly) the south Devon chilli farm - all polytunnels even a new one they put up this year, on a slope which draws air, and fan vents up top both ends. They do plant into the ground though so maybe why that’s their preference?

[@mark46ification]

Shaun you could lecture at the university...perfect video🙂

[@ChilliChump]

Thank you sir! I'm glad you found it useful!

[@GordonNew]

Hey Shaun, did you look at the polycrub ? with me living in the Outer Hebrides the wind was the reason for me to get a polycrub made and designed on Shetland very robust.

[@ChilliChump]

I did look into them. They look interesting, but I haven't had hands-on experience with them. I would love to check them out in person

[@BlackJesus8463]

They look tough! 👍

[@GordonNew]

@@ChilliChump Ah ok they do ship them all over the uk, so there maybe someone near you may have one, I do like it the ventilation is one thing i built into mine, as the plans only really go as a door and a window at which ever end ya want it, not hard to build I chose to do the build myself, just working a way to make the big door at the end to be automated, very strong winds here regular in the winter so the polycrub was a good choice. Thanks

[@craigdawson7632]

Could the glass house cool down slower due to thermal mass? I've found glasshouses a lot more dry than a tunnel, not sure why. Maybe the cracks between the glass to let it breath

[@anjkovo2138]

I've given up on a greenhouse. The strong winds here in uk smash the glass

[@ChilliChump]

I'm in the UK, in Lincolnshire. Very exposed with high winds.

[@BlackJesus8463]

@@ChilliChump Every video it looks like your whole yard is going to blow away. lol

[@yamfingaz5598]

You must have some crappy glass, our greenhouse has seen 3 cyclones and massive hail storms and nothing has broken. It's very exposed in its location also 🤔

[@anjkovo2138]

@@yamfingaz5598 Oh you lucky. Manchester Uk had a bad two years with storms & high winds. Anyway bought & installed a Polytunnel and have no problems so far

[@yamfingaz5598]

​@anjkovo2138 we bit the bullet and invested in a locally made one rather than imported so that's probably paying off 😅

[@sharonbenson1634]

Great video. Do your louvre vents have auto-openers or do you operate those ones manually? If so can you recommend a brand? Thanks.

[@ChilliChump]

The Rhino greenhouses used to come with auto open Louvre vents as standard. My first one had them. But they stopped doing them. So my current greenhouses don't have them. I would recommend the bayliss autovents

[@craigdawson7632]

What are peoples thoughts on light spectrum filtering with UV treated or opaque products?

[@1000Mikey]

Would you ever consider fitting a misting system to dampen down on really hot days or would this potentially cause problems with damp/ humidity around the plants?

[@ChilliChump]

A misting system would be great....helps with pollination. However there isn't really a need if you are willing to go round with a sprayer during the flowering and fruiting phase. Something I may install in the future is a humidifier or fogger.

[@littlehills739]

glass kilms have to be run 24/7 just to keep it running so hidden green washing in there polly tunnel plastic could be cut up as weed mats or put in hot oil to make runny goup for better waste processing

[@chompers11]

.. you really dont want to be putting plastic that a breaking down into your soil, you nuts?!

[@carrolte1]

would you recommend running the hoop house e/s or n/s?

[@ChilliChump]

My preference would be n/s. But honestly, either way would be fine.

[@scumtastic7781]

Good evening fellow lincolnshire man ... i have a question regarding insects if you have some wisdom you can share . This is the first year i am attempting to grow some chillis . Im behind i have made some blunders but we live and learn . My question is in relation to gnats and how you deal with them,ive done some research but i'm after your opinion on the matter please .. thanks in advance

[@ChilliChump]

Hi. We have loads of gnats outside too. We use citronella to deter them (citronella incense sticks are cheap and work well). Never had an issue with gnats in the greenhouses, the hoverflies seem to deal with them

[@scumtastic7781]

@@ChilliChump ah thankyou for that info .. i have just got my green house ,that will be going up at the weekend . Plants are currently in my house under a light , not sure if the gnats came with the soil or just bad luck but im concerned about the potential damage they will cause . I am hoping when they go outside the wild life will take care of this .. i would like to take the chance here to say that your channel has been my key teacher. As you are in the uk its nice to know you are growing in the same climate i am and its been good watching . Well presented and very educational i can only hope i do even 10% as well as you do . I think i will be getting one of your seed packs you mention for next season and hope that i get a better start

[@Mxrow]

Which one gives better pest protection. Pest are always my curse

[@ChilliChump]

They both do a similar job with insect pests. However the greenhouse is better for bigger problems like mice and rats etc

[@DanFree7]

Just put up a shading net.

[@richardsterne2875]

Have you ever used twin wall in a greenhouse?

[@nickvanbaelen]

What size and brand popytunnel you got there exactly? 🤔

[@ChilliChump]

It's 5m wide, 24ft long. From Northern Polytunnels

[@dean244]

An extra arch added to the poly tunnel twice a season and maybe Mrs ChiliChump won't notice?

[@dean-Conjured-Vaporz]

Probably the best idea Dean!

[@ChilliChump]

Lol. Love this. Now to make sure she doesn't see this comment 😉

[@joeycerelli]

Even with fans, shade cloth, and vents in my greenhouse, I can't keep plants in there past early-June. Everything in there just gets fried.

[@ChilliChump]

Where did you live?

[@MrVolerus]

Consider shadow-nets. 50% shadow helps a lot.

[@joeycerelli]

@@ChilliChump Oklahoma.

[@CSaville]

I'm so happy with my Rhino Greenhouse. I was going 8 x 6 but in the end went 8 x 12 you are so right that you need to go as big as possible. I still think I'd easily fill it if it was twice as big.

[@ChilliChump]

The Rhinos are good. And got to be one of the easiest to build. I only wish they did one the size of my large greenhouse...would definitely have gone with that