How to plant a polytunnel for max productivity and self-sufficiency

For more information on self-sufficiency take a look at my eBook
gardening-ebook.info
After much debate, I’ve finally decided to offer users of my gardening apps, eBook, web site, diary and my youtubers the opportunity to support me via the site Buy Me a Coffee. Thanks so much for all of your support!
www.buymeacoff...
If you have questions, we have a FAQ document and video, which you can find here: steves.seaside...
If you are new to my allotment videos you might find a bit of context useful. We live in the north west of England, in Lytham St Annes, which I believe is the equivalent of USA Zone 8. The garden is about ½ a mile from the sea, the allotment about a mile, it’s fairly mild, but very windy.
A lot of people ask about the databases and apps that I mention in the videos, I make these are freely available, for more check out these blog posts steves.seaside...
We used to have three allotments in my family, mine (Steve), my wife's (Debbie) and my middle daughter's (Jennie) and you will see these featured in many videos. We’ve recently handed Jennie’s back to the council as over the years we now grow more on the other two plots than we did on all three a few years ago. We also have a small kitchen garden at home.
All of the plots are managed in an integrated fashion, so don't expect to see the usual mix of veg on each plot. I do most of the planning and seed starting. We each have our own plots, but we all help each other out.
Debbie's plot is mostly full of perennials, it's an ornamental plot. We did a lot of work to keep the weeds down and Debbie's approach is inspired by the TV programme The Ornamental Kitchen garden.
My plot is all about experimental growing, maximum productivity and year round abundance. As with all of the other plots I did a lot of work to control the weeds, but it's a high maintenance plot. I'm always planting, harvesting, experimenting and generally having a great time.
Collectively the plots deliver an amazing abundance of fruit and veg all year round. Debbie, Jennie, Jon and I are effectively self sufficient in veg all year round and in fruit for much of the year. During winter we sometimes have enough surplus to feed our local family. During the rest of the year when the surplus from our house garden comes on stream we have surpluses in some crops for quite a few friends as well.
This video provides an overview: • The big picture of our...
I do an update of the allotments, roughly twice a month, you can find the tours here:
• Full allotment tour as...
Our approach to allotment life is to: grow as much as we possibly can, to be self-sufficient in veg all year round and in fruit in season, to give away our surplus to friends and family, and to have as much fun as possible. For more on self sufficiency check out these videos:
• Super quick update on ...
We are not slaves to gardening though, I spend about 12 hours a week on the plots (on average) Debbie and Jennie a lot less. We keep nudging that down as we eliminate non-productive work: like grass cutting, weeding and watering as much as practical. We are newbie gardeners, only starting the allotments in 2016.
I'm a bit obsessive about the nutrient density of the veg that we grow and making the plots easy to work because it's through this allotment lifestyle and food that I've overcome a debilitating auto-immune disease.
I'm always aware though that it might not last so I make sure that I don't work too hard, eat as much organic fruit and veg I can and design the plots so that I can still work them when I flare up.

[@LickorishAllsorts]

If you keep up the standard of "your little e-book" it will become the definitive volume on UK vegetable gardening. So far it is brilliant.

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks! I'm sure I will make a lot of progress in late autumn and winter, I have a lot of content in my head and in my databases, but writing isn't for sunny days : All the best - Steve

[@sugarbomb26]

Greetings from the USA. I am blown away by the abundance in your polytunnel and your knack of keeping things growing constantly.

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks, all the details are in my free book : all the best - Steve

[@SecrePeach]

You really have organised your poly to run like a well oiled machine, very impressive Steve!

[@SteveRichards]

I only plan the main crops though Karen, most of the interplanting is figured out on the fly depending on what's growing well and badly : All the best - Steve

[@kaloyankostadinov7489]

Hi, it's amazing what you are doing, loving it! You don't seem to have a slug problem, or if you did , you've solved it brilliantly. If that's the case, please share how you did it 🙏

[@SteveRichards]

lol, the last 12 months have been a real challenge with slugs and snails and it's a continuous battle as it's not something that's easy to solve on my plot, if they just come from neighbouring plots anyway. I have a section in my ebook on my general approach, but I talk about the specifics in my weekly newsletter. steverichards.notion.site/Dealing-with-pests-d43c58a85b6b44bb8c5d7a0203b44488?pvs=4

[@briandavies7456]

Inspirational. Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge.

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks Brian, you might find the chapter of my book on polytunnel growing useful, loads more videos, free to read here: steverichards.notion.site/Polytunnel-greenhouse-growing-e260fa0b71bd4dea9a9003c74bdb9ce7 and the you should be able to find the strawberry pots in polytunnel section of my Amazon store www.amazon.co.uk/shop/stevesseasidekitchengardenallotment?listId=16CYF7ZZOW4D7 : All the best - Steve

[@markshaw5835]

Wow every thing growing so well and looks reallu healthy. Its pays to practice and experiment. Im trying a few new ways for me any way. So hopefully get a good crop this year

[@SteveRichards]

Excited to hear about it Mark : All the best - Steve

[@borntomay1]

Hi. What a great idea to grow Brussels Sprouts for the leaves. I'm definitely going to try that. In NZ we're going into autumn/winter and I've been planting cool weather crops (brassicas, carrots, spinach, lettuce, celery etc since February . I love how you stagger your crops so well. Thanks for putting the films on KZbin.

[@SteveRichards]

It really does help a lot when you have a small space and a lot of people to feed : all the best - Steve

[@Designarts-SA]

Hi Steve, I love your videos, its very informative, only thing I would like you to do is mention the seasons instead of which month, because I am in South Africa, Cape Town area. I want to start videos as well but scared. But besides that. I have build myself a I would say a poly tunnel and I am struggling growing things. I have realized that I need to get the tar out and build ground beds in it to get more humanity in the greenhouse. I don't know I am doing something wrong. Oh I think I am growing zone 10A or b.

[@SteveRichards]

Here's a list of all of my videos, sorted by season, hope that helps airtable.com/shr5ZGk9brOCA1vhJ

[@lynnpurfield9430]

Loving the hanging strawberry tub idea. We have so many plans and they tak e up more space than I like. This is a really useful idea for me to try out. I have bed s on frames waiste high so not sure how to do it yet.

[@SteveRichards]

I wish I had beds waist high sometimes too!! I've learnt to take care of my knees : All the best - Steve

[@lynnpurfield9430]

@@SteveRichards yes, it is so much more comfortable at my age now. We are working at raising all the outdoor beds higher each year....mostly they have been 6 to 12" high. Last year we started some Hugel style beds on the lawn. That lawn won't last much longer ! !!!

[@SteveRichards]

I don't know whether you've seen my kitchen garden videos, but the lawn we have is earmarked for a very big greenhouse for when we are approaching 70 and the grandkids have outgrown games on the lawn : All the best - Steve

[@ronaldandsusanshaws-growing]

Hi Steve, I guess that's how it pays to be organised, Take care.

[@SteveRichards]

and to be flexible and have spares Ronald, that way I can get away with being less organised : All the best - Steve

[@lynnpurfield9430]

Last year we sowed greens for cut and come again and some are outside to grow to maturity....so impressed at getting several crops from one. Some are still inside the polytunne and look absolutely beautiful now though they are getting big.

[@SteveRichards]

No doubt they will go to seed very soon Lynn, so be sure to harvest them! : All the best - Steve

[@chrisstaniforth5629]

Cracking video as always Steve!

[@shelleyjones8552]

Perfect timing, just about to order one!

[@SteveRichards]

Be sure to check out the eBook then Shelly, lots more videos there : All the best - Steve

[@jasons-jungle]

Great video - loads of info to take in, you have a great system going.

[@SteveRichards]

it's taken a few years, but it's starting to feel like a system now Jason : All the best - Steve

[@yasminandreasson7893]

A fantastic informative and inspirational video as always. Since im new in gardening I for now only have outdoorspace but as soon as I can, I will buy a pollytunnel since I want to be selfsufficient in veggies and grow all year round. You sharing your knowledge with these fantastic videos is a great help and inspiration for me even though Im in Sweden and have to adjust my plans after a colder climate. Thank you very much Steve!

[@SteveRichards]

You are also welcome to take a copy of my book and translate/adjust it to Sweden www.notion.so/Gardening-eBook-6f57489ae10a4721b48b421826203814 : All the best - Steve

[@yasminandreasson7893]

@@SteveRichards Thank you very much Steve! Im very grateful for your generosity!

[@jr23112]

Don't forget that polytunnels are called "blow aways" for a reason. Make sure you anchor it well (don't use the little stakes they send. Also, ensure you use straps over the cover to anchor the cover to the structure / ground.

[@annlyder8657]

Great Steve thank you x

[@SteveRichards]

Very welcome Ann : All the best - Steve

[@michaelcripwell1724]

Very informative thank you, I need a bigger poly tunnel.

[@SteveRichards]

Or cold-frames/low tunnels Michael, they achieve similar results are much less cost and the tops come off in summer : All the best - Steve

[@jackosallotment6224]

Thoroughly enjoyed sitting in polytunnel watching this upload with an ice cold cider and salad for lunch. Nice and hot in tunnel but a bit cooler outside loads jobs done after watching as it was just the tonic to get me motivated off to me mums at 4 for dinner and then back later for some more work. Where did you get those hanging baskets from? Cheers 🍻

[@SteveRichards]

I picked them up off Amazon Jacko, they don't sell the ones I bought anymore, but scroll through the listing and you will see close matches : All the best - Steve

[@juleschabot]

Fantastic video. How did you get on with your baby carrots in hanging basket experiment?

[@SteveRichards]

They were ok, but I’ve found better uses for the hanging baskets now Julie, early tomatoes

[@juleschabot]

Super!

[@prepperinireland2240]

Love the idea of growing on levels. :) My polytunnel's tiny (about five foot by nine, I think) but since I got the crates of compost up off the ground, am having much more success, not just keeping crops away from slugs but from the colder ground level too. Then I started hanging milk jugs on the frame, I cut them "almost" in half, keeping the handle to attach with zip ties to the frame, fill the bottom half with soil (and drainage holes) then sow salad crops or brassicas to bring on and transplant. That is working out a treat. Keeping the top of the milk jug attached also acts like a mini "greenhouse within a greenhouse" and provides a better start. Still struggling to get the hang of intercropping but I'll get there. Can turnips be transplanted, Steve? I sowed some outside at the end of last month because the weather fooled us by being warm and sunny. Today it's actuallly snowing and the ground is brick hard with frost! :/ So the turnip seeds I sowed outside began to poke their wee heads above the soil but they seem to have "stuck" like that for weeks now. I always thought turnips (argh sorry, I mean swedes, the big ones!) were frost hardy.

[@SteveRichards]

Hi Trish, turnips are fine transplanted, I have loads of them growing kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHLMaZWAm8qSptE all transplanted. Lots of things are frost hardy, but won't thrive, but they will survive. All those milk cartons sounds great : All the best - Steve

[@prepperinireland2240]

@@SteveRichards Oh That's great to hear re the neeps, many thanks Steve! Now I can succession sow some for later. It says on the packet to sow in place so I assumed they couldn't be transplanted. I wish the packet info was a little more in depth, but I guess they can't cater for everyone's weather conditions etc. :)

[@SteveRichards]

Hi Trish, I don't really pay much attention to seed packets now, if I want to eat something I just try and figure out how to grow it. Sometimes I fail, but many times I do what the seed packets say's I can't : All the best - Steve

[@roythompson6137]

Hi. What's the thicknesses of the plastic on your tunnel? And the plastic we see folded/rolled up inside is for extra protection? Big thanks for your videos!

[@SteveRichards]

It's a UV stabilised film and is 200 microns (800 Gauge) the fleece is for retaining heat on very frosty days

[@roythompson6137]

@@SteveRichards thanks

[@julieandrews555]

Thanks for another inspiring video Steve. Everything looks so healthy. I like the idea of growing lots in containers but strikes me you need a lot of compost. What kind of compost do you use and do you re use the compost in the containers for the next succession of crop to go into the container? Thanks Julie

[@SteveRichards]

The compost in the tubs is home made and gets used for carrots in November, then it goes back into the compost bin and mixed with green waste and gets used again : All the best - Steve

[@julieandrews555]

@@SteveRichards Thanks, good idea to mix back in with green waste.

[@ruthhamilton5290]

Beginner at crop plant and this is so inspiring. Thank you 😊 do you sell any of your crops or is it all for personal use?

[@SteveRichards]

Just for Debbie and I and our local family, but we also barter a little for back yard eggs : All the best - Steve

[@adrianhalton2104]

Another impressive crop of veg Steve. I have sown Kelvedon Wonder peas mid October and the pods are filling well now in a cold greenhouse nothing else looks as well as yours. Do you use fresh compost in the tubs for every fresh planting?

[@SteveRichards]

Peas sound interesting Adrian, I've always found it too hot in my polytunnel for them. Mine are in a low tunnel and the top comes off next week. The compost in the tubs is home made and gets used for carrots in November, then it goes back into the compost bin and mixed with green waste and gets used again : All the best - Steve

[@wryppacc5466]

Good morning Steve, another really informative video - thank you. Could I ask you where you bought the trestle legs that you use for the foldaway platforms in your polytunnel, please? Thanks

[@SteveRichards]

From First Tunnels : All the best - Steve

[@wryppacc5466]

@@SteveRichards Brilliant, thanks for that. All the best

[@bernadette6211]

I have such a lovely crop of brassicas from the January sowing under grow lights, thanks to you. Do you pick the leaves of the calabrese before the calabrese forms? I'm experimenting growing madeira vine and Apios ground nuts this year(my tunnel is quite big)

[@SteveRichards]

I've not done any experiments but my gut feel tells me that you can pick a leaf every three weeks, which in my case would be 7 leaves a week without causing any issues, provided the leaf growth is strong. I'm really pleased it's working out for you! My calabrese is heading up very nicely now and the January sown kale is ready for harvest too : All the best - Steve

[@SarahBrettle]

How are you attatching the shelves to the PT?

[@SteveRichards]

Like this: Making a quick, cheap and easy polytunnel hanging shelf kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4rPfoaprp2Mm6M

[@denpictor8992]

Hi, Steve can I ask what compost you start your seeds off, please as your plants look very strong.

[@SteveRichards]

Hi Den, all of the details are in my little eBook, the basics section covers sowing and compost : All the best - Steve

[@sjk7314]

Steve, what is that device you have sticking in the soil? I am looking for recommendations for a good soil ph/moisture/temp tester. Thanks.

[@SteveRichards]

It's meant to measure moisture, light levels and ph, but it's rubbish : All the best - Steve

[@richardcottrell7062]

Is your e book available for purchase?

[@SteveRichards]

Hi Richard, it's only available for free online here steverichards.notion.site/Gardening-eBook-info-6f57489ae10a4721b48b421826203814 but I also allow people to buymeacoffee. The reason it's not in other forms is it too big (1000+ pages) and full of videos and live database information : All the best - Steve

[@MrAlistar99]

How big is your tunnel Steve?

[@SteveRichards]

All the details here steverichards.notion.site/Polytunnel-greenhouse-growing-e260fa0b71bd4dea9a9003c74bdb9ce7?pvs=4

[@lynnpurfield9430]

Is this all just for your family Steve, or do you sell too?

[@SteveRichards]

Just for my local family and we barter for eggs : All the best - Steve