Letting The Sunlight In

[@williamanderson9557]

Lol just the nonchalant delivery of "bird shit" repeatedly got me 😂. Very good content as always. Thank you!

[@BlackJesus8463]

lol

[@PJRBoer]

Caught me by surprise too haha

[@RealBradMiller]

Yes, I had to rewind! 😂 You know what the white stuff in bird shit is? It's bird shit too. 😂

[@REDGardens]

Haha, I try to keep my videos 'clean' of objectionable language, but guess I don't consider shit to be a problematic word!

[@rochrich1223]

Apparently, Ireland is also the home for enthusiastic snails. Trails from them eating algae clear to the top of the tunnels. (Too bad there is no way to train them to clean the plastic more thoroughly.)

[@REDGardens]

Yeah, I get those too, and from slugs. Sometimes they make really beautiful patterns.

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

Could you do a video on what you have learnt about running trials over the years - non specific to veg, more about how to effectively learn about your processes. Imagine you have smoothed out data gathering and analysis techniques and tried many approaches. "I'd love a video on learning to learn". Many thanks, Bruce, and happy new year.

[@REDGardens]

That could be interesting!

[@kelliott7864]

We have iron oxide in our water, so the hoophouse plastic gets some rust buildup from sprinkler overspray. I use vinegar mixed with warm water and a car washing brush to scrub off the rust residue. Works for me.

[@REDGardens]

Sounds like a good option. We get some calcium buildup from the alkaline water, so vinegar would also help.

[@titanlurch]

If there is less light getting through the plastic it would stand to reason the temperature would be lower. you could also try a light meter that photographers use. On another note ,I am seeing high tunnels used as extreme zone extenders by adding low tunnels within the high tunnel. Over the last few years some farmers here in the Montreal area have been offering locally grown ginger root .

[@RealBradMiller]

Was just thinking about putting my greenhouse inside a larger hoop house, and putting it on the east side of my house, so it's protected from the dastardly western winds.

[@PlantObsessed]

Kudos for all the work you do. That looked pretty exhausting.🎉🎉

[@REDGardens]

A bit of a different form of exercise 🙂

[@itsrachelfish]

Never thought about the maintenance required for a polytunnel in the long term. Most people only talk about building costs and growing crops

[@REDGardens]

Yeah, everything takes maintenance, but I suspect in Ireland a lot more cleaning is necessary.

[@jilltompson2306]

Well done. Thank you.

[@hotmalm]

Thanks for all information you provide 😊👌

[@samuelkermit9832]

Your the best ...love how you inspired me to grow a million bell peppers..thank you from the Bahamas sir...

[@REDGardens]

That is awesome!

[@richardhart7652]

As my mum always said cleanliness is next to godlyness and if like her it makes you happy go for it ❤😂

[@REDGardens]

😂

[@luckymike3065]

As always Bruce, extremely useful information.. your a Champion.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks!

[@stretch8390]

Have you experienced any increase in the price of supplies for your setups? Where I am irrigation supplies, horticulture plastics, etc. all seem to have become significantly more expensive to the point it is becoming hard to justify purchasing them.

[@bobaloo2012]

Everything is going up. What really struck me this year is seeds. I saw a listing at Johnny's for 25 lettuce seeds for $7! It's time to get back into seed saving in a bigger way again.

[@AndrewShaidurov]

It's a race to the upper limit. Price on stuff is made not from what it's worth in materials+labor, but what it can add to the value of product.

[@REDGardens]

Yes, everything has become more expensive in the least few years.

[@pomicultorul]

thank you!

[@charlespalmer3595]

What you need is Peracetic acid. Use a garden sprayer to coat the plastic and your halfway there. It kills the spores, bacteria, and algae! And it is super safe for the environment. Plus you can use it in the clean and pack sinks at harvest. On the outside you might consider using zinc strips or wire along the peak of the tunnel. The rain distributes the zinc and keeps algae from growing.

[@Ebonyraeful]

I was also wondering if you could spray vinegar on it (mostly the inside). That way it would change the pH so that the algae wasn't able to grow. Just an idea of never tried it, but if peracetic acid is indeed an acid, maybe it's the same idea. Curious if anyone has tried vinegar and if it has any adverse effects on the plastic or plants/soil.

[@charlespalmer3595]

@@Ebonyraeful Peracetic acid is a mix of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, this mixture cleans like vinegar but also kills (through oxidation) microorganisms almost instantly. Vinegar on its own doesn't sanitize.

[@REDGardens]

Interesting option, and worth looking into. Thanks. I wonder if a copper strip would work as well.

[@charlespalmer3595]

@@REDGardens Copper isn't as good because it doesn't ablate in the rain as well as zinc does. That means the plastic won't have enough metallic ions coating it to inhibit the growth of the algae. I'm sure your local hardware store will have zinc strips/wire in the roofing area, and it should be cheaper than copper.

[@andrewmaclennan1818]

As always great content

[@glassbackdiy3949]

If you read the safety data sheet for very expensive popular greenhouse/polytunnel anti-algie products, they dress up the ingrediants with very sciency sounding technical terms, to hide the fact they're (when diluted) 5% Vinegar, 0.005% natural soap (as a suffacant) in water.

[@REDGardens]

I figured that was the case.

[@mmmmmGuinness]

Thanks for the towel and rope method, the very top of my tunnel really appreciates it!❤

[@REDGardens]

You're so welcome!

[@RoyHolder]

If you add some copper oxychloride to your wash mix it should inhibit the algae a lot longer. 👍

[@fredrickvanolphen3299]

Thanks so much for sharing Bruce! ❤️🙌❤️ Always impressed by your operation and crops. Happy new year! This is the year all of your hard work pays off.

[@REDGardens]

Happy new year! Thanks!

[@jukeseyable]

I urge you and followers of your channel to continue with the same lvl of care when it comes to cleaning the inside of the tunnels. Poly isnt just polt, at least if it is designed for polytunnel use,. On the inside are various coatings applied to the poly, in order to optimise its function, Uv filters and thermal insulators are the most common. flowers prefer different wavelengths of ligkt say to fruit or brassicas. good quality tunnel plastic will be optimised for not only different climate but also different produce. Sadly most people will never know this and get lumbered with generic over priced highly marked up rubbish, (definitely not looking at any of the big hobby pollytunnel uk manufacturers here , no definitely not). and no one would use a spanish manufacturer's poly for uK growers as the climate , wavelength and overall conditions are totally different. If you want the best poly then go the the manufactures, UK ones. and go to the best, that XL horticulture, they will do buisness with hobbyests happily, but they are the go to manufacturer of poly to the industry here in the uk. there is a reason that they do a wider range of polys, because its necessary to cover multiple variations and needs of a grower here in the UK. www.xlhorticulture.co.uk/xl-polythene-covers.html

[@wmpx34]

Wonder if a pressure washer would eliminate the need for scrubbing. Would have to be careful to maintain a proper distance though

[@ardenthebibliophile]

My thoughts exactly. I would imagine an inexpensive (and not super powerful) unit would be good enough to blast off the organic matter in a single pass

[@sandormarton9723]

Nope. Tried on my glass greenhouse. I mean it may have worked in the end, but i would have had to much water inside the greenhouse

[@JasperKlijndijk]

Closed bucket of water, half side white half black. Turn the white or black side to the south if you want more or less heath in your place. Balances temperature between night and day, absorps or deflects sunlight

[@jilltompson2306]

Good idea 🙂

[@lisahodges8299]

Another reminder that I HAVE to clean the polytunnel, it really does make a difference. Housework but outside... Birdy

[@REDGardens]

It really does!!

[@fubey8x]

Man how do you only have 120k subs still, all the information, knowledge, experience that you give it amazing, keep up the great work, I really been enjoying your videos ever since I found you a few years ago.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks. Not sure why only 120k, but I am going to just keep doing what I’ve been doing, because it seems that lots of people seem to get something out of my videos, which is great!

[@AaronDwyer]

Wow. They really get dirty. Didn’t think of that. Just like solar panels that need to be kept clean

[@REDGardens]

Yeah, especially in Ireland!

[@mattacks1655]

Bruce with the S bombs, lol Love the channel and video. Just funny

[@REDGardens]

Haha. I do try to keep it all 'clean' but some times I use the most appropriate word!

[@acctsys]

There are bacterial solutions that fight growth of algae used in aquariums. Those might help, though I'm not sure how safe they are to use in the garden.

[@REDGardens]

I think I would prefer to physically remove the stuff with plain water, rather than risk potential damage from things like that.

[@RobbertvanHaaften]

pressure washer will be great to quickly clean the algea

[@REDGardens]

I wonder if it would also damage the plastic?

[@felimuller909]

9:45 there are Luxmeter apps for phones that measure the intensity of the (sun)light

[@REDGardens]

I didn’t know that was a thing, thanks.

[@maxgator260]

Maybee a whaterfed brush e.g. for carwash could be an option.

[@REDGardens]

Yes, that is another option.

[@michaelmcclafferty3346]

I wonder if salt diluted in water and then sprayed on to the plastic before cleaning would help?

[@daviddjerassi]

Good growing in 2024 .

[@REDGardens]

Thanks, you too!

[@BalticHomesteaders]

I was always taught 'tidy desk, tidy mind' my desk has transformed from a literal desk to the greenhouse environment or garden and I still try to upkeep that philosophy. I've started looking for a third greenhouse, a simply metal framed polytunnel like you have so we have the space to grow a wider variety of things and maybe do some hosting but everyone here seems to have moved to polycarbonate, it's really frustrating. Quick creator question, what software did you use to plot those temperatures? I have data I also want to plot nicely for presentation but it's too much for excel and I'm not finding any solutions online, even paid for which I'm happy to do. Thanks as always.

[@REDGardens]

Interesting that people are moving to polycarbonate. I wonder why that is. With that data there was a problem with the data transfer, so I ended up just manually entering what I needed into a spreadsheet. App.

[@heyy13]

Engaging video as always.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks!

[@Tomhohenadel]

Bruce, do you use a special type of plastic. 6 mil I assume. Can you use a pressure washer or is that too strong

[@REDGardens]

It is a special polytunnel plastic, made of several layers. I suspect a pressure washer may be too strong.

[@DrDoktor60]

What about pressure washing? With sufficient distance it would not destroy the plastic. And much faster

[@REDGardens]

That would do the job, but I do wonder how much damage to the plastic it would do.

[@BlackJesus8463]

Not bad if you only have to do it once for winter.

[@benjaminbarber2840]

EM 5 would probably be a good choice for cleaning poly plastic..... It's very popular with the organic medicinal growers ( cannabis ) . However not being exactly sure of cost it may not fit well into a budget .

[@REDGardens]

I wonder what that stuff contains.

[@benjaminbarber2840]

@@REDGardens apparently it's all natural , organic , and all that jazz if I remember correctly it can be made kinda in the same vein of Korean natural farming ..... But of course best to take a good look ones self.

[@bradcarby3765]

I think we have about 70 hectares of poly tunnels (it's a bit hard to say exactly because we keep building them). I can honestly say we have never spent even 1 minute cleaning them. I suspect that our subtropical climate with high rainfall and high temps makes it impossible for growth on the outside and my employer's penchant for over-using chemicals makes it difficult for growth on the inside. That being said, our fairly hostile environment means we replace the plastic regularly due to degradation and storm damage. We actually had a tree fall on a poly tunnel length wise a couple of weeks ago. Can't wash that off. The tree is flat on the ground and so is about half of the tunnel.

[@REDGardens]

That is a lot of plastic! Yeah, I can imagine that climate will make it tough for anything to grow, especially if you are replacing it often.

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

Is there anything available to effectively mend (small) tears in polytunnel plastic?

[@bonniepoole1095]

There is 'greenhouse tape that I have used. It seems to hold up with temperature extremes.

[@pgmisha]

tuck tape

[@scootertasmania6619]

Sticky tape brand is Scotch in Australia

[@ceb2-1981]

clear Gorilla tape if you are in N.America

[@anthonydrabble2005]

What cover do you use? I’m in the uk. 1200 feet above sea level, I would love a Polly tunel but I don’t think it would stand the winds we have as we are very exposed.

[@REDGardens]

I use a dedicated 3 ply plastic for polytunnels, with the sides buried. Wind is the biggest threat to polytunnels, but they can withstand a lot of built well.

[@scootertasmania6619]

You do a good job mate..they reckon when you get to 40 years old and over you shouldn't get on ladders..but who takes notice of that.🙃🙂

[@REDGardens]

I quite like ladders, especially when a fall will only land on soft earth and a few plants squashed!

[@mrThoreKarlsson]

I would trie to hawe a Preditor Bird dummy like owl , standing in the Pollytunnel corner so the birds will not hang around there

[@Qopzeep]

I like that despite all the scientific language you use, bird shit is still just bird shit 😂

[@REDGardens]

😂

[@gerrywalsh6853]

I would say a car wash and wax will help with the longevity of the plastic and prevent algy in the first place look for a caruba wax it is a natural wax so should be less toxic But anything that is good for life kills synthetics and vice-versa

[@gerrywalsh6853]

Carnuba wax sorry dyslexic had to look it up not caruba

[@REDGardens]

I would be hesitant to use a strong cleaner and wax on the plastic, without first testing on a patch. I can imagine that the special films on polytunnel plastic might be damaged, or the wax could add a layer that reduces the sunlight.

[@gerrywalsh6853]

@REDGardens thoughs cleaners are good on paint witch is plastic . Gest watch how much phosphate you would like to run off that is what most cleaners use as a cleaning agent

[@Ultrazaubererger]

IIRC you lose about 20% light with dirty plastic. With the amount of algae you get, I bet it's even more. Is using a pressure washer not an option? It would also reduce scratching.

[@REDGardens]

I wonder if the pressure would damage the coating of the plastic.

[@Ultrazaubererger]

​@@REDGardens I believe using a pressure washer at the correct distance and angle could be less damaging than a brush. However, I just checked the online manuals of a local supplier. They warn against it in one of their manuals, they recommend a soft sponge or cloth. They also tell you not to use a brush, though it might be too late for that with your poly tunnel.

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

I would be EXTREMELY leery of using any cleaning products on plastic, inside. Mainly, worry about whether it would actually make it degrade faster? or do you accept that, after say, 3 years, you need to replace the plastic, period? Or, alternatively, did you buy specific UV rated plastic sheeting?

[@REDGardens]

Really good point.

[@PushinUpDaisiesNZ]

I use an app that measure lux

[@REDGardens]

Didn’t know that was a thing, thanks. Downloading one now.

[@WosSohlang]

Can you share the dimensions of your polytunnel

[@REDGardens]

I have several. One is 5m x 20m, and the others are 5.5m x 20m but taller profile (I don't remember the heights)