The unique qualities of greenhouse and polytunnel

Understanding the unique qualities of each structure is ultra useful, and each has pros and cons which I illustrate here.
They are as valuable in winter as much as in summer and enable most of us to grow all year round. As well as do great propagation, and enjoy a garden space in the winter months
See also my 2018 video on this same subject, with an older polytunnel which you can compare to this one:
• Greenhouse or polytunn...
The polytunnel is 18x42ft (5.5 x 12.5m) and is from First Tunnels www.firsttunnels.co.uk.
The greenhouse is 12x25ft / 3.6x7.5m approx, from Woodpecker Joinery www.woodpecker-joinery.co.uk
Filmed and edited by Edward Dowding at Homeacres, SW England, mostly early in 2021.
More from Charles:
CD 60 Module Trays
In the USA you can buy these via allaboutthegarden.com
In the UK you can buy these via containerwise.co.uk/product/c...
or via www.refillroom.com/product-ca...
In Europe you can buy these via thefarmdream.com/product-cate...
To buy video garden guides with a unique search function charlesdowding.retrieve.com/s...
To buy one of my online courses charlesdowding.co.uk/product-...
To buy a signed book charlesdowding.co.uk/product-...
To join an in person Day or Weekend course at Homeacres charlesdowding.co.uk/product-...
This is the dibber I recommend www.gardenimports.co.uk/produ...
To buy t-shirts and hoodies with my exclusive no dig designs, use this link charlesdowding.teemill.com

[@alanhart6197]

Very professional video as always, stills, camera angles, overhead shots! You could make grass growing visually interesting. I always look forward to your videos. Thanks.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great suggestion Alan, video on grass, it's in the pipeline in fact 😀 was Edward's idea

[@GutenGardening]

Agreed!

[@robertling9872]

Always a pleasure to see your NoDig knowledge sharing video's. Thank you Charles.

[@GutenGardening]

Agreed! This was an excellent episode.

[@user-ym9of2em4f]

Здравствуйте, Charles. Наши дачные сезоны в России почти закончены и ваш канал будет приятным времяпровождением в холодные зимние месяцы. )

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Это хорошо, информация поможет вам сэкономить время, надеюсь, с зимой все в порядке.

[@Faith-vl4lv]

Just in time. I'm contemplating getting either a poly tunnel or a greenhouse. This video came out just in time for me. I think I will go with the poly tunnel first since it's less expensive and when my business progresses I will get a greenhouse

[@aina8318]

Good luck! Greetings from Norway

[@GutenGardening]

Haha... brilliant polytunnel "back cleaning" strategy. We don't have space for a greenhouse or polytunnel, however this was great information to file away for when we make our lifestyle upgrade. Well done as usual!

[@puffpufflol]

"the corner of each circle" Love you Charles! Cheers

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀 whoops well spotted

[@decal2154]

I have a 20’ x 32’ poly tunnel that I constructed last year, A few months prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. It has two layers of greenhouse quality clear plastic with a small air blower to separate the two layers and keeps it a bit warmer in the winter. Also, it has roll up sides and a exhaust fan when it really gets hot inside. When freezing temperatures are predicted in my area, I have a fan to circulate the air as well as fleece blankets that I cover my crops. Finally, I use soaker hoses for irrigation.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice job, you should make a video about it :)

[@rubygray7749]

Oh for joy, another guided tour of Homeacres delights! Charles, one thing I have never heard you mention in all these years, is that essential garden's friend, carbon dioxide! Here in Tasmania vast acreages of polytunnels are now carpeting our best growing soils for extended seasons of berries, tomatoes etc. Commercial growers use fossil fuel burners to raise the CO2 level inside closed greenhouses to a constant 1,100 ppm or more, which is necessary for optimum growth. As soon as the sunlight hits leaves, they begin photosynthesisation, and suck all the CO2 from their available air. Constant growth requires constant replenishment of CO2 throughout daylight hours. I wonder, as you are so fond of doing comparative growing experiments, whether you have ever tried this? I note that in your greenhouse, the composting manure will not only be emitting some gentle warmth, but also pumping out CO2, 24/7, which certainly must benefit plants inside. I'd be really interested to see results of CO2 meters installed in both structures. In my little coldframes with winter salad leaves, and temperatures getting down to -10C at night, I used home made tallow candles set under an upturned terracotta pot, which kept the space a few degrees warmer, and of course provided constant CO2. A 440g baked bean tin filled with tallow burned for about 3 or 4 days and nights. Growth of salad leaves was abundant! Other options for larger spaces would be little burners made from larger cans packed with sawdust soaked with waste vegetable oil, with a wire mesh cylinder in the centre to draw in air from below.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Ruby, interesting, just I do not want a burner

[@jaspercaelan4998]

Ventilation is really important, my first "greenhouse" was one of those cheap flyaway plastic ones but there was no ventilation at all which caused big problems with damping off early season. Thankfully ditched that last in favour of a greenhouse with automatic window openers which has solved the problem.

[@berniemods]

I was only looking at your previous video on the subject yesterday and here is a nice update. Thanks for all the info and being an inspiration to many

[@farmyourbackyard2023]

Thank you for covering the cross panel and the poly tunnel. I think that’s an excellent idea and something that I have not seen from any other grower. I will be incorporating that in my second poly tunnel this winter.

[@gedhuffadine1873]

Always grow what you like and what suits your needs and how you are able

[@frankbarnwell____]

Very good Charles. Decisions decisions...

[@kerollo5163]

I would love to have such a greenhouse or polytunnel. The cost is telling me to focus first on getting the most out of fall vegetables: parsnips, cabbage, and other. I am aiming in getting something out of the garden for 10 months a year. Sometimes it will not be a lot but it is a good aim. I might make a small hoop about 1 meter high. It will also be easy to extend. A friend made one. Nice design and strong. He made also a plastic cover roof for his tomatoes. Ideal for a small vegetable garden. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That sounds excellent. If you can manage some propagation space, new avenues open up, or perhaps you do that already.

[@billprice4209]

In the US here. If you have access to cattle panels or similar, you can make a very strong hoop house. Wood frames give you straight sides, extra height, and the ability to vent from the sides. I built a 10'x20' one for my niece this spring ($900 US using new materials. Repurposing old materials would be cheaper for sure). I was amazed at how strong it is. She had 70 mph winds last fall with no problems. Based it on this design: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6Wnln5mn5d7hbc

[@edprotas4148]

An excellent discussion of many of the factors to consider. Thank You!!!

[@joanies6778]

I have a temporary hoop tunnel I made over a 4x8 raised bed to grow my San Marzano tomatoes. I string the tomatoes to the tunnel top which is about 6-7 ft high. The tunnel is currently covered with 2 row covers and a sheet of plastic. My tomatoes had so many fruit left so I extended them as long as possible when the low temps began. I did finally cut them at the bases before a 6 hr freeze and hung them in my sunroof with buckets of water below to finish ripening. I moved other potted plants into the tunnel... we have a 30°-40° F Flux between night & day temps, so, I cover my plants inside with 2 additional row covers, too. So far, so good! In the summer I just keep 1 row cover overhead to protect them from the harsh sun. In any event, I roll the sides up or down to suit the needs daily, weather dependant, to get airflow, etc. This protects them from winds,, hail, extreme temps... It is working for me!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Well organised!

[@berbaniavargas9037]

Gracias, Charles por sus amables recomendaciones, siempre es un gusto poder saludarle

[@jsbadger]

@LOOMF This is Charles, the gentleman I was talking to you about. This particular video made me think of what y'all are doing soon. I cannot recommend enough subscribing to him and seeing what he does. It's incredible! Charles, thank you for sharing what you do, it's always a pleasure to learn more.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks so much 💚

[@LOOMF]

Awesome! Thank you so much for pointing out his channel!

[@peterhughes4735]

I installed a 10ft x 18ft poly tunnel in my garden back in the spring. It really is brilliant, so many thanks for the advice over the years. It's enormously more productive than a simple veg plot. Tomatoes this year were wonderful, peppers excellent, far too many cucumbers and good other veg. I now have garlic, autumn onions, chard, and lettuce growing. Also potatos for Xmas. In spring more toms etc planned. I guess a greenhouse would have been better, but not at the price!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad it helped Peter and fantastic job there

[@georgez234]

Well done, Charles. Tons of great information.

[@heirloommountainseedswoman4444]

Just made a DIY greenhouse so I can grow more seeds for my biz. Wonderful temp.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Brilliant Charles, I love your Pro's and Con's videos. Greetings from Windermere, Florida zone 9b 🇺🇸 68 °F this morning and only going up to 82° nice gardening temps👩‍🌾👍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Peggy👍. I'm very glad your temperatures have dropped at last, and that sounds lovely warmth

[@gardenboots7464]

As always, such relevant and excellent information, insights, and humor :)

[@LahuertadeDonato]

as always a video better than the other, I loved this time about greenhouses. I am very much looking forward to the pond being ready. and thank you very much as always for the subtitles in Spanish. a big hug from La huerta de Donato, Argentina

[@aina8318]

You are such a valuable human being, thank you

[@joj1252]

Very helpful & very interesting comparison. Learn so much from Charles

[@camicri4263]

Thanks for the comparison! It's always good to find out pro's and con's before spending a lot of money! Have a great weekend, God bless! Hugs🤗🤗

[@1isaM111er]

Brilliant Charles, and so useful.

[@dirtyharryw.3617]

Tank you very much for sharing your experience! I treasure your advice though i haven't got the space for a greenhouse of decent size.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

One day Harry!

[@berthaperez8010]

Hi Charles, what a wonder of greenhouses, I'm dying to have one, even thank you for sharing teaching me, I learn a lot from you. I send you greetings

[@katc7765]

Lovely video and so much good info.

[@goatgate3815]

Sir Charles you are a gift to humanity. Excellent content always thank you very much.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are very welcome!

[@derekanderson9418]

Thank you Mr. Dowding! Love your channel. One day, I want to come out to your garden. From south central Kentucky to south central England.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀

[@lycheej5194]

What a great video with so many good tips.

[@futureghost9885]

Thanks Charles. You’re a legend in the game.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀 thankyou

[@lavondacarter7228]

As always, enjoyed this video !

[@robinhazeslip1800]

Building a green house from pallets and wondered how to use, besides starting seedling in spring. Thnk you for this video!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Amazing. Plant winter salads now

[@janetrobison2765]

Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

[@vitiar.r.846]

Me encantó su video! He aprendido mucho de usted,desde hace bastante tiempo veo sus videos.Tengo un pequeño huerto en mi patio,pues vivo en la ciudad .Admiro el huerto y el hermoso trabajo que realiza!!!.

[@paolomaggi8188]

Very exaustive and enlightening video! It's a pleasure lo learn from you! Thank you

[@user-im1ot5pz3n]

Ваши рассказы интересны. Спасибо за субтитры.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀

[@dorotaguziak8838]

Piękne plony. Gratulacje. And thanks for you😀

[@patjoyce7247]

So helpful Charles. You must have such a successful business but with your feet still firmly on the ground you generously share your knowledge and experience. Thank you once again.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I appreciate that! Success is a passing kind of thing 😀 and the ground remains

[@clioh_ethmenel]

Your wooden greenhouse is the stuff of dreams, Charles! It's beautiful. I would love a similar one too but might have to consult its practicality in a tropical climate with supertyphoons half of the year and demon-sunshine on the other half. 😅 (Oh but how pretty!) Another immensely useful content as always, thank you so so much!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Go for it! or maybe not if typhoons... and thanks!

[@0anant0]

Thanks! I will consider a greenhouse with vertical sides for my dwarf mangoes. I am in Zone 9B with a few frost nights in winter.

[@wachtelmutter7432]

This was very helpful, thank you so much for sharing!

[@SarahSmith-nr2wj]

Thank you Charles 💗 I had been honestly just wondering about these things🍆🥒🥦🤗

[@nathanpickett7224]

Yes! I don't care the topic. Love it!

[@p.s.2221]

Brilliant job!

[@normamorales5140]

Hermoso!! Todo lo que tocas lo trasformas en algo maravilloso Un abrazo fraterno 🪴

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Gracias 💚

[@markwiltshire1852]

Very informative Charles. We had both polythene and glass on the local authority nursery that I ran. The glasshouse was top of the range and heated. The one drawback to the tunnels was that they suffered from condensation. To overcome that in spring we sprayed with sunclear? which coated the polythene and worked perfectly. I totally agree with your comments regarding the overhead watering, we had four tunnels 120’x46’ so hand watering wasn’t an option but had to water the dry spots around the edges.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds impressive Mark, thanks

[@rominaadimari8723]

Muchas gracias Sir. Charles! Como siempre, muy clara y práctica su exposición!!!! Un saludo enorme desde Argentina!!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Gracias Romina :)!

[@johnkay4701]

Good informative presentation Charles; thankyou. It's good to have in one video, most of the comparative feedback between the two types of structure & the costs, light, heat, ventilation, durability, cleaning & maintenance. I went for a el-cheapo ally greenhouse with naff twin-wall polycarbonate clear panels almost two years ago. However I was erecting it in December gales, just one knackered olde fart doing it - big mistake, as I tore the muscles in my right forearm doing it. It really does need two people working together to erect it. I very quickly found that the gales continually blew-out the lightweight twin-wall polycarbonate panels, even after I bought many extra retaining clips. So, me being me, I then bought loads of st. stl. screws & made some mid-braces for the larger panels & literally screwed 100s of these extra screws in to hold the panels in place when the gales blow. It finally did the job. For anyone that may wish to know, the size of mine is 8ft x 16ft & only 6ft high at the apex. I paid an el-cheapo price of £263 for the greenhouse incl. dely. then about another £25 on extra clips, screws, washers. My braces were made from waste macralon & wood, so free. Charles you didn't mention gutters on the greenhouse & the water collection therefrom. I have two naff water tanks (from Freegle) at the lower end outside, from which I fill my watering can frequently. Waste not, want not, - lol. Regards as always, JohnnyK.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely explanation, yes I forgot to mention gutters! Your model is super economic :)

[@johnkay4701]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig The very low price of my GH reflected the flimsy materials, poor quality & poor design. I'm an ex-mechanical design engineer, so I was able to strengthen & improve the construction to withstand the force of gales. I also neglected to mention in the original comment, that I didn't use any solid or firm foundation at all. I purchased 20x cheapo tent pegs & drilled holes into the ally base & pegged it down. Also bought 6x strong stainless anchor stakes with rope tensioners. I was determined it wasn't going to move in high winds! Also had to purchase end-caps & downpipes to fit the gutters, as the GH wasn't supplied with these. Moral of the story: el-cheapo usually means a lot of additional hassle & work - bah. All seems to be ok over the last 23-mths or so, but I now have to clean the panels of the green-grime stuff - yuk.

[@newkekarmyreee4788]

Poly carb tunnels are awesome. Strong and long lasting.

[@mikeamirault8741]

Wise decision to go with "toughened" glass. You would not want to accidentally put your hand through a single pane glass panel like I did last summer. Cut major artery, three tendons and ulnar nerve resulting in permanent damage to my hand. Use toughened glass or plexi and stay safe!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah so sorry!

[@ElderandOakFarm]

Great video as always!

[@tassiegirl1991]

In my wee sloping garden I’ll never be able to have either but I love looking at peoples greenhouses and poly tunnels, I must say I prefer the look of a wooden greenhouse to me they just have a special classy look, polytunnels although serviceable lack in character. You provide such good information be it about todays topic or growing vegetables to not only experienced gardeners but novices like myself, thank you, now I will go back to dream of having the energy of my younger years, my larger previous garden and buying a wooden yes not aluminium greenhouse.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I wish you fulfilment in that!!

[@tassiegirl1991]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig 😎

[@johnrimmer7426]

So useful and helpful!

[@K4HLER]

Excellent. Thanks as always.

[@markw5779]

A very nice explanation Charles,👍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks 👍

[@Lauradicus]

Just a tip for getting heat for either… in up-state New York a nursery builds their compost piles right smack up against the walls of both their greenhouse and their poly tunnels. With the greenhouse it was against one short end, along the poly tunnels it was along one long side. Sub-zero temps outside, shirt sleeve temps inside. The chickens turned the long side compost piles all day long every day, Sean would turn them every once in a while just to keep the fresh-to-finished line moving. One of the poly tunnels was given over to the chickens and compost production. Amazingly fast, productive and hot.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Laura!

[@larrybeffa4377]

Hi Laura

[@lyndaturner6686]

Really interesting video Charles, I have a polycarbonate greenhouse only 4 by 6 and have always wondered if glass would have been warmer in winter, now I know it probably wouldn’t be. I do manage to grow things in the winter in it, also I have a potted Bougainville which survives well in the green house in winter, so not a bad option. Love your videos and calm manner.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Lynda and I am impressed

[@rogerhickson7256]

Wood doesn't get hot during the intense heat of summer. Most metals do, no matter what colour they are painted. I live in the South Okanagan valley of British Columbia, Canada. We have desert like conditions so it isn't uncommon to see 34-35C + during the summer. All metal frames get hot and burn the plants if they are touching Love the compost idea in the greenhouse!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks. Sounds intense!

[@heavymetalbassist5]

Great video, id like to build more permanent structures once I move to more space. I did just assemble a 10ftx20ft hoophouse/polytunnel though, effectively tripling my starting/cool season space

[@teefrancis6005]

As soon as I have my shower and compost loo undercover, I'll try to get my salad and veg undercover! Maybe I could combine them! Great video Charles, as always.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are living the dream Tee, and I admire you for being hardy, good luck with that.

[@laurazunigatorres4979]

Maravilloso video Charles, muchas gracias, me haz ayudado muchísimo con esta información técnica, estoy en proceso de construcción y todo lo que tu comentas son temas muy importantes para mi, muchas gracias💚💚

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Laura, ¡Estoy feliz de escuchar eso!

[@escaleritaalcielo]

Buenísimo el vídeo. Yo hice un invernadero con poliestileno para invernadero y me ha funcionado bien. Ahora tengo que ver que pongo para dar sombra. Gracias por estos maravillosos videos, siempre son un gran aporte. Saludos desde Romeral 💚🇨🇱💚💚🇨🇱🇨🇱

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Alejandra 💚

[@gipsi2001]

Very useful information. We are mid spring now, perfect timing. Ps I also appreciate the metrics Cheers from New Zealand 😎

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Perfect!

[@henrykaaugustyniak3217]

Bardzo dziękuję Panu, za te przemyślenia, wnioski i rady. Są przydatne. Pozdrawiam Pana bardzo serdecznie i życzę dalszych sukcesów w uprawie. Pozdrawiam również kamerzystę, który każdą informację potwierdza opisem i obrazem. Przyjemnie ogląda się całość. Dziękuję.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Jak pięknie, dzięki za pisanie

[@gvwa100506]

Gracias , buena informacion, yo estoy haciendo uno, y tendre en cuenta limpiar , ventilar, y como calentar en invierno. Saludos Sir Charles !!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@marcelopoggi8687]

Hola Charles!!!... he descubierto en usted una persona encantadora y entrañable con mucho conocimiento y muy práctico en su modo de difundirlo. Su acción es de tremenda ayuda para quienes incursionamos en este maravilloso universo vegetal ... y mil gracias por traducir al español sus videos!!!. Desde Argentina un fuertisimo abrazo!!! ...y muchas bendiciones!!!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Eso es tan lindo, gracias. ¡Y quiero difundir este hermoso conocimiento!

[@irenebeatty8812]

Thank you, Charles. I have been pondering this for ages now and doing a lot of research as to whether I should be a greenhouse or polytunnel for my allotment. Your video has finally helped me make a decision - it's a greenhouse for me! Yay!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful!

[@garydenner6253]

Yes! I much prefer to hand water too. As your watering you can snack on fresh produce,check more closely for pests & diseases & give more or less watering for particular plants. I was wondering if I shall erect my own poly tunnel or just get someone to do it. You've sold me on not only the poly tunnel, but also to to get a professional to do it. 👍 Thank you Charles for you much valued wisdom yet again Govner. From the 1st fleet 6th generation convict, Gary in Australia 🇦🇺 .

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Gary, thanks for your sense of humour and I'm delighted to help out, good luck with the polytunnel

[@JulianJP21]

Great worker 👍

[@janemcguinness6321]

Am currently looking to build one of these structures at a school. Once again, you have increased my understanding about things I need to know to optimize the learning and growing experience. Here in US, the prices for the greenhouses are very high. I was interested in your knowledge that the polytunnel could last for 15 years. The other aspect for the rigid structure is teaching benches. Plus we are looking at a hard pad rather than soil. Thanks as always, Charles.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is great to hear Jane and I'm more than happy to be helping such worthwhile projects as your school, I hope that it works out nicely

[@ScottishWhisper90]

I'm hoping to get a polytunnel next year, it won't be as big as yours Charles but I'm aiming for 10ft x 15ft so I can start growing tomatoes and cucumbers (among other goodies!). I always look forward to a video from you, you're so informative and best of all you explain things in a simple and easy to understand way! All while making it so interesting 😁

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks. Best of luck!

[@CardsbyMaaike]

my back garden is 5 metres x8 ;-) I would love one but might have to be tiny 2x2m thing ;-)

[@stevendowden2579]

enjoyable video

[@thomasreilly6362]

Hi Charles, another informative presentation. You could retro fit the greenhouse with electricity via a solar panels. You could use the roof of the compost bays if the are south facing..as I did and its working fine. You could also run an irrigation drip water system on a timer using solar.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cool, thanks

[@denisebrady6858]

Thank you Charles that was extremely informative as I had often wondered about the differences. We in sub-tropical do not need them as far as I am concerned but I do see out in the country some farms have them. Cheers Denise- Australia

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are very welcome Denise. I'm dreaming of sub-tropical as autumn deepens here :)

[@denisebrady6858]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Come on over as you have free accommodation here. :):)

[@tzenophile]

Obviously one needs both. We just need to know those tricks for stretching the poly just right.

[@carmenslee6234]

My greenhouse is attached to my house which is very nice for winter planting. It was a very deep verander which was subject to winds that would blow away what was on it. Building a glasshouse on to it and enclosing, solved the problem. I just need to utilise it better. Getting loads of ideas and tips here!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah good and that sounds promising :)

[@sunnyseacat9232]

Excellent presentation and discussion of both ... air flow is critical and pointing out straight walls in the polytunnel was helpful. FYI: the stronger greenhouse may well be the wiser bet though with the GRAND SOLAR MINIMUM here and the incredible storms ahead (snow, hail, wind, sleet, electrical, etc) and mind-boggling challenges it will bring. You are so far ahead of billions in growing your own food - an enormous issue coming, too, due to the GSM, and food distribution as well. Been thinking that underground tunnels from one greenhouse to the next might be practical as it will be too windy to be above surface to get from point A to point B. Thank you from America.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you, and I hope that you are not right about those winds! They would be strong enough to cause damage I think to the structures. Yes we are in crazy times.

[@dodadodo25]

haha I love how you already had crops in the ground for the polytunnel to go around when it was built

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀

[@ranchoflorido4514]

Parabéns pelos seus vídeos ,nos inspira muito

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Obrigado :)

[@ladyboysexypollyzazakongsu3958]

Thanks​ you​ very​ much​

[@sillysighbin8279]

Head says poly, retro heart says lovely wooden greenhouse

[@kirkshar]

Thanks Charles for the timely advice! I've been sad about the damage done to crops from rabbits and the polytunnel just might solve my critter problem. The main drawback for me here in northern Florida are hurricanes. It might work if I had one that I could remove the cover if the weather was turning nasty.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Best of luck Sharon!

[@larrybeffa4377]

Hi Sharon

[@nygardenguru]

Yeah I guess England is a lot milder than Florida

[@sergioolcese6766]

Buongiorno Sig. Charles , volevo ringraziala per la traduzione in italiano, finalmente riesco a seguire tutto quello che dice.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cool!!

[@leonbarnes1402]

great video. nice to see a comparison isnt just about the cost and installation getting a secondhand aluminium greenhouse which i plan to use for starting seedlings off in the spring. also looking to replace my old polytunnel current is 21foot wide by 18foot long, salvaged some old commercial hoops and fitted and covered myself and trenched the edges, 14 or 15 years on its starting to get a bit tatty, more and more patches of repair tape. ive seen in my investigations that there are some companies with roof ventilation for their tunnels, though the cost of the vent kits are a touch extravagant. anyway, will be checking out a few more of your videos. thank you

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Leon and 15 years is excellent. Roof vents sound tricky to me!

[@leonbarnes1402]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig agreed, I wouldn't trust them as they sound to simple to fit, no kind of clamping of the plastic, just cut a hole push the vent through and clip to the support brackets.

[@theswissgardenvlog3189]

Great video, definitely helps my decision making process. I am considering investing in a small greenhouse but I have been looking at polytunnels as well. My biggest worry is the noise that the palatine on a polytunnel could cause on a windy day😏

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad it was helpful. I find very little noise from the plastic, except in heavy rain. As long as it is stretched tight, there is no flapping in the wind.

[@GARDENER42]

Oh & the algal film sticking to polyethylene is down to the affinity between algal lipids (or any fats for that matter) & plastics - it's why plastic food containers often have a film of "grease" on them even after a hot wash. I've heard borax will aid removal but never tried it.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Useful knowledge thanks, I did not know about fat in algae! sounds interesting for soil.

[@greenwood4020]

Great information. Would you also know the best way to clean it off ? Would you use a similar product to shower glass cleaning as that's mostly oil from skin and fats from soap ?

[@BlackJesus8463]

Yup!

[@grisevb461]

Charles... lees el pensamiento? Ayer estuve navegando por Internet buscando invernaderos polituneles precios etc y hoy me encuentro ti video!!Gracias muy completo. Tengo una galeria abierta delante de casa de cara al sol con techo de policarbonato... estoy pensando en extenderla y cerrarla y asi tener un invernadero al que accedo desde la casa directamente y además me daría calor extra ... lo estoy estudiando ..🤗

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Que linda Griselda y eso suena un gran plan 🎯

[@user-cz5ej6vs4t]

Большое спасибо! Всегда приятно смотреть ваши видео, они весьма вдохновляющие :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@GARDENER42]

I removed the last tomato plants & cucumber (jalapenos are still producing) last week (22/10) from my tiny 8x6 greenhouse, laid in 50mm of compost from the bay finished in April & planted out coriander, mustard, two different rockets & two lettuce varieties to see me through the next few months for salad leaves. Still waiting for the local council to reorganise their allotment strategy so I can get a polytunnel set up for protected growing (worried they're going to close them to use for a business park).

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Well done. And I hope the allotments stay.

[@philippayne8901]

Hi Charles, thanks for this video great information, I have two greenhouses, the first was a cheap polycarbonate one, the issue with polycarbonate is that it flexes in wind and several times the panels have blown out allowing the wind under the structure and before you know it, nearly all the panels blow away as the clips just cant keep them in place, I had to result to adding additional cross braces and screw the panels to them to keep them in place, also you get less light. So personally I wouldn't recommend them. My latest greenhouse is glass which is much sturdier in wind, it was second hand so was a good buy but I did break a few glass panes when constructing it and one has since broke due to a bird flying into it. On the whole I much prefer the glass.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Helpful feedback Philip, thanks. Easier to recycle glass too.

[@davidboshell9415]

I had the opposite problem. A cheap recycled 6 x 8 ft aluminium greenhouse was severely damaged when a storrm caused the glass panels to blow out. I replaced the exposed north gable end with twin wall ploycarbonate panels which I siliconed in. The structure is warmer and much more stable. So far it has resisted similar storms.

[@theemmanuelswife]

Thank you Charles for the comparison. We have what you refer to as a polytunnel here in East Tennessee USA. This year, I built rock sculptures in the raised beds, to generate heat below ground and a little above ground, during the night time hours. I learned this trick while living in Wyoming which is cold, cold, cold most of the year. It worked great to grow cool weather crops. Have you ever tried this before? Thank you. Diane

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Very cool! We don't need to do that here because we don't suffer the extreme cold, nor do we have enough sunshine by day to heat the rocks! Plus I would not want to lose surface area for growing food!

[@theemmanuelswife]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig I know what you mean. We like to use every inch of growing area as well.

[@freightshayker]

Thanks

[@jeshurunfarm]

In Africa it's the heat off and sunlight on.... don't know how to do that, yet. Respect from Africa 🇿🇦