- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
Polytunnel
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
- robust steel frame
- incl. ground frame
- PE 500
- centre standing height: approx. 2 m
What is a polytunnel and what is it used for?
Polytunnels, often referred to as a poly tunnel, high tunnel or polythene tunnel, is a game-changer for garden enthusiasts, commercial growers, and allotment holders alike. The term "poly" comes from "polythene," the type of plastic used, while "tunnel" refers to its tunnel-like shape.
Think of it as a greenhouse with flexible plastic covers instead of rigid glass walls and roofs. This makes polytunnels more adaptable and often more budget-friendly than traditional greenhouses. You can simply place your polytunnel directly on the soil. They are excellent for extending the growing season, safeguarding plants, and enhancing production, making them most suitable for home gardens, community plots, allotments, and more extensive agricultural operations.
The benefits of our polytunnels
Our poly tunnels stand out because they're more affordable, easy to assemble, and don't require a foundation. This means you can set up your polytunnel quickly and start growing in your garden without the extra hassle or expense.
Strong polytunnel cover with optimal light distribution
Our heavy-duty polytunnel cover is crafted from transparent polythene (PE) plastic, known for its durability. This polythene material is capable of withstanding the elements, making our polytunnel covers a robust choice for any garden or farm. The UV-resistant properties of the polythene ensure long-lasting protection against sun damage, enhancing the longevity of the tunnel.
In addition to its durability, the polytunnel cover is designed to optimize light distribution. The polythene plastic diffuses light uniformly across the tunnel, creating an ideal growth environment for a wide variety of plants. This ensures that your plants receive the optimal amount of light for healthy growth. Our reinforced polytunnel plastic sheeting is specifically engineered to balance light penetration, making it an excellent solution for both gardening enthusiasts and larger agricultural or commercial operations.
Polytunnels vs. polycarbonate and glass greenhouses
Opting for a polytunnel greenhouse over a traditional tempered glass or polycarbonate greenhouse for your garden offers notable benefits, including cost-effectiveness and ease of maintenance. Unlike a rigid greenhouse structure, a polytunnel's flexible design allows for quick assembly, disassembly, and size adjustments to meet seasonal needs or crop changes. The polythene cover of a polytunnel is more affordable and accessible to replace than greenhouse glass and diffuses light evenly, reducing plant scorch risk and promoting uniform growth. A polytunnel's environment is more readily adaptable, with superior ventilation options compared to a greenhouse. These advantages make a polytunnel a versatile and practical choice for gardeners seeking to grow their crops with efficiency and adaptability.
Features | Polycarbonate Greenhouses | Polytunnels | Glass Greenhouses |
---|---|---|---|
Structure & Flexibility |
|
|
|
Insulation & Durability |
|
|
|
Assembly & Cost |
|
|
|
Light Transmission & Ventilation |
|
|
|
Explore our range of glass and plycarbonate greenhouses
Heavy-duty polytunnel frames
Our polytunnels are constructed for lasting resilience, featuring robust galvanised steel tubes in their frames to ensure superior durability and resistance to the elements over time.
- 1
Galvanised steel tubes
Fully treated inside and out for optimal corrosion and rust protection, with robust (ca.) Ø 25 mm steel tubes ensuring a strong foundation.
- 2
Durability and design
Impact and scratch-resistant, featuring a stable, round design for excellent load-bearing capacity.
- 3
Easy assembly
Our galvanised steel tubes have a high-quality click system that allows for swift setup without the hassle of separate connectors or small parts, complemented by screwed-in roof rafters and cross-bracing for added stability.
- 4
Protection and Stability
Includes tube caps to safeguard the film, designed for maximum stability with no welded parts.
- 5
Enhanced wind resistance
Optional ground anchoring accessories are available to fortify against harsh weather, ensuring your polytunnel remains secure.
Enhanced air circulation with doors and windows
Our poly tunnels are designed with optimal air circulation, incorporating thoughtfully integrated doors and windows. Our polythene cover comes with integrated side windows in the single-piece roof cover, each 70 cm wide by 50 cm high, for easy ventilation. Simply roll them up for air and secure them with Velcro, complete with pest-blocking fly screens for added protection.
Manage your garden with ease through a zip door as a rear entrance and a roll-up front gable wall that accommodates taller plants and doubles as a windbreak. Each polytunnel includes a protective extra large ground skirt that minimizes drafts, deters pests, and adds insulation.
Small polytunnel or large polytunnel?
Our options include a diverse range of walk-in polytunnel sizes, offering numerous choices to accommodate any gardening need. Each model is crafted to optimize the usable growing space, ensuring a uniform headroom of about 2 meters throughout, perfect for comfortable walk-in access and maintenance.
Our compact 3m x 2m polytunnel option is an excellent fit, especially for vertical crops like tomatoes. Its 6 m² space is optimized to enhance yield in a restricted area, offering a practical solution for maximizing productivity in smaller gardens. Spruce up your garden with our small plastic greenhouse.
The 6x3 polytunnel provides 18 m², ideal for hobby gardeners or small-scale commercial growers looking to expand their capabilities. It allows for effective use of space, supporting a productive variety of vegetables and fruits.
Our 6x4 polytunnel offers 24 m², perfect for those desiring more room for extensive crop rotations and a broader range of plants. Its size is advantageous for scaling up gardening projects without excessive maintenance.
Our larger 4x10 m polytunnels present a spacious 40 m² cultivation area for those requiring more room. This large space supports a wide range of planting approaches, enabling the growth of a diverse array of crops.
Polytunnel size | Planting area (m²) |
---|---|
2x3 m | 6 m² |
3x4 m | 12 m² |
3x6 m | 18 m² |
3x8 m / 4x6 m | 24 m² |
4x8 m | 32 m² |
4x10 m | 40 m² |
Building up your polytunnel has never been easier
Building a polytunnel with our systems transforms what might seem like a daunting project into a straightforward task. Our easy-click system redefines the ease of polytunnel construction, making the assembly of even a small polytunnel a manageable, DIY-friendly endeavour.
Assemble the tubular frame by clicking the pieces together to form the base and arches, then with a helper, evenly drape the cover over the structure. Lastly, secure the cover onto the frame using Velcro or clips, ensuring it's snug and well-fastened around the entire polytunnel. Place the tunnel directly on the soil and let your polytunnel gardening begin!
Setting up is simple and requires no special skills. Just follow the step-by-step instructions provided in the PDF guide found in the assembly tab for each individual product.
No foundation needed
Our polytunnels don't need a foundation, making setup even easier. Choose your spot, assemble, and you're ready to plant in the ground beds immediately. This simplicity means you can start your gardening without any delays.
We offer white polytunnels and green polytunnels
Our white polytunnels ensure even light distribution and optimal temperatures, ideal for nurseries and sensitive crops. Our green polytunnels provide natural shading and UV protection, perfect for extending the growing season in sunny regions. Both types are durable, versatile, and cost-effective, designed to improve crop yields and withstand various weather conditions
Growing vegetables and fruit in a polytunnel in the UK
Poly tunnels offer a unique advantage for extending the growing season and protecting crops from the unpredictable UK climate. Below is a guide arranged from the easiest to the hardest crops to grow, helping you prioritize and plan your gardening activities efficiently.
What to grow in a poly tunnel?
- 1
Salad Greens
Among the easiest, salad greens like lettuce, spinach, and rocket require minimal space and grow quickly. They tolerate cooler temperatures, making them ideal for early spring and autumn cultivation.
Best planting time: Feb - Mar for an early spring crop / Jul - Aug for an autumn crop
Ideal temperature: 10-20°
Harvest period: Apr-May (spring crop) Sep-Oct (autumn crop)
- 2
Herbs
Hardy and requiring little space, herbs such as parsley, chives, and coriander are resilient and grow well under consistent conditions, perfect for window sills or small garden spaces.
Best planting time: Indoor start Mar - Apr / Transplant After the last frost*
Ideal temperature: Varies by herb, generally 18-25°
Harvest period: Harvest as needed (typically Jun-Sep)
- 3
Beans
Both French beans and runner beans need basic support for climbing but are generally straightforward to grow. They thrive with regular watering and a sunny spot within the polytunnel.
Best planting time: Directly in polytunnel soil* May - Jun
Ideal temperature: 12-25°
Harvest period: Jul - Sep
- 4
Root Crops
Radishes, carrots, and beetroots grow well in polytunnels as long as the soil is not too compacted. Radishes especially are quick to mature, offering fast rewards for beginner gardeners.
Best planting time: Feb - Mar for an early crop / Jul - Aug or a late crop
Ideal temperature: 10-20°
Harvest period: May - Jun (early crop) / Sep-Oct (late crop)
- 5
Strawberries
While slightly more demanding due to their sensitivity to weather changes and pests, strawberries benefit significantly from the controlled environment of a polytunnel, which also extends their fruiting season.
Best planting time: Bare-root* Late autumn to early spring Potted / runners* Early spring
Ideal temperature: 15-26°
Harvest period: Early Jun - Late Jul (some till the first frost*)
- 6
Tomatoes
Requiring more attention to temperature and moisture levels, tomatoes need staking and regular feeding but reward with a bountiful harvest. They thrive in the consistent warmth a polytunnel provides.
Best planting time: Start indoors* Feb - Mar Transplant* Late Apr - early May
Ideal temperature: Day: 21-24° Night: >16°
Harvest period: Jul - Sep
- 7
Aubergines
Similar in care requirements to tomatoes, aubergines need warm conditions and support as they grow. They require a bit more attention to avoid overheating and to manage humidity.
Best planting time: Indoor start Feb - Mar Transplant In May, when night temp >12°
Ideal temperature: 21-30°
Harvest period: Jul - Sep
- 8
Melons
Among the more challenging, melons require warm temperatures and a lot of space. They need careful watering and support for their vines, making them a more advanced option for polytunnel gardening.
Best planting time: Indoor start Apr Transplant Late May - early Jun
Ideal temperature: 21-30° (Tolerates higher with adequate water)
Harvest period: Aug - Sep
*Indoor Start: Seeds are sown indoors in trays or pots before moving to the polytunnel.
*Transplant: Moving plants from the initial indoor start to their final place in the polytunnel.
*Bare-Root: Plants sold without soil are ready to plant directly.
*Potted/Runners: Strawberry plants in pots or young plants from the parent plant, ready for direct planting.
*Directly in Polytunnel Soil: Seeds are sown straight into the polytunnel's ground.
*First frost: The season's initial freeze, posing a threat to frost-sensitive plants.
*Last frost: When the risk of freezing temperatures has passed, it is safe to plant frost-sensitive crops outdoors.
Affordable ways to heat your polytunnel
When looking into greenhouse tunnels for sale or considering the use of a poly tunnel, it's essential to understand the various affordable methods to maintain optimal growing conditions, especially in cooler climates. Below is a table outlining several innovative and cost-effective methods for heating your polytunnel, ensuring your plants thrive year-round.
Method | Description | Considerations |
---|---|---|
Compost Heating | Utilize the heat from a decomposing compost pile inside or near your poly tunnel. | Ensure proper ventilation to manage humidity and odor. |
Water Barrels | Paint water barrels black and fill them with water to absorb and release heat. | Place barrels in sunlight and regularly check water levels. |
Bubble Wrap Insulation | Line the poly tunnel's interior with bubble wrap to trap heat. | Use horticultural-grade bubble wrap and secure it properly to avoid gaps. |
Thermal Mass Objects | Use stones, bricks, or concrete blocks to store and release heat. | Place objects where they can absorb maximum sunlight. |
Solar-powered Heaters | Incorporate solar panels and heaters for sustainable heating. | Higher initial costs ensure adequate solar panel capacity. |
Greenhouse Heaters | Use electric or gas heaters for controlled heating. | Monitor energy costs and ensure proper ventilation to prevent gas buildup (especially with gas heaters). |
Frequently asked questions
How can I secure the polytunnel cover and prevent it from blowing away in strong winds?
What can I grow in my polytunnel during the UK winter?
Get in touch!
Interested in our polytunnel options or other agricultural products? Get in touch with us today! Our team is ready to assist you in finding the perfect solutions to enhance your growing operations. Whether you need durable white or green polytunnels or other quality products, we're here to help. Contact us now to learn more and discuss your specific needs.
Expert advice