Polytunnel year round planting plan
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- čas přidán 23. 02. 2020
- If you have questions, we have a FAQ document and video, which you can find here: steves.seasidelife.com/2020/0...
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. Fairly mild, but very windy.
For more details on the databases that I use to manage my allotment, check out these two blog posts steves.seasidelife.com/catego...
We have three allotments in my family, mine (Steve), my wife's (Debbie) and my middle daughter's (Jennie). We also have a small kitchen garden at home. They are all 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.
Jennie's plot has been designed as a traditional allotment, but we put a lot of focus on minimising the work we do there. It's basically a plant and forget it plot, full of garlic, leeks, onions, beetroot, brassicas, squash, beans and fruit trees. It's heavily mulched to reduce weeds and to reduce the need water.
Debbie's plot is mostly full of perennials, it's an ornemental plot. Again 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 14 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 both 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.
Thank you nice information and good looking plot.
Thanks Steve, very helpful and I will watch a few more times with my notebook! You have inspired me to get my currently bare rooted elsante strawbs in to large-ist pots whilst waiting for ground water to ebb before building fruit/brassica cages. I have stoped the organic kale and spinach coming from Tesco this week as my partner and I are yet to reap the benefit of the obvious perennial kale and overwintering chard in the garden - doh!
Hi Steve and Thank's. Always as interesting. Have a good day...
Thank you Steve.. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and productive new year..🌟
Hi Steve, A great insight into what is going to happen in your polytunnel throughout the year, great video, Take care.
Thank you for video!
thank you,ive been debating about a greenhouse or polytunnel this video made up my mind.
Cheers Steve 👍looking to purchase my first polytunnel. Some great advice. Thanks for sharing Robbo
Liking the new presenting style 👍
Thank you
Lovely video.
Your organisation is the best I’ve seen! Unbelievably well planned.
Another great video Steve, thank you, now I'm going to try and find your ebook.
Hello Steve. Thank you for such a brill thought out plan. For me, your most useful video to date with so much to implement.
A stunning collection of edibles for this time of year Steve, very commendable indeed. Having grown edibles over the winter in my tunnels I know just how difficult it is to do. Your planning is superb, it really is. I doff my cap....Steve...:)
Very well arranged, I'm so proud to see your beautiful garden. I like your polytunnel. Do you need lighting for your polytunnel?
Where do you get your tables? They look great. A great video and super organised poly tunnel. 😊
Back, what about my back, lifting all those containers about. This season I did eight of those tubs you have there with potatoes. I reckon they weigh about as much as bag of cement about 25 k When I came to move them, ooh my back.
Hello Steve
Hi Steve I really like your crop rotation. What size is your poly tunnel and does it come with irrigation facilities? Thanks for your inspirational videos.