Preparing the ground for a new polytunnel

[Kevin WWMember]

Apologies if this has all been covered before. I have just completed construction of the frame of a new 14’x30′ polytunnel (no polythene yet as it isn’t warm enough to stretch over the frame!)and I have low cut ex-lawn inside the frame. I intend to have 3′ beds down both sides and one 3′ bed down the middle with a 2’6″ path around it. I was going to dig or rotovate the entire patch and heap up the path’s topsoil on the beds, but all the information from Charles and others here indicates that I do not need to do this. I have access to lots and lots of well rotted horse manure so do I just pile this where I want the beds and plant into those or do I need compost as well to make sure any seeds do not get lost in the larger lumps of manure? This would leave grass paths-is this worse than mulch paths in that it may encourage more slugs or will constant foot traffic keep the grass down enough?

I have black mulch on my veg garden paths which works very well.

Many thanks,

Kevin WW

[charlesModerator]

 All correct bvut do not have grass paths: grass is invasive and harbours slugs, you want bare soil with some compost on top so black poly for a few months initially (oaths only) will be good. Firm the manure down on the beds, 4-6", then spread an inch or so of reasonably fine compost on top of it, you can then sow and plant straightaway, I even did that with carrots this April.

Good luck.

[Rocket ScienceMember]

Hi Kevin, I constructed a new 14×28 tunnel this winter and managed to get it covered in the one hot week of March. I ordered a base rail kit instead of burying the polythene in a trench this time and it made covering a lot easier, no more digging trenches which is good on a no dig garden! You need to have used concrete or base plates on foundation tubes otherwise the structure may lift in wind. Might be worth a look a first tunnels site if you haven’t already.
Robin

[Kevin WWMember]

Many thanks Charles and Robin. Very useful advice.

I’ll just swim out and see if the frame is still there!

[Author]

Posts