Preparing the ground for our polytunnel

[CPC]

We have bought a second hand northern polytunnel 18ft x48ft ,with the intention of placing it in an East / west orientation on a fairly level grass field in Anglesey . The field had been used for grazing sheep for many years previously. We temporarily fenced off the area where we plan to place the tunnel and our chickens have been on it since May. It is still covered with grass (thick clumps in places) the few nettle clumps that grew, I’ve pulled out by hand. I have a very limited supply of compost and will endeavour to try and get some more ( but I think it will be a big area to mulch!)
My question is …. If I put down a weed membrane now with what compost I have underneath, will it be good to start growing and planting in from Spring next year?

We will be erecting the tunnel framework in the next week, and putting the cover on probably on a warmish day early next year ( if you think that’s a good time of year to do so?)

I would appreciate any advice you might be able to give. We are complete novices at vegetable growing and having read your books …. I think our next step will be signing up for one of your weekend courses once your 2017 dates are available.

Many thanks,
Carolyn

[charles]

Yes cover on a sunny day, though that can be difficult when planning ahead.
For that area, you need about 1.5 to 2 tonnes for a two inch mulch. Go for that if you can, then polythene over until March or April for spring plantings. When removing the cover next spring, if you see no white shoots of weeds trying to grow, you are fine. Otherwise, pull or trowel them out.
Be ready for a slug hunt when removing the cover.
I hope to see you here next year.
PS Northern Tunnels are solid, good choice for Anglesey wind.

[CPC]

Thank you Charles, that seems an awful lot of compost but I think for this year, I will have to buy it in. The compost bin system my husband is making out of pallets, so hopefully by next year we’ll be self sufficient for our compost!

I’ll keep an eye out for your courses on your web site and make sure I book before they become full.

Just a thought ……. should we try and get the grass as short as we can before it is mulched or will it not make any difference if it’s left as it is?

Thank you for your advice, much appreciated 😊

[charles]

You can leave the grass.
Yes I would buy compost, that is not a huge amount, a tonne does not go far enough.
Eliot Coleman in Maine uses 60 tons per acre per year in his greenhouses, and your tunnel is about 1/40th of an acre

[CPC]

I obviously need to think about this differently and scale up a bit ….. having only ever bought compost in 40 litre bags from the garden centre!

I’ve been doing some online searches for bulk buys, seems the best way to buy it.

I’m looking forward to this! Thank you again.

[RandA]

HI
Creoso to the no dig idea, , We are in south wales and if you are ever in the area would be happy to show you what we have done. We use the local green compost that the council get a company to process they deliver to us 20 tons in a big tractor but I am sure where you live you would find a farmer with plenty of composts to deliver it is worth asking around. good luck
ALli

[CPC]

Diolch Alli,
I will make some enquiries with Ynys Mon council and see what they can do. It all sounds so fascinating to garden this way …. It makes sense. Did you have any weed problems with the green compost …. Bindweed etc coming through and is it ok for vegetable growing?
If we are in your part of Wales we would love to see what you have done! I shall make some enquiries with local farms too . Diolch yn fawr.

Carolyn

[Freed]

I’m sure you will be thrilled with the produce you can grow in your polytunnel. We had just a small one three years ago and it’s wonderful. Food all year round. We do have a bit of powdery mildew but it’s not a huge problem. We keep mesh on the doors until heavy frosts then cover that with fleece until it’s warm enough to remove again. Your big one will perform wonderfully well, I should think.
Charles is the best guru when it comes to sensible and productive gardening. John Walker is another name I go to for good advice and environmentally sound ideas even though I’ve probably been gardening longer than the two of them. You’re never too old to learn. No-dig is not only the best practice for soil management it is also better for my 69 year old muscles and back and my 5′ 1″ frame!
Good luck with your endeavours.

[CPC]

Thank you Freed for your helpful tips and encouragement. I’m certainly looking forward to all the vegetables and fruit that we will be able to grow. It is a bit daunting though, not least putting the tunnel together! …. Hopefully we will be putting the tunnel framework up over the next week , then I’ll cover the ground with some mulch ( I’ve ordered a few tonnes of mushroom compost) and following Charles’ advice that will all be covered with black polythene until the Spring., when hopefully we’ll get the cover on and start planting!

[Freed]

Sounds exciting. We have a tiny additional polytunnel from Guardman but the covers only last a year. We are going to recover it with horticultural polythene and perhaps expand it. They are so useful. I have Parsnips in the smaller one and earlier we had Carrots so we could avoid the dreaded carrot fly. The bigger tunnel has an assortment of veg. I tried to put a picture on but it wouldn’t take it.
Let us all know how it progresses and best of luck with all the preparatory work. It will all be worth it.

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