All systems go...
Onions are planted in the new polytunnel
I‘ve finally managed to complete building the polytunnel I moved from my own garden down to the land and it’s now up and running. It’s 8.2m (27ft) in length and 3.3m (11ft) wide with roll-up polythene curtains along the sides on the inside with a fine nylon mesh on the outside. This mesh is extremely useful as it lets plenty of air in but blocks the pathway for most of the flying insects.
Breaking down and moving the structure was a nightmare with so many pieces involved and one I’d never like to do again! Filling the beds was a major job, too, and I couldn’t have possibly done without the assistance of my son, Alwyn, and our Massey tractor.
A few tonnes went into the three beds, the bulk being well-rotted manure and top soil with some added calcified seaweed rotovated in with my Mantis tiller. The final 23cm (9in) is the same composition with the addition of Levington M3 compost and prior to planting we added our own leek and onion fertiliser and some Nutrimate powder.
Knowing I wouldn’t be in the new polytunnel in time, I potted up my own exhibition onions into larger pots a month ago and they’ve certainly grown on well. I don’t think I’ve ever had onion plants with such long leaves on them. Carrying them from my glasshouse to the tunnel without snapping any leaves was testing to say the least!
I’ve now planted these onions in the new beds in the polytunnel at 46cm (18in) apart. This year I haven’t used the black and white polythene on top of the soil, preferring to let the weeds germinate, many of which I know will be nettles. Someone once told me nettles only grow in good soil, so let’s hope the onions love it, too!