Gardening in a Polytunnel 2.....Making raised beds

I am delighted with my polytunnel being able to work in all weathers is wonderful.

Like many gardeners I have back problems so high level beds are essential. 
And if you build them yourself you can get them tailored to your needs.

I started with the front and back supports, these were buried in the earth. Then I added cross pieces to hold them upright and to support the 'shelf'.

I then added the wood slats running the full length of the tunnel.

Wide boards, fixed at the corners, made up the boxes.  

Divisions fixed again at the corners were put in every 92 cms. the first box filled with soil.

An empty box with seeds sown in pots.

On the other side of the tunnel I only did the staging half way and left the end to grow tall vegetables like runner beans and peas.

The bottom of the staging being filled with soil ready to plant out courgettes, squash and brassicas.

That's all for now, watch out for Gardening in a Polytunnel 3!

Gardening in a polytunnel in Ireland ... The beginning

Gardening in any weather!

After last years very poor yield in my garden in south east Ireland I decided to order a polytunnel in January, so hopefully this year I shall have vegetables and herbs in abundance.
I decided to get a 10' x 16' from Colin Warren polytunnels
The first job was to level the site...part of which was my original vegetable garden.

The site which I had covered with plastic to kill back some of the grass.

The site then had to be levelled with extra room at the front so that the door could open outwards.

The van arrived with all the kit and two men to construct my tunnel. The hoops and the door frames were inserted into holes and concreted in place. 

The cross braces were put into position and the frames for the doors. Heavy wood battens were fixed all around the base.

Next  the plastic went on over the frame and was stretched taut and fixed around wood battens at the base, which were then secured to the wood already in place. It was then pleated and fixed around the door frames front and back

A stout door was fixed in place.

And a net screen on the back, which also had a roll down plastic door inside for the colder weather.


Watch out for the next part where I shall be planning and building the raised beds inside!