Most of us use our polytunnels for growing veg and to ensure we get a healthy crop every summer. It’s unsurprising then that the most popular or best plants for polytunnels are vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, lettuce etc. And, as every home gardener knows - home grown produce tastes so much better than vegetables purchased from a supermarket.

Yes, you have to put a lot more effort into growing your own and your crop isn’t always certain to succeed but enjoying a meal made with produce from your own polytunnel is so much more satisfying than tearing open a plastic bag hauled home from the supermarket.

So, what are our favourite or best plants for polytunnels? Here are some plants that most gardeners will have great success with regardless of whether their polytunnel is in the garden, on the allotment or even on a small holding.

Tomatoes

It’s no surprise that tomatoes are at the top of our list. Although I have no evidence to support this, I can’t imagine there is a more popular plant among polytunnel owners.

Tomatoes are so versatile and are perfect for under cover growing. They are ideally suited to polytunnels and even the most inexperienced of gardeners should be able to achieve great results with tomato plants.

And, of course, you can grow so many different varieties. There are many different tomato plants to choose from and you won’t find any that you can’t grow under polythene. You’ll discover that your plants produce a far more bountiful crop than they would if they were grown outside and if you want to grow them from seed, you’ll be able to do so in your polytunnel.

To make maximum use of the space available to you inside your tunnel go for the upright or indeterminate varieties of tomato. Plant them directly into the soil and ensure they are thoroughly watered after planting.

A word of caution. As they grow tomato plants will need supporting. The easiest and probably most efficient way of doing this is with canes. But beware. Bamboo canes and polythene covers are not the best of friends. Be very careful not to puncture your tunnel cover with your bamboo canes.

However, a bit of care with the canes and all will be fine. If you grow tomatoes in your polytunnel you’re almost guaranteed a great crop. And the fruit will be much juicier and sweeter than the ones you pick up at the shops.

Cucumbers

Another traditional gardener’s favourite that will be a great success in your polytunnel. You don’t need many plants to produce the cucumbers you need and with even a moderately successful crop you have many more than you need. Fortunately, friends and family will always enjoy having a fresh freebie so you should have no trouble farming out your crop (pun intended).

The great thing about cucumber plants is that they don’t need too much maintenance once planted and established. That said, the ‘female’ varieties tend to be easier to grow and crop best.

Sweet peppers and chillies

Fairly easy to grow your crop of peppers and chillies will be well received by those in the family who enjoy cooking. Both vegetables can be grown either directly in the soil bed or in growbags.

The great thing about these plants is that they can be more or less planted and forgotten about apart keeping them moist (be careful not to overwater). A good tip is to feed them once a week or so.

You can grow all three varieties of paper - as they mature, they go from green to red to yellow. There are lots of different chillies you can grow and as spicy cookery is so popular now your crop will always be in demand - especially as home-grown chilies always seem to be hotter than shop bought produce.

Lettuce and other salad staples

There really can’t be a much easier plant to grow. And with so many different varieties to choose from, salad lovers in the household will be more than happy with the bountiful crop you’ll be able to supply them with.

Plant seeds in stages so you’ll always have fresh lettuce coming off the production line and whether iceberg, loose leaf, cos or any other type is their favourite you’ll be able to keep the salad bowl overflowing with fresh produce.

Radishes, carrots and spinach are other popular vegetables which will thrive under polythene. And they can be grown directly in the soil ready for early cropping. As spring ends and summer begins, you’ll have a great supply of vegetables coming out of the polytunnel

Of course, which plants you choose to grow will depend very much on your personal preference and those of others in your household. But those we’ve highlighted above are generally easy to grow and should, all things being equal, produce a bumper crop.

To ensure a great crop this and every year invest in a polytunnel from Direct Polytunnels. We make all our tunnels in our Norfolk workshops and supply hobby and professional growers throughout the UK with our incredible value heavy duty polytunnels.

Click here to see the full range or feel free to contact us if you need any further information. 

You may also be interested in: Buyers Guide  Traditional Polytunnels  Replacement Covers  Commercial Polytunnels