Naturally enough summer is the most interesting season of the year for polytunnel owners. Yes, growing under cover can keep you occupied to some extent over 365 days, but nevertheless summer is when, quite literally, your labours bear fruit.

You will of course have done much of your preparatory work during the spring. And to be fair you were probably the busiest then. Vegetables will have been sown, flowers planted and cuttings taken and nurtured.

But if spring is when the hard work takes place, summer is when we reap the rewards. We begin to see the results of all that hard work and suddenly the warmer temperatures bring that great satisfaction we all feel when our fruit and vegetable plants begin to crop and our flowers bloom.

Essential summer jobs in the polytunnel

Although it’s not quite as easy as sitting back and just surveying your kingdom, the essential tasks in summer should be fairly easy to keep on top of.

In a polytunnel, especially in a hot summer, the most important tasks and very much top of the priority list is watering and ventilation.

Make sure the soil in the tunnel and any beds are given a good soaking twice a day. Water early in the morning and late evening when the sun has waned. The soil will dry out very quickly so make sure the watering regime is strictly followed.

During the day make sure the doors are open to allow plenty of air to flow through the tunnel. Ventilation is something inexperienced polytunnel owners tend to neglect.

Feeding and maintenance

Apart from watering and ventilation, feeding your plants and crops is one of the most important tasks to keep on top of. Feeding cropping plants with plenty of organic fertiliser will ensure plenty of produce.

Must read article: What to plant in your polytunnel in winter

However, one of the less enjoyable tasks, and undoubtedly one of the most frustrating, is controlling pests. We all hope that the summer will pass without any of our plants being targeted by the variety of pests which conspire to ruin our day - not to mention our crop.

If spotted early most pests can be eradicated with prompt treatment but dealing with them is such a pain. The advice here is to constantly check all plants for signs of pest or disease and if spotted act immediately. Make sure you have a plentiful supply of treatment sprays stored in the tunnel. Don’t let pests and parasites ruin your summer.

Bring in the harvest

The final job during summer in the polytunnel is to enjoy the harvest. Keep picking the vegetables and fruits so ensure your plants crop for the full season. Enjoy your vegetables, salads and fruits as the season winds its way towards winter.

You can of course still sow salad vegetables such as lettuce throughout the summer. Plant seeds at regular intervals to enjoy a steady stream of vegetables as the weeks go by.

You can also plant peas and beans and other varieties of vegetable which can be sown in late summer. These will crop in late autumn and even winter for some varieties.

Above all, make the most of summer by enjoying your polytunnel and all the wonderful crops you can produce under polythene.

British made polytunnels at the best prices

If you’re undecided about whether to purchase a polytunnel or are looking for a new one, check out the great selection we have available on our website.

All our polytunnels are manufactured by us in our Norfolk workshops. They are heavy duty commercial grade tunnels which will last for decades. Because we are the manufacturer you won’t find these polytunnels on sale at a lower price anywhere.

You can see the full range here.

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