To all intents and purposes it’s a greenhouse, used for growing plants, fruits and vegetables, but instead of being glazed, the steel frame is covered in a specially designed sheet of polythene. You will have seen them in fields or at garden centres - they are semi-circular in shape, with a door at one or both ends. They are available in many sizes from a small polytunnel for a garden or allotment to very large commercial polytunnels.
At only a fraction of the cost of a glasshouse, our polytunnels are excellent value for money. Instead of an 8ft x 10ft glasshouse you can have a 14ft wide x 20ft long polytunnel with no need for a costly prepared base to stand it on and with no panes of glass to break!
They are not only cost effective when purchasing; they are also easily maintained. Our polytunnel frames can be expected to last 20 years and more, with the cover needing to be replaced periodically. It is not uncommon for a cover to last 8-10 years and the cost of a replacement polytunnel cover is minimal.
The quality and materials of our award-winning polytunnels cannot be matched. Our specialist design is the only one to include all of the following as standard:
• Larger diameter hoops than our competitors for extra strength and rigidity.
• The UK’s first 5-layer Thermal Anti Drip polythene cover.
• Wide ‘wheelbarrow’ doors for ample access.
• Universal fixing brackets for ease of construction.
Our customers are especially impressed by our excellent customer service, including our unrivalled after sales support.
With the development of new polythene covers it is now possible to grow all kinds of crops and exotic plants in a polytunnel. Even in the cold UK weather, strawberries, tomatoes and even chillies flourish under cover - 90% of British strawberries are grown in polytunnels with the growing season stretching from early spring to late autumn.
Many award-winning flowers and record breaking vegetables are also grown this way. Most importantly a polytunnel can help to put you in control of nature, helping to extend the growing season and meaning you can enjoy home-grown, healthy meals all year round.
You will find great tips and tricks and ideas of what to grow in a polytunnel in our monthly growing guides.
Originally developed as a cost effective way of covering a large area for a fraction of the cost of a glasshouse, polytunnels have continued to develop and advance and, today, they are the first choice for growing under cover in countries throughout the world. Avid gardeners and commercial growers will tell you that they couldn't manage without them. Our polytunnels are particularly popular with schools and charities.
Polytunnels are versatile and are extremely popular with farmers for housing sheep. Some of our customers use them as community hubs, dog training arenas and wedding venues!