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Bees are crucial for gardeners. This is because they are pollinators, and pollination is needed for plants to reproduce. Therefore, to promote healthy crops that return season after season, gardeners aim to encourage bees into their allotments and onto their vegetable patches.

Whether you’re new to gardening or you’ve been growing crops for a while, it’s important to fully understand why pollination is important and how it works. If you have been trying to entice pollinators into your polytunnel for a while but you have always wondered how bees pollinate plants, read on.  

We see a lot of rain here in the UK and when it comes to growing fruit and veg, rainwater can help crops thrive. To easily get rainwater to these crops, gardeners will use rainwater harvesting.

Using this system, rainwater that would usually flow away down drains is collected and stored for future use. Gardeners will then plan how they want to distribute the collected water around their crops.  

If you would like find out how to harvest rainwater and set up a harvesting system that can be used in your polytunnel, follow our guide for some top tips to make your crops flourish.

Harvest season is possibly the most important time for both gardeners and farmers. This is when fruits and vegetables are ready to be picked before being used for salads and cakes, pies and stews.

It also signifies the end of a process that sees gardeners cultivate and tend to their crops, spanning from the initial sowing of the seeds through to the moment the resulting produce is ready to be gathered. This, therefore, is when a gardener will know for sure if their growing season has been a success.

If you’ve been growing your crops in a polytunnel, the results are slightly different to those being planted outside. This is because, by their nature, polytunnels are designed to protect your herbs, fruit and veg from the elements, so the cropping season will differ while they’re under cover.

Therefore, if ‘when is harvest season for my polytunnel-grown crops?’ is the big question for you, read on.  

Bees are perfect pollinators. Attracting them to your garden can be crucial for a successful crop, as well as for strengthening future harvests.

Therefore, it’s important to take some time to work out how to attract bees to your garden. In the UK, the spring months are when bees start to come out of hibernation and make their appearance. This arrival coincides with the new flowers coming into bloom.

When it comes to drawing attention to the flowers inside your polytunnel, a strategy is needed. So, to help you take advantage of the return of these pollinators, we’ve created a guide to making your garden an inviting patch for bees. Read on to find out more.   

Whether you have a comprehensive irrigation system in place or you’re still trying out some new ideas in your polytunnel, you’ll find that all water is precious. This is because your polytunnel is protecting your plants from the elements and therefore they can’t easily gain access to rainwater.

Therefore, when it comes to making sure your crops are well hydrated, every drop counts. Start thinking of ways to save waste water and repurpose it for your crops. Not only are you giving them regular access to water, but you’re being more eco-conscious too.

The methods for saving waste water don’t have to be too advanced – even some of the simplest methods can be effective.

Irrigation systems offer an effective artificial way of supplying water to your crops that do not have easy access to rainwater. This means that water is applied to crops using pipes, sprinklers and by other means to ensure that they are being watered properly and regularly.

When you invest in a polytunnel, you can protect your plants and produce from the elements, giving you the opportunity to extend growing times and introduce crops outside of traditional sowing periods. However, while shielding your crops from the weather can be a good thing, it also means they will require suitable irrigation to keep them watered.

So, whether you’re planning your fruit or want to focus on veg, read on to get an in-depth look at irrigation and the methods you can use to make sure you have a healthy harvest this year.

If you are one of the many people who have joined the recent allotment trend, you will find that polytunnels come in handy. As well as protecting your crops from the elements, these are spaces in which you can lengthen the growing season and carefully plan your produce.

Plus, if you have any children or grandchildren and want to show them how to grow their own, this is the perfect place for them as they can head inside and take charge of their own fruit and vegetables.

If you select the right one, you will also find that they are long-lasting and durable. To help you choose the best polytunnel for your allotment, here are some useful tips.

Are you looking for some inspiration for your polytunnel this year? There are plenty of ways to create delicious crops and beautiful blooms in your own structure in the coming months.

Whether you are a gardening pro looking for a new challenge or new to growing your own and want to start with something special, we have rounded up some polytunnel growing ideas to start planning in. Read on and allow us to help you get started!

Polytunnel Ideas: The Prep

Before you begin planning in some inspired polytunnel ideas, it is important to know the space you have got to work with. The number of crops and plants you decide to grow will largely depend upon the size of your polytunnel. We have a selection of sizes to choose from, from 6ft wide ones that are perfect for the bottom of the garden to large ones that are 30ft wide and excellent for those with access to a lot of land.

When it comes to gardening, it is never too early to start thinking ahead to the next season. Now is the perfect time to plan your spring crops and plot out what you want to grow in the coming months – and even in the next year!

To give you some inspiration, we bring you a detailed growing guide for some of the most popular veg to prep right now. If you are wondering what you would like to do in your garden this spring, allow us to help you get started.

What to do in the Garden in Spring 

Before you head into your garden this spring and start planting your next lot, it is worth taking the time to check in on your winter vegetables. If you were planning your spring garden last autumn, you will find that some of your veg will be ready in early spring while others can be harvested later in the season.

More of us are growing our greens. With the rise in popularity of allotments, plus an increase in the number of vegan and vegetarian options that are available, it seems there is a trend towards plant-based diets and self-sufficient living. 

Whether you are a seasoned gardener or you are just starting out, if you are one of the many who want to try new ways to grow your own produce, a polytunnel could be the perfect option. They protect your crops in cooler months, allowing you to plan out your growing season with confidence.

Read on for polytunnel layout tips to help you get started!