Premier Polytunnels Blog

Allotments have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more people wanting to grow their own vegetables. While becoming more self-sufficient and making meals using your own delicious home-grown produce can be rewarding, setting up your allotment can be a daunting prospect.

If you are new to allotments and want to get the best from your first harvest, a polytunnel could assist in getting the most from your plot. Unsure where to start? Our handy guide contains lots of essential tips and allotment ideas to get you started!

Due to harsh weather conditions, winter can take its toll on your garden, leaving your outdoor space looking overgrown and a little forlorn. Subsequently your garden may need some care and attention when spring arrives.

Although it may be a few months away, when winter begins to thaw, it’s time for gardeners to spring into action. That’s why we’ve put together this spring garden checklist so that you can prepare!

A common question we get asked here at Premier Polytunnel is “Do I need planning permission for a polytunnel?” The quick answer is, generally you don’t. However, there are some exceptions to the rules, therefore we have put together this guide to give you as much information as possible about the planning regulations for polytunnels.

Whether you’ve just moved into a new property or have been putting off overhauling your overgrown garden, the landscape you choose could help you get the best from your outdoor space.

Want to know how to design a garden layout? In this guide, we’ve broken the process down into three easy-to-manage stages to help you create a whole new outdoor space!

A place you can relax and unwind, spend time with friends and family, or enjoy an afternoon tending your flower beds, a garden is an important extension of your home.

While updating your garden can be expensive, with our stylish and cost-effective tips you can enhance your outdoor space for less than you might think. Read on to find out how to improve your backyard on a budget!

How to Transform a Garden on a Budget

Before getting started it may be a good idea to consider function and decide on a budget. Thinking about how you use your garden and what you want from the space can help you make designing decisions throughout the process, while setting a spending limit could assist when purchasing plants and finishing touches.

When you’ve done this, here is how to transform a garden on a budget.

Polytunnels can be a great investment for gardeners, helping to extend the growing season. They can also allow you to be more self-sufficient by increasing your yield and allowing you to grow more exotic varieties.

If you are considering buying a polytunnel, a kit can be a great way to go and save you hundreds of pounds on installation. Additionally, building a polytunnel from scratch is probably easier than you think – we often say that building a polytunnel is a bit like putting together giant meccano. To build a standard polytunnel kit, you will need an additional pair of hands and some basic tools. Many customers build their tunnels over a weekend, but there are a number of factors that determine how long it takes –the size and specification of the polytunnel, digging conditions, weather, and DIY skills all factor into the time it takes to build a kit.

Follow the instructions set out in this guide to learn how to build a polytunnel DIY style.

If you’ve been growing your own fruits and vegetables and are looking for ways to boost your harvest, you may be considering investing in a polytunnel or greenhouse. Providing cover from harsh weather conditions and reducing pests, these can be ideal for extending the growing season, but which option should you choose?

In this guide, we have outlined the differences between polytunnels and greenhouses, as well as a variety of factors to think about when making your choice. Want to know which one is best for both your growing needs and your garden? Read on to find out!

Whether you’re new to growing your own fruit and veg and are making a start on being more self-sufficient, or looking for a way to improve your current fruit and veg growing practices, companion planting could be a great way to go.

A technique that involves creating a community of mutually beneficial plants, companion planting can improve pollination and provide an organic method of pest reduction. Also known as a polyculture, planting different species side-by-side can offer a range of other benefits, including improving soil structure, boosting nutrients and reducing disease.

However, selecting the wrong pairings can inhibit growth, so if you’re considering companion planting, it’s vital to make sure you group the right plants together. To help you, we’ve put together this companion planting guide for three of the UK’s most popular plants: tomatoes, strawberries and carrots.

With the arrival of autumn, you may think that your vegetable growing season is over. However, with a little preparation, the help of our yearly guide and a polytunnel, you can still sow and grow fresh produce during the colder months. This is because while many associate gardening with spring, autumn can provide a plentiful harvest while winter months are the perfect time for planning and sowing.

There are many varieties of vegetables that can be sown in autumn ready for a winter harvest, while other plants can be over-wintered – these are planted in autumn and remain dormant until the spring. So, if you’re yet to start sowing or growing your seasonal veg, then fear not, as you still have time to reap the best of the winter season.

Ready to get started? If you’re wondering what to grow in a polytunnel in September, October and beyond, we’ve compiled this guide to help you extend your growing season.

Nearly two years ago, in December 2016, we constructed two 27ft wide x 66ft long animal house polytunnels over the dog kennels at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, in Edenfield, near Ramsbottom. These polytunnels acted as temporary cover for the animals during the wet winter months.

With the construction of new kennels now underway, Premier Polytunnels was asked to relocate one of the tunnels at the sanctuary.

This summer, our construction team dismantled, moved, refurbished, rebuilt and re-covered the structure, now measuring 27ft wide x 42ft long. We are excited about the polytunnel’s new purpose as a dog training arena at the sanctuary.