Polytunnel/greenhouse/veg patch

[Tinkerisdead]

I've found a house to rent and the garden is really long divided into sections. I love it, it's a bit neglected but the landlords have said do what you like! My dh is put off the house because the garden is too much work!

He's no gardener, but I am a modest one. I've never grown food and this place has a greenhouse, a polytunnel, a fruit cage and a veg patch. The rent is cheap and I have the choice as to rip it all down or dive right in.

It's becoming the deciding factor in the house. I'm excited by the prospect of the goodlife on a cheap rent, but I'm naive as to what it involves!

So what do I grow in the polytunnel for instance over the veg patch or green house? The fruit cage I can see is well stocked but again I have no clue about maintaining it. My parents grow their own but I'm in new territory with the fruit cage and tunnel.

My gut says this is a great opportunity to introduce my little dd to home grown produce, but my dh is steering towards the stark newbuild postage stamp alternative.

Any advice?

Hello,I met you in MM with Colditz last year.The garden sounds fabulous.I'm very .I have a polytunnel and it is ther best purchase ever.I can grow salad and stuff year round,and grow so many tomatoes,peppers,cucumbers,squashes aubergines ect that I we are self sufficient in them from July to Nov,and freeze the excess.I used my last bag of frozen tomatoes last week,so that is 7 months supply just from the tunnel.

If you were super organised [unlike me] you could put spuds in your tunnel in the summer and have new potatoes at Christmas.It is really just a larger version of a greenhouse,so whatever you grow in a greenhouse will grow in a tunnel.Bernard Salt wrote an excellent book about how to maximize your cropping in polytunnels.

Fruit cages I don't know much about I'm afraid.If there are raspberries in there,you just cut the old canes down to the ground so that the fruit develops on the new ones.The old ones will be brown and dead looking,the new ones green-if you want you can tie the new canes to garden canes to make it easier to pick the fruit.Black,red and white currants don't need much work,just prune out any dead or diseased looking wood and you are done.
HTH.

Mirage I was searching you out as nailgun! I thought I'd post here first then was gonna text colditz to see if she had your number. I know you're a gardener. If I take this house would you consider popping round to just tell me what's in there? I promise I make nice tea!

The garden is really mature and established but neglected a bit. I'm not scared of the work just not sure where to start. It's in asfordby.

Gonna sit and digest your suggestions now. Thank you x (unmumsnetty kiss as I know you ha ha.)

Ha! I forgot what name I'd been using.Yes I'll happily come [for a nose around] and give some advice.Just let me know when.

Mirage. I've applied for the house and got it! Just have to set a moving date, get your wellies at the ready!

Mirage, how big is your polytunnel?

Hurray!
5,it is 20ft x 50ft.I'd been looking for one for a while,but they were snapped up very quickly.Then I noticed that a local garden centre had got planning permission to build houses on its land,so rather cheekily,went in and asked if they had any polytunnels that they wanted to get rid of.It cost me £50! We did have to take it down and the polythene was shot,but £50-what a bargain.I love it and it keeps us in veg for roughly 8 months of the year.I only wish it was nearer the house instead of in the next village-then I'd be in it almost permanently.