Poly-tunnels ??

[Quiksilver]

In rotovated and improved soil. Not much of a rotation of crops, just from one side to the other each year, but it seems to work OK. The ground that mine is on slopes from side to side, so the lower bed (full length) is used as is. Then a run of geotextile on compacted soil serves as a full length path. on the higher side, scaffolding planks retain the soil, so sort of semi-raised. One end is covered in green plastic for storage of tools, etc.
What has made a vast difference for the last couple of years has been the use of weed-suppressant landscaping fabric where tomatoes, cucs, peppers et.al. are planted. As well as cutting down on hours of weeding, it retains moisture and the evaporation helps with cooling, a bit.

297_20aaaad4d17cc9cbf6497e40e3d42409.jpg

[Char]

That's great thanks Quiksilver,
I might have a play and see if I can net in one end - should be possible to do that in a way that I can put the polythene back for the winter, I think.


just a note to others - if you click on the picture it enlarges and turns the right way up.

[Quiksilver]

That's strange! For some reason all photos I post now are upside down Thanks for sorting it, Char.

[Char]

I had to change the settings for someone with a slow internet connection so that only a thumbnail is shown and you have to click on the image to get the full size photo. Why the blasted forum has decided to turn the pictures upside down or sideways is something I'm going to have to look into.

[Blaze]

Oh dear ... sorry Char - the photos now work perfectly for me ! But if I'm the odd one, please put it back to as it was if that would simplify things. I'll still be able to post photos, just not see the big ones !!

What has made a vast difference for the last couple of years has been the use of weed-suppressant landscaping fabric where tomatoes, cucs, peppers et.al. are planted. As well as cutting down on hours of weeding, it retains moisture and the evaporation helps with cooling, a bit.

That sounds interesting - any particular type ?
(your photo doesn't show up at all !)

[Quiksilver]

Hi Blaze, I brought a couple of big rolls of the green, stripy fabric with me from UK. That is still going strong after 15 years. The stuff I bought in Leclerc lasted precisely 2 months before disintegrating. Best to buy it from an agri supplier or, at a pinch a garden centre, or even online if you can check the weight. No guarantees on longevity, though.

[Bayleaf]

It's called Toile de Paillage - usually comes in green, but can be available in brown. You can buy it off the roll from decent garden centres, or in packs. About 1m10 wide, and then you buy it by the metre. We used a lot of it when we had the Pépinière - and sold it off the roll. Brilliant stuff, but not if you're trying to lay lots of it on a windy day!

[L Austin France]

What has made a vast difference for the last couple of years has been the use of weed-suppressant landscaping fabric where tomatoes, cucs, peppers et.al. are planted. As well as cutting down on hours of weeding, it retains moisture and the evaporation helps with cooling, a bit.

+1 for that.
We have the same stuff each side of the tunnel's path & plant through holes in it.
Swop sides each year so not planting in same place. Rotovate soil every few years & add horse dung but otherwise just use proprietary fertiliser. Always get great crops.

[Char]

Oh dear ... sorry Char - the photos now work perfectly for me ! But if I'm the odd one, please put it back to as it was if that would simplify things. I'll still be able to post photos, just not see the big ones !!

'tisn't your fault Blaze, the forum's just being a pain 'tis all.

[Blaze]

Thank you QS, Bayleaf and LAF. I bought some light brown, soil coloured stuff - useless ! Same with some dark green but they both came from somewhere like Leroy Merlin. I'll go to an agri shop, it may be more expensive, but if it lasts longer ....
Digressing, the patch where we put a load of terre vegetale has done brilliantly, none of the usual horrible weeds. On the other hand, another area which we rotavated has come up with some horrors.
Edit : just seen that Toile de Paillage comes in different weights - why didn't I think of that before ??? Yer get what yer pay for ......