One great benefit of polytunnels is that they can be used to extend the growing season for vegetables well into winter. In fact, just about any type of vegetable can be grown in a polytunnel during winter. This makes it possible to have a steady supply of fresh produce even when outdoor conditions are less than ideal.
To ensure success with winter vegetable production in a polytunnel, you’ll need to follow a few key guidelines.
First of all, the polytunnel must be well insulated for winter cultivation. The structure itself will act as insulation but it is still important that any air gaps are sealed up tightly so cold drafts don’t penetrate inside.
The temperature should also be regulated by opening or closing vents in order to maintain an optimum growing environment within the enclosed space. A thermometer placed at regular intervals throughout the area is useful when monitoring environmental conditions and keeping them consistent with what plants require during different stages of growth.
Potatoes
Potatoes are a great way to add some fun and flavor to your kitchen this winter. You can grow them in pots or sumpsters, depending on what kind you want; we recommend filling these containers with garden soil mixed together with 1 part compost for every 2 parts earth (or sand). To keep things warm inside during cold months use an insulating material such as straw bales around the stems so they don’t freeze solid!
Onions
There are sturdy onion varieties that can be successfully planted even when the polytunnel is unheated. They’re a good choice if you need to keep things warm and cozy during those cold winter months, or just want some fresh vegetables in your cooking!
Cabbage and Broccoli
If you’re able to keep your polytunnel at an optimum temperature, both cabbages and broccoli can grow throughout winter. Start them early in the season so they have enough time before planting out outdoors when spring comes around!
Carrots
Carrots can be planted in the fall and harvested as soon as ground thaws. If you have a good winter, they may be ready before spring starts; so check your carrot if it was cold-hardy enough for planting then!
Garlic
Garlic is a great plant for the beginner gardener. You can start them in January, transplanting it into March or April when soil conditions allow and then move outside once temperatures are suitable – make sure you choose an hardneck variety instead of softnecks because they’re cold tolerant!
Beans
The humble bean is one of the most versatile vegetables on earth, and for good reason. Beans are both easy to grow as well as highly productive meaning you can harvest an endless supply through winter months without worry about running out!
For best results with your plant make sure that it has full sun exposure in fertile soil which will help keep temperatures high enough so they don’t die off at too low a degree Celsius.
Winter Lettuce
There are many types of lettuce that prefer a cooler environment. For example, little gem and rocket grow quickly so you should harvest them when your garden has some big leaves to use in salads or as wrappers for sandwiches. Lettuce with serrated edges – lamb’s lettuce among others-tends not only withstand colder weather better than other varieties but also have more color throughout their stems making them perfect additions into any dinner table setting!
Pak Choi (Bok Choy)
This is a great vegetable to add some variety and nutrition into your diet. It’s also easy to grow, so if you’re looking for something that will work with the seasons then this might be just what you need! Make sure not too wait until it gets cold outside before planting them since they take about 30 days from seedtime all-the way through harvest.
Kale and Spinach
The cold winters are perfect for growing leafy greens. SPINACH can survive in temperatures as low at -6C, which means you’ll have plenty to harvest even when it’s freezing outside! Merlo Nero and Riccio d’Asti varietiesare good choices if your polytunnel doesn’t get heated up too much (they grow faster than other types). And kale also likes those chilly conditions.
Brussel Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a great addition to your winter garden. Harvest them in March when they’re 1-2 inches across, and be sure not only harvest small ones for cooking but also match their size so that the time it takes to cook doesn’t vary too much!
Peas
Planting peas in late winter is a great way to have fresh vegetables for the whole season. You’ll be able grow them before anyone else, and with such an early harvest you can’t go wrong!
Shallots
The sooner you get your shallots started, the better! The 8-9 cm pots are best for planting out in spring when they’ll be well ahead of outdoor planted cousins – but don’t wait too long before starting them from seed as temperatures can affect how quickly these bulbs develop into established plants (and there’s no need to put energy towards something that might not work).
Celery
Celery is a great crop for the garden because it needs little water and rich soil. In addition, celeries can be grown in areas with hot sun or high temperatures to protect them from those weather conditions! Grow your own vegetables this year by getting started on these three simple steps: prepay attention; plant early indoors before danger of frost strikes where you live then transplant outside after all risk has passed through harvest time.
Squash
Squashes are a fantastic choice for those who like to garden in short season areas, and they can be started as soon as it’s warm enough outside. Without an additional growing period with the polytunnel variety before transplanting outdoors into your final Location/Plot of Land ( farmland or home gardens), many varieties won’t have time come near maturity!
Cacti
If you’re looking for a plant that will last forever and never die, then the cactus might be perfect! Although this tough-as-nails succulent does prefer sunny spots with warm weather but can survive in cooler regions as well. In fact it’s known as one of those plants which are very hard to kill so even if your garden isn’t fancy – don’t worry about growing them.
Herbs
Parsley has a reputation for being the go-to herb against winter, and it’s not hard to see why. The plant will form nicely even when planted in cold soil conditions! Mediterranean herbs like thyme can also seem happy during their time outside with you too – though they may need more watering than other plants do if there are lots of rainstorms happening around here all year long (and then some).
Conclusion
Winter is coming and so are the cold, snowstorms and frosty temperatures. You may be tempted to leave your polytunnel behind for winter but don’t! There are many benefits of keeping it up in this colder season. Though we recommend doing a little more maintenance than usual during these months, you can still continue planting into the polytunnel when it dips below freezing outside. Rest assured that you have chosen the right plastic for polytunnel for the life of your polytunnel. This will help ensure that all your hard work doesn’t go wasted when spring finally arrives because you won’t have any crops growing outdoors yet.
