When it comes to growing plants in their garden all year round, many people think the only option is to invest in an expensive greenhouse. But this is not the case. Not only are there other options available, but these options are also typically a more suitable solution than a greenhouse.

And the best alternative to a greenhouse? It’s a polytunnel. Well, as manufacturers of polytunnels we would say that wouldn’t we? But there are very sound reasons why you should opt for a polytunnel over a greenhouse.

While not every garden will be suitable for a polytunnel, if you have very restricted space for example, they do hold many advantages over a greenhouse. For starters, they’re far more affordable and greater value for money compared to a traditional greenhouse. And the more cash you save the more money you’ll have to invest in quality plants. They’re also easier to install into the garden, and maintenance is minimal; indeed, maintenance usually involves little more than cleaning it out periodically and checking that there are no rips or other damage to the tunnel.

They’re also more flexible. For example, if you decide you want to move your polytunnel, then the process is relatively straightforward. Once a greenhouse is in place, it’s going to stay there, at least not unless you put in considerable work to move it.

How to choose a polytunnel for your garden

So that covers the advantages of a polytunnel, but how to choose a polytunnel? That’s a different question. As with most relatively large, high-commitment purchases, it’s not something that you’ll want to purchase without thinking some things through first. Perhaps the biggest question to ask is: how big do I want my polytunnel to be?

Polytunnels for the garden

There are three things to think about above all else when it comes to the size: the cost, the space, and what you want to grow. The easiest thing is to the cost -- if you’ve got a budget, then you’ll have to work within those means. You can get as big a polytunnel as you can afford; for some people, that’ll be large. For others, it’ll be more modest. But no matter what your budget you’ll be able to purchase a larger area for growing than you would if you chose a greenhouse. 

Moving on. The space. If you’re buying a polytunnel for your garden, then you’ll need to look at the space you have available and come to a reasonable conclusion about the size it can be. You won’t want your polytunnel to dominate your garden. Think about the space that you need and what you’ll be comfortable with. But if you have the room you may as well fill it. You can buy polytunnels in so many different sizes ranging up to commercial growers’ size if you have the space. Though a 90’ long polytunnel may not be for everyone!

As well as what size your garden can accommodate, think about what you want to grow -- or perhaps more specifically, how much. Are you planning to feed a family of six with your crops? Then you’ll need a lot of space for all those vegetables. On the other hand, if this is a small side project, one that provides some vegetables but not all veg for all family meal times, then something smaller will be appropriate. The same applies if you simply want to potter with plants. A smaller polytunnel will be more than adequate. You may also want to consider how much time you can dedicate to your polytunnel project. If you’ve only got enough time for light work, then a smaller one will do just fine.

Once you’ve got your polytunnel, it’ll be all about getting it set up and finally getting planting. If you’ve chosen the correct one for your garden, then you’ll find it’s much easier!

Polytunnels for sale online

Here at Direct Plants we manufacture top quality polytunnels in our Norfolk workshops. We supply commercial growers and keen gardeners up and down the country and have a range of polytunnels idea for every garden. To see the full range, click here or contact us if you need any help selecting the right polytunnel for your garden.