Polycrub Vs Polytunnel Vs Greenhouse which is the best and why? Ft. KSB Polycarbonate greenhouse

❓So what is a Polycarbonate Greenhouse & what makes it better from a regular greenhouse or polytunnel? 🤔
As promised here is the more in-depth vlog of the Polycrub with all the details hopefully covered!
This Polycrub measures in at 12m x3m (39x9.8ft) with a 6mm polycarbonate shell with two 900mm doors one on each end & was sourced & installed by the amazing team ‪@ksbgreenhouse‬
(Lights, heater, gravel, ground prep all sourced separately) *
I now currently have a lean-to greenhouse (9 years old) a conventional polytunnel (1 year old) & the Polycrub. I will use them all for different jobs but by far the Polycrub could probably actually do all the jobs I need the others to do.
For example my greenhouse is now used as a overwinter storage location for tender plants & starting seedlings off in as I have easier access to electricity 🔌 & all my equipment & shelves there but it has clear glass & south facing only these last few years it has been beneficial to me as a beech hedge now shades it put from May- Oct until then my seedlings got scorched easy & with only a small window and door the ventilation was never great when the season warmed up.
My polytunnel offers more spaces, the original frame was donated to me by family & was a very old frame but with additional strengthening bars and two doors my brother welded for me it's a much better although the polythene doesn't sit tight on the frame & there are gaps around both doors where heat escapes in Winter❄️ the polythene will likely last another 5 years approximately before need re-covered.
The Polycrub is a much stronger frame, each ring is concerned into the ground, the 6mm polycarbonate is very strong indeed, I've seen these on TH-cam in the Hebrides islands and parts of Iceland so very strong, as mentioned in the video the polycarbonate is fluted which gives excellent light for seedlings but unlikely my greenhouse they are less likely to scorch.
I have the option on an earth floor or a fabric floor or both once I decide my plans, the stable door approach will be great for the months of March/April and September/October for Spring and Autumn sowing 🌱 for ventilation!
The horizontal bars on the frame can be used for shelving you can also have that added in and raised bed inside as additional extra if so required, I've opted without. Polycarbonate has a life span of 25 years approximately, I look forward to years of growing going forward 😊🌱
Any questions drop me a comment below 👇🏼

[@thebeehutt]

Thank you for this video. Super helpful.

[@lukiluvssuga]

I’m so glad we got a two minute talk about how a door opens and latches! The wonders of TH-cam! I now know how to open a door Thankyou

[@yew_cottage_garden]

& thank you for your sarcasm it made my day 😊

[@LCamp-cr7fs]

Well, we all have to start somewhere. Next step is rewatching and learning how to close it.

[@yew_cottage_garden]

@@LCamp-cr7fs content pending 👍🏼

[@thebeehutt]

I thought the door bit was helpful actually. Some tunnels I've seen have crap doors so it's worth showing this.

[@BalticHomesteaders]

Is this a true polycrub (a brand of greenhouse up in Shetland) or a galvanised steel polycarbonate greenhouse? These are pretty standard over here now, we've had one for 4 years, in fact the frustration is it's almost impossible to get polythene high tunnels any more.

[@yew_cottage_garden]

Hello - it's a Polycarbonate tunnel from KSB Greenhouses - I first saw them here on TH-cam but have only started to become available in Northern Ireland

[@davidreefer2357]

i dug about 1m down in my greenhouse to make it bigger inside, first i had tables along the sides but decided to make raised beds instead. the extra height makes a huge difference and reminds me of the tardis =] i put draintubes along the outer edges all draining into a hole i dug as deep as i could, to have a way of draining it should it get too wet.

[@thebeehutt]

I've been thinking of doing this. Can't find much info online though. Is it a bit warmer too because you've dug down?

[@lesleymanchester7149]

It's very windy where I live would a polygrub be suitable?

[@yew_cottage_garden]

Very much so - all the metal frame you see is bolted and concreted down before the polycarbonate goes on - that's why I got it because of my site exposure and lifespan they last for

[@ando5899]

What are the like during the summer ventilation wize?

[@yew_cottage_garden]

Haven't had much of a summer to actually find that out yet 😞 with the two doors the ventilation so far as been good - if I was to do it again I'd deffo go for the additional feature of an air vent just as back up

[@noga8974]

Very nice, whats the orientation of it?

[@yew_cottage_garden]

Hello fully open to the elements on a hill, the two short ends are west and east facing which worked out good for airflow one long side south facing

[@stuffandnonsense8528]

I struggle a bit with the cost/benefit calculation on these polycrubs. They aren't much cheaper than greenhouses and for the same price you'd get a polytunnel which is 24'x48'.

[@yew_cottage_garden]

I think their location specific to the user - for me the benefits are I live in a frost pocket that's on an exposed site so it's the longevity and heat retention which this provides a longer growing season for me and has a 25-30 year life span whereas my current tunnel is almost 2 years old and has taken abuse in the last few storms I just know it won't stand the same time, end of the day everyone has different needs this is very beneficial for me

[@stuffandnonsense8528]

@@yew_cottage_garden That certainly makes sense. I can see specific use cases, but I still wonder at the similar cost of a greenhouse. Would that not have a similar longevity and heat retention profile?

[@arnorrian1]

Are you using soilblocks for starting seedlings?

[@yew_cottage_garden]

No I always use my CD60 Seed trays and make my own seed compost blend