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Upgrading my cold-frames and low tunnels for increased yields
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ส.ค. 2020
- I started this plot with just cold-frames and low tunnels and we managed to just about achieve self-sufficiency, but as our kids have setup home and wanted a year round supply of lovely fruit and veg and loads of sauces, ketchups etc we've needed to grow more.
Some of that increase has come from the polytunnel, but that's not enough, so we are upgrading our old-faithful tunnels and frames to increase yields still further. We've done tests this year with great results, so now we are going all in on the new designs.
For more on growing year round, especially under cover check out these videos:
• Raised beds, cold fram...
If you have questions, we have a FAQ document and video, which you can find here: steves.seaside...
If you are new to my allotment videos you might find a bit of context useful. We live in the north west of England, in Lytham St Annes, which I believe is the equivalent of USA Zone 8. Fairly mild, but very windy.
For more details on the databases that I use to manage my allotment, check out these two blog posts steves.seaside...
We have three allotments in my family, mine (Steve), my wife's (Debbie) and my middle daughter's (Jennie). We also have a small kitchen garden at home. They are all managed in an integrated fashion, so don't expect to see the usual mix of veg on each plot. I do most of the planning and seed starting. We each have our own plots, but we all help each other out.
Jennie's plot has been designed as a traditional allotment, but we put a lot of focus on minimising the work we do there. It's basically a plant and forget it plot, full of garlic, leeks, onions, beetroot, brassicas, squash, beans and fruit trees. It's heavily mulched to reduce weeds and to reduce the need water.
Debbie's plot is mostly full of perennials, it's an ornemental plot. Again we did a lot of work to keep the weeds down and Debbie's approach is inspired by the TV programme The Ornamental Kitchen garden.
My plot is all about experimental growing, maximum productivity and year round abundance. As with all of the other plots I did a lot of work to control the weeds, but it's a high maintenance plot. I'm always planting, harvesting, experimenting and generally having a great time.
Collectively the plots deliver an amazing abundance of fruit and veg all year round. Debbie, Jennie, Jon and I are effectively self sufficient in veg all year round and in fruit for much of the year. During winter we sometimes have enough surplus to feed our local family. During the rest of the year when the surplus from our house garden comes on stream we have surpluses in some crops for quite a few friends as well.
This video provides an overview:
• The big picture of our...
I do an update of the allotments, roughly twice a month, you can find the tours here:
• Full allotment tour as...
Our approach to allotment life is to: grow as much as we possibly can, to be self-sufficient in veg all year round and in fruit in season, to give away our surplus to friends and family, and to have as much fun as possible. For more on self sufficiency check out these videos:
• Super quick update on ...
We are not slaves to gardening though, I spend about 14 hours a week on the plots (on average) Debbie and Jennie a lot less. We keep nudging that down as we eliminate non-productive work: like grass cutting, weeding and watering as much as practical. We are both newbie gardeners, only starting the allotments in 2016.
I'm a bit obsessive about the nutrient density of the veg that we grow and making the plots easy to work because it's through this allotment lifestyle and food that I've overcome a debilitating auto-immune disease.
I'm always aware though that it might not last so I make sure that I don't work too hard, eat as much organic fruit and veg I can and design the plots so that I can still work them when I flare up.
I loved your improvising things and I have just started gardening and my ficus has been to create beds that are weather protected and flexible design to adapt as weather gets unpredictable along the seasons in uk.. I have got raised beds in my back garden now and was researching how to get tops Iver them for weather protection and stumbled upon ur videos.. I am so inspired and helped.. Do u have a playlist with all the DIY side of videos of the garden by any chance Steve?
I don't have a playlist, but I do have a few chapters in my book that include build instructions, parts lists and all of the relevant construction videos, you can find these along with other videos about growing under cover in the basics section, which is free to read here: steverichards.notion.site/The-basics-fabeb9d9ba5d4227a63226824a29ac82 you might also like the polytunnel chapter which is here: steverichards.notion.site/Polytunnel-greenhouse-growing-e260fa0b71bd4dea9a9003c74bdb9ce7 : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards thanks very much Steve.. 😁
Hi Steve, I agree with you that altering things to make life easier works really well, I like the way you have designed you tunnels so the can be modified without too much trouble, I did one on my boxes about a month ago to gain the extra height for my brassicas and it works, Take care and I'll catch you on the next one.
I'm always doing that, my life needed to be easier every year, or something has to change and there's some news on that coming soon : All the best - Steve
😊👍
have a great result with super size plants and huge potatoes. I use a 4ft by 8 ft mesh sided compost area. Each year I move to a new spot. I did build an 8ft trellis for beans, but as I had lots i just put the potatoes in. The plants got strung to it as reached 7ft tall. Once dug up I had 1 potatoe at 1.2kg and many at 0.5kg. This proved effective now for the 3rd year. I thing the ground gets so full of of energy the plants go nuts.
Do you plant the potatoes in the compost bin or in the ground where the compost bin has moved from? : all the best - Steve
Thanks for this video and all your other video’s, they are very informative, especially as I am not to further north than you and timings/climates are similar- maybe a bit wetter here in the Lake District. I love that you are growing and eating yourself healthy! I am in the middle of using your raised bed/cold frame/tunnel concept for my garden. The beds are coming along really well so thanks, am enjoying the woodworking Letty, @lakelandstitcher
Definitely wetter! Tunnels and frames will make a huge difference for you I’m sure! : all the best - Steve
Hi Steve just subbed.crackin watch,👍 got my first plot in the May and are just making my raised beds. This is definitely given me some more ideas, especially the cold frame design💯. I have a netted frame which I can move to different beds but the cold frame is on my list now👍👊. Thanks for sharing, great help to a newbie. Robbo.
Thanks Robbo, this video is definitely worth a watch th-cam.com/video/dJxMDVLZH48/w-d-xo.html : All the best - Steve
Steve have you got a guide to building a low tunnel (including the base)? Yours look amazing
Hi Zoe, like everything nowadays, it's in my book, which is free to read, here's a link to 'The Basics' section, you want the chapter 'Making raised beds ...' steverichards.notion.site/The-basics-fabeb9d9ba5d4227a63226824a29ac82
@@SteveRichards thank you so much
I'll have to get my husband on to that 👍anything to make my life easier 😂
That's always been my gardening philosophy, every year we grow more with less effort : All the best - Steve
Simplify! I've been thinking of raising my beds. Thinking of future capabilities.
Hi Susie, i'm definitely into simplifying, although there's only so far you can go and still be self-sufficienct all year round : All the best - Steve
Your low tunnels are great! I might eventually try and make one!
They really are, although fleece gets you quite a few benefits, polythene makes a huge difference : All the best - Steve
Hi Steve about your low tunnels the plastic you use for winter time is it the thermal stuff or some other type; many thanks in advance for any answer you can give; Manchester UK
Hi Fred, just ordinary UV treated polythene for outdoor use, the tunnels get plenty warm enough during the day and no polythene is going to keep them warm at night, the function is shelter from wind, heavy rain and hail etc, not cold : All the best - Steve
Looks good
Hi Steve, those low tunnels are brilliant, such a good idea, especially for someone who can't invest in a poly tunnel. I have a tunnel myself but I'm definitely going to try making one of these you can never have enough space. Do you have a selection of lids that you rotate, I noticed some are mesh and some are plastic. Also I wonder if you have a plan of measurements and materials, you're usually very good for recording things😊. I'm also wondering if the lids are on hinges and how the plastic roof is constructed? Is there one design in particular you can recommend? Sorry for all the questions but often when I try making structures one puff of wind they're knocked over, having said that my bean wigwam survived storm Ellen here in Ireland last night😊 Those peppers are so impressive. Thanks for the video.
Hi Bernadette, take a look at these videos and then if you have any more questions ask away! th-cam.com/video/cskeYL3eD6Y/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/GUfB4DSzMyg/w-d-xo.html
Also I do have a selection of lids. most of my raised beds are the same size, so I can easily convert them to be cold-frames, mesh tunnels or polytunnels. I also have a few mesh tops for my cold-frames for summer. They are hinged and tied down with bungee chords, we've never had any wind damage : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards Thank you Steve
What timber do you use for these Steve? I'm building something similar this winter (well it's #2 on the priority list so a decent chance of getting completed). I like the modular design of yours (i.e think I might just copy them). Specifically the removable collars so they can swap from cold frames to tunnels.
Hi Simon, I just use the treated timber from my local shop, nothing special, I expect it will last about 10 years when in contact with the soil, so just the basic raised bed. By then I will have raised the level of my paths (free wood chips) so I won't need the lowest tier and the next tier up which isn't in contact with the soil should last quite a few more years. : All the best - Steve
Hi Steve - have you ever noticed slugs inside your raised beds?
I have, we notice slugs everywhere : All the best - Steve
Hi! Me again! What is the pipe you use for the low tunnels? I have a big weekend ahead of me now the ground has thawed out!
Cheers
It's water pipe Dean, see this video th-cam.com/video/GUfB4DSzMyg/w-d-xo.html : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards Looks like yours is about 25mm? cheers
it is Dean : All the best - Steve
I think you're definitely losing some accessibility though with those frames so high, going to be much harder to reach in and less sun exposure. But it may be the ticket for pepper plants. I would not do it for all the beds until you're absolutely sure.
I think I mentioned in the video that we tested it on 4 beds and got much better results from those than the lower ones, in summer light is abundant, in winter light is still good enough, heat is what's needed : All the best - Steve
Just following up on your concern after some time to try these beds out. They've worked superbly, no issues with light levels all through winter and no problems with access either : All the best - Steve
Newbie here. What wood do you use? I tried researching but there is so much different stuff and me as a foreigner I got confused 😕.
I just use treated timber, it used to be unsafe for edibles but that changed quite a while ago, if you are still concerned you can line the bed with black plastic : All the best - Steve
Hi Steve. What timber merchant do you use?
Local company, St Annes Timber : All the best - Steve
@@SteveRichards Cheers mate.