Getting Ready to go Exotic

Are you thinking about growing exotic crops in your polytunnel?

 

Around the UK, an increasing number of exotic crops are being grown in commercial polytunnels. As a private gardener, you can also look to grow more exotic plants as well if you have a polytunnel in your garden or on an allotment. But, what polytunnel supplies do you need to grow exotic crops all year round?

 

Planning Ahead

 

When you firststart out to grow exotic fruit and vegetables, the most important factor is to plan ahead. First of all, make yourself a list of what fruits and or vegetables, you would like to grow. The polytunnel supplies that you require may all depend on that list.

 

The other thing you need to consider is the temperature in your polytunnel. Exotic crops often need warmer temperatures to thrive and do well. You can increase the temperature in your polytunnel in a variety of ways to suit the types of crops you want to grow.

 

One of the biggest challenges is to keep the temperature constant. The smartest way to do that is to insulate and protect your tunnel from outside elements properly. If you need insulation polytunnel ideas, it is best to get in touch with your local polytunnel supplier or Google it.

 

Growing Exotic Crops off the Ground

 

In general, the ground temperature in the UK is a little bit too cool for growing the more exotic vegetables directly in the ground. Most commercial polytunnels growers plant their exotic vegetables in growing benches or grow them vertically.

 

You can either make up your own growing benches or buy new ones. It is surprisingly easy to use waste materials including all pallets to make your own growing benches.

 

Does the Compost Matter?

 

Exotic crops don't really need different compost. But something they do appreciate is organic materials. If you have not made your own compost in the past, you should start doing so now. There are many smart ways to make compost quickly. For instance, you can invest in a hot rotter or a rotating compost drum.

 

Can you use leaf compost or leaf mould? It is best not to use compost made from tree leaves. It is often too acidic and your exotic crops may not grow well in it. Something that you may want to add if you can, is cactus compost. It is more free draining than other compost.

 

If you can't find cactus or succulent compost, you can try adding sand or some gravel to make the compost more, free draining.

 

When to Start Growing Exotic Crops

 

The best time to start growing exotic crops is during the summer. That way, you can build up the temperature in your tunnel. Once the temperature has built up, all you have to do is to maintain it. Fortunately, maintaining the temperature is relatively easy to do.

 

Exciting Future Ahead

 

Polyunnels in the UK has an exciting future ahead. Not only are commercial polytunnels popping up all over the British Isles, but more garden polytunnels are being installed every day. Polytunnels are cost-effective and give you the opportunity to grow an exciting range of crops.