Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER SIX
Summer
Early summer is probably the most rewarding time of year for the gardener. At
the start, there's nothing much being harvested unless you planned for the hungry
gap beforehand. A month later, not only are the seedlings from spring sowings
set out in beds, but you may also have started courgettes, cucumbers, melons,
sweetcorn and climbing beans - true warm-season crops. And, slowly at first, the
harvests start coming. At this time of year a hammock or easy chair, either in the
tunnel or out of it, is a really good idea. After all, what's the good of all this work
if you can't sit back and appreciate it?
Don't crowd
Everything happens at full speed in polytunnel summer: the air is suddenly filled
with insects flying everywhere, what was a lettuce yesterday is trying to be a
small tree today, and space is getting tight. Most gardeners start far more seeds
than they can hope to grow. The idea is that only the best are planted, but it's
always tempting to squeeze things together a bit to make room for just one more.
In a word, don't. Crowded growth cuts down on air circulation, resulting in little
pockets of damp foliage where moulds will certainly take hold eventually.
Pruning and harvesting without accidentally damaging neighbouring plants
becomes near-impossible and, if that's not enough, growth will be held back by
competition for light and nutrients. There could also be colonies of pests hidden
deep among the leaves, but if things are crowded you're far less likely to see
them before things get serious.
So, while you can plant things somewhat closer together in a tunnel because of
its climate and the greater control you have over nutrient and water levels, be
very careful. It's all too easy to take things too far.
Air and water
The tunnel can get staggeringly hot during sunny summer days, with tempera-
tures regularly above 40°C. Most plants cope extremely well with these extremes,
but only if they have moisture around the roots and good ventilation. Leaving the
doors shut throughout the hottest part of the day can be catastrophic. Surface
watering either by hand or with a soaker hose is best done in the evenings, so long
 
 
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