The more vegetables that I could grow under cover the better as I wanted to grow as many vegetables as I could for the longest possible period.

I had brought a 8ft by 6ft green house back in 2001 and last year (2009) I had installed 4 wilma drip hydroponic systems and an easy 2 grow system. The results were impressive, so much so that by Mid July it was nearly impossible to walk inside. I learned a lot.

• New seedlings initially grow faster  in Autopot/Easy 2 Grow system.
• Wilma Drip System water trays need to monitored reguarly to ensure they don’t run dry. (Which becomes difficult if the plant growth becomes to dense).
• Keep the growth under control so there is enough light.
• Ventilation.
• Pest control.
• I need more covered growing area especially with the wet summers we have been having lately.

Late in the summer when debating whether to purchase a polytunnel or another green house. I opted for another green house and installed the Autopot green house system. This was installed late in the season and didn’t have enough ventilation and suffered with white power forming on all my plants.

After seeing my brassics being eaten away by caterplias and three months of debating, yesterday finally ordered a 10ft by 20ft polytunnel. This would replace 4 raised beds and still leave a 2ft path along the sides of the polytunnel.

I had considered a 12ft wide system but that would not have left enough space around the remaining raised beds and increased the risk of damage to the polytunnel covering.