Ecogreen Aerated Polythene Tunnel

I have started to double-dig the trench for the poly-tunnel.

The tunnel is a nice bit of kit. It measures 3 metres by 60cm and comprises of a number of steel loops covered by thick a green-tinted polythene.

According to the blurb, the green tint filters strong sunlight to prevent scorching and the large aeration holes keep young plants ventilated and encourage pollinating insects to enter. Plants in the growing tunnel are easily watered either by hand or natural rainfall, without the need to remove the cover.

We'll wait and see how effective it is.

The digging was hard work. I have done half now and will finish the rest today. The technique is as follows.

1. Dig a hole 60cm wide and 1 spade deep, placing the soil in a wheelbarrow
2. Once the hole is dug, fork and loosen the soil at the bottom
3. Put a layer of manure into the hole
4. Move along, dig another hole, putting the soil excavated into the previous hole
5. When you get to the end of your row, put the wheelbarrow contents from the first hole into it