When it comes to extending the season in your vegetable garden, have you thought about a tunnel house, a glass house, or a shade house?
We are now into April, and as much as I want to do a little fist pump and say, “I am still picking tomatoes,” I will refrain! Last year, they lasted till well into June, but I am not so sure this year.
Remember, you can use up green tomatoes and turn them into green relish; it is delicious.
My tomatoes are not in a glasshouse or tunnel house of any description; they are in what I call a tomato house covered with Psyllid cloth, with a door to enter.
If you have not heard of Psyllid, they are tiny sap-sucking insects that resemble miniature cicadas, and if you want to see them, you will need a magnifying glass. The cloth prevents them from entering the tomato house and damaging the crop.
This cover certainly extends my tomato crop.
A tunnel house or a glasshouse?
Having a glasshouse or tunnel house allows you to get veges planted early and extend their growing season.
It does take commitment, as during the hot days, there are vents to open and watering to be done.
On a rainy day, it is the most magical place to potter!
Both glasshouses (greenhouses) and tunnel houses (hoop houses or polytunnels) are used to extend the growing season and protect plants from adverse weather, especially in colder months.
However, they differ significantly in structure, cost, and performance.
You need to sit down and work out the pros and cons of both before deciding.
Glasshouse
Pros
Glass is long-lasting and weather-resistant. With proper care, a glasshouse can last decades.
The bonus is that it transmits light well and doesn’t degrade like plastic, offering more stable and higher-quality light for plant growth.
I find a small glasshouse more attractive and permanent-looking than tunnel houses.
They always seem to fit well in the garden and look great with some paving and paths added around them.
When well-sealed, glasshouses can retain heat better in wintry conditions and are easier to integrate with automatic climate control systems (ventilation, heating, irrigation).
Cons
The cost is that they are significantly more expensive to build and maintain.
You must remember that while the structure may be made from steel, most of it is glass that can break in hail, high winds, or from impact and the odd football.
You need to do it right and do it once. Your glasshouse requires a firm foundation and professional or skilled DIY assembly.
It can really heat up on sunny days, especially if there is no ventilation.
Tunnel house (polytunnel or hoop house)
Pros
A tunnel house is much cheaper to build and repair than a glasshouse.
It can be easily relocated or expanded and is so much faster and simpler to construct.
They can be a good introduction to winter growing before laying out money for a more expensive upgrade.
Cons
The one thing you must realise is that plastic coverings degrade over time (UV exposure), typically lasting 3–5 years.
They can’t retain heat like a glasshouse, especially at night or in winter and have slightly reduced light compared to glass.
You must secure your tunnel house well, otherwise you may see it flying past your kitchen window!
If you’re gardening on a budget or just getting started, a tunnel house is often the best choice.
When it comes to permanent, long-term, and you want it to merge into your garden, a glasshouse might be worth the investment.
