Top Crops to Grow in a Polytunnel for UK Seasons

At a Glance

Growing crops in a polytunnel can help gardeners achieve fresh produce all year round while tackling the challenges of the UK’s unpredictable climate. Protected and stable growing conditions inside a polytunnel are a great way to grow low-maintenance crops, whether it’s spring, summer, autumn or winter. Automated watering systems like the Harvst WaterMate are specially designed for polytunnels to support healthier plant growth no matter the season.

Advantages of Growing Crops in Polytunnels

If you’re looking to grow vegetables and fruits without having to worry about external weather conditions, growing crops in a polytunnel is a great option. They give gardeners the opportunity to benefit from extended growing seasons where crops remain well-protected and enjoy consistent conditions. 

It’s especially helpful for UK gardeners, as they often face unpredictable weather, which can make outdoor gardening a challenge. Polytunnel growing helps create a stable environment for crops to thrive. 

So whether you’re dealing with late frost, heavy rainfall or sudden temperature changes, you have a reliable, cost-effective structure that enables you to produce fresh, nutritious food all year round.

When combined with a WaterMate  automated irrigation system, you create a sustainable environment for your crops while taking advantage of precision watering, reduced energy consumption and saving up to 80% water. Importantly its environmental sensors react to water more when needed, e.g. when temperatures spike to ensure your plants get exactly what they need and when, regardless of whether you’re there or not.

In this article, we explore what to grow in UK polytunnels, including the top low-maintenance crops you can grow all year round.

Best Year-Round Crops to Grow in a UK Polytunnel

If you’re wondering what to grow in a polytunnel in the UK or what crops you should consider planting to get the biggest yield from your garden, we’ve got you covered. These staple crops grow beautifully in a polytunnel, due to its controlled environment. 

The best year-round low-maintenance crops to grow in a polytunnel include leafy greens like spinach and kale, root vegetables like radishes or carrots and fragrant, flavourful herbs like basil or coriander.

Want to take it a step further and ensure greater watering consistency, healthier plant growth and higher crop yields? Consider purchasing a smart and reliable irrigation system like WaterMate, which uses temperature sensors to adjust watering frequency based on external weather conditions. 

This way, your crops receive the right amount of water at the root zone and you avoid common watering mistakes that lead to root rot and other potentially deadly plant diseases.

Additionally, these systems also come with installation kits to ensure a quick, hassle-free and professional setup in your polytunnel, delivering reliable watering from day one.

Best Crops for Summer Polytunnel Growing in the UK

Summer brings its own set of challenges for gardeners and hobbyists, largely due to unpredictable weather. Drought conditions and hosepipe bans can increase plant stress, while pests such as aphids and diseases like mildew become more prevalent, making it harder to maintain healthy crop growth.

The best strategy for hot weather is to plant heat-loving crops. So if you’re wondering what warm-season crops you should grow in your polytunnel for the summer, here’s a list:

• Cucumbers
• Melons
• Tomatoes
• Jalapeños and sweet bell peppers
• Courgettes and aubergines
• Lettuce, rocket, mustard greens, pak-choi

Best Winter Crops That Thrive in UK Polytunnels

Looking for low-maintenance crops to grow in your polytunnel during the winter? 

Low light and cold temperatures can be tough for plants. However, the protected environment of a polytunnel allows for consistent growing conditions even during the colder months. By being strategic about your crop choices, you can grow fresh seasonal produce with minimal effort.

This includes favouring hardy cold-tolerant crop varieties such as:

• Turnips
• Beetroot
• Leeks
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Garlic
• Onions 
• Asian greens

Whether you’re planting early in autumn or in December, growing in a polytunnel prevents damage from frost by shielding your crops from harsh weather.

Tips for Maximising Polytunnel Crop Yields

Inconsistent watering, inadequate ventilation, pest issues and improper layouts can pose challenges for growing crops in a polytunnel. These issues can be further exacerbated by the UK’s fluctuating weather. However, there are ways to address these challenges and maximise polytunnel crop yields.

Many keen hobbyists and growers are already leveraging the benefits of a smart polytunnel watering system such as the Harvst’s WaterMate. Systems like these allow crops to receive measured hydration, while also reducing water waste and energy consumption. It’s both efficient and sustainable!

Inadequate ventilation can be especially troublesome during the summer, as overly humid conditions inside a polytunnel can become a breeding ground for fungal diseases. The best way to counter this is to use temperature and humidity sensors to monitor indoor conditions and aim to keep daytime temperature below 25°C.

With the WaterMate for example you could set up a specific ‘zone’ with overhead sprinklers to activate at 30°C, which can help to cool the environment whilst being mindful of humidity.

You can also consider successional sowing, which involves planting fast-growing crops every 2-3 weeks, or vertical planting methods. This allows you to maximise yields, utilise bare space and make the most of the extended growing season within a polytunnel.

Grow More, Year Round, With An Automatic Irrigation System from Harvst

Now that you know what to grow in a UK polytunnel and how a smart irrigation system can help, why not consider investing in one and restore the joy of gardening? 

Harvst’s WaterMate is a smart, easy-to-use automatic watering system designed to fit seamlessly into your greenhouse, garden, allotment or polytunnel. WaterMate comes in Mini and Pro models to suit different growing areas. 

Each setup helps you water more efficiently and keep your plants healthy without constant supervision.

At Harvst, we design our products to make growing feel rewarding and balanced. We believe that caring for your plants should bring peace and satisfaction, while our tools handle the hard work in the background.

Place your order now for a healthy, thriving garden!