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Growing Small Vegetables in a Domestic Polytunnel

Can you still grow vegetables when you don't have a large domestic polytunnel? Many gardeners think you need to have a large garden polytunnel to grow vegetables.

Whilst there are vegetables that take up a lot of space, you can also grow smaller vegetables in a domestic polytunnel. Most of the time, it is an issue of utilising space. We are going to talk about how you can best utilise space in a garden polytunnel on another page.

Small Vegetables That You Can Grow

When you have a smaller garden polytunnel, you should focus on growing vegetables that pack a punch. In other words, instead of growing vegetables that are larger in size, think about growing small crop vegetables and taste more instead.

A good example would be chillies. Most of us think of chillies as spices, but technically they are a vegetable.

If you are short of ideas, take a look around the supermarket and see what "mini" vegetables you can lay your hands on. Take them home, to try and if you do like them, you can find them in seed catalogues, which are reasonably cheap to buy.

Good Examples of Mini Vegetables

Mini bell peppers often taste much more than their larger cousins. You can use them in the same way as you would a larger pepper. They taste great in salads, stews and even pickled. One of the best things about growing smaller pepper varieties in a domestic polytunnel is that they are heavy croppers.

Small tomatoes are also tastier than some large tomatoes. Once there only used to be one variety of cherry tomatoes, but now you can grow different varieties. Cherry tomatoes are great as they are happy to grow in hanging baskets and in different colours

What about small cucumbers? Yes, there are varieties of smaller cucumbers. They are relatively new to the UK but have been popular on the continent for a long time. Do they taste more? Many small cucumber varieties do and they are great for pickling. You can grow them in pots that can be moved around your garden polytunnel to make room for other vegetables.

Onions

Who says that onions have to be big? If you have never grown onions before in a polytunnel, you simply must give it a go to appreciate the flavour and freshness.

Smaller onions such as charlotte and spring onions seem to taste more when grown in a garden polytunnel. Of course, the other advantage is that they don't take up a lot of space.

Another not so space-demanding vegetable is the radish. They appear to have gone out of favour but they deserve to be part of our menu. Once again, try different varieties. Some are less peppery than others and they do taste differently to one another.

The Final Verdict

Never let the size of your garden polytunnel stop you from growing vegetables. Not all of us have room for a large domestic polytunnel. A small polytunnel can produce a range of taste sensations for your larder. Don't forget about herbs. Many herbs make fantastic alternatives to add to salads.