Released on = March 9, 2006, 4:10 pm

Press Release Author = Rola Trac

Industry = Agriculture

Press Release Summary = Results of experiment show that Polythene Plastic Tunnels
are ideal for growing out of season

horticultural products all year round.

Press Release Body = The Garden Gift Nursery - http://www.thegardengift.ie/ - in
Newmarket, Co. Cork which has been

marketing Polythene Tunnels for the past 30 years, has announced the results of an
experiment it

conducted recently to extend the growing season of plants using the plastic
greenhouses.


The work has been conducted under the polythene tunnels in their garden centre in
Newmarket and

interim results have shown that with the cooler summer climate in Ireland using a
plastic tunnel does

help protect crops and extend the growing season of plants.


Polythene Tunnels are increasingly being used in many fields of horticulture in
Ireland and other

countries. Gardens large and small, commercial nurseries and specialist growers all
enjoy the benefits

that these tunnel can provide.


Liam Allen, managing director of the Garden Gift said: \"I have been pleased with the
quality of the

plants we have grown last year under the tunnels and we intend to expand our
production of other plant

species this year\".


While glass has been the dominant cladding for greenhouses today\'s world of rapidly
changing

markets, pressures of ever increasing competition, trends in health and safety, and
speed of

technological change, the case for plastic clad greenhouses has never been stronger.


Liam Allen points out that: \"A commercial polytunnel greenhouse purchased today is
as reliable as a

glass clad structure. The cost of replacement plastic cladding every 5 years
compares favourably with

the maintenance cost of glass\".


Plastics are available which incorporate additives which selectively block or
enhance certain

wavelengths, improve growth rates, inhibit certain diseases, and enable
correspondingly reduced use of

chemicals. Since plastic cladding has to be changed every 4 to 5 years, it is easy
to keep up with

technical advances. Conversely, there are inbuilt problems of cost for users of glass.


\"Plastic Tunnels are low cost and crops remain cool in summer whilst being protected
from the

vagaries of the weather. This ensures that quality is maintained and also makes
harvesting possible on

wet days\", says Mr. Allen.


Along with running a successful nursery business supplying polythene greenhouses,
glasshouses,

ground cover, replacement polythene, garden arches etc. to commercial and domestic
markets, Liam

Allen also operates the Irish franchise for Rola Trac, the innovative and versatile
replacement walkway

system.


For more information or media interviews contact:
Liam Allen,
Allens Of Allenbridge,
Newmarket, Co. Cork,
Ireland
Phone: 00353 29 60000
Fax:00353 29 60091
email: info@thegardengift.ie
Web: http://www.thegardengift.ie/

Web Site = http://www.thegardengift.ie

Contact Details = Liam Allen
Newmarket
Co. Cork , na
$$country

003532960000
info@thegardengift.ie
http://www.thegardengift.ie