If you’re planning your next growing project and want to make the most of Ireland’s unpredictable weather, you may be wondering whether raised beds or a polytunnel, is the better choice. Both options can transform your garden, extend your growing season, and boost productivity, but they each offer different advantages depending on your goals, space, and the crops you want to grow.
This guide breaks down the differences in simple, practical terms so you can decide which setup suits your garden best.
What’s the Difference Between Raised Beds and a Polytunnel?
Both raised beds and polytunnels help you grow more efficiently, but they work in very different ways.
Raised Beds
Raised beds are elevated growing areas filled with high‑quality soil and compost. They’re great for improving drainage, boosting soil quality, and organising your garden into easy‑to-manage sections.
Polytunnels
A polytunnel, also known as greenhouses, is a long, curved structure made from metal hoops covered in UV‑treated polythene, creating a warm, sheltered environment that protects plants from rain, wind, and cooler temperatures.
In short, Raised beds improve your outdoor soil and Polytunnels create an indoor‑outdoor microclimate.
Cost Comparison: Which Is More Affordable?
When it comes to cost, raised beds are usually the cheaper starting point, but value depends on what you want to achieve.
Raised Bed Costs
- Low upfront cost
- Simple DIY construction
- No replacement covers or major maintenance
- Annual need for compost/top-ups
Raised beds are ideal if you’re starting small or working with limited space.
Polytunnel Costs
- Higher initial investment
- Requires secure installation
- Cover needs replacing every 5–10 years
- Offers significantly more growing space
If you want to extend your growing season and harvest more from the same footprint, a polytunnel offers far greater long-term value.
Durability & Weather Performance in Ireland
Ireland’s weather can swing from perfect to punishing in the same week, so choosing the right structure matters.
Raised Beds
Raised beds hold up well in all weather, especially when made from treated timber or durable materials. However, because they're outdoors, all crops remain exposed to rain, frost and wind. They offer no weather protection, only soil benefit.
Polytunnels
A well‑anchored polytunnel stands up to strong winds and harsh conditions surprisingly well. While the cover may eventually need replacing, the frame itself lasts for many years.
Big advantage:
You can grow earlier in spring and continue later into autumn, something raised beds alone can’t offer.
Heat Retention & Growing Environment
This is where the two options differ the most.
Raised Beds
- No temperature control
- Plants grow entirely in natural outdoor conditions
- Soil warms earlier in spring than flat ground, but only by a little
- Great for hardy crops such as carrots, onions, lettuce, kale, and beets
Polytunnels
- Warmer than outdoor beds, often significantly
- Retain heat during the day
- Create humidity ideal for summer crops
- Allow earlier planting and later harvesting
- Protect seedlings from frost
For warmth-loving crops like tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and cucumbers, a polytunnel makes a dramatic difference.
Which Option Is Better for What You Want to Grow?
Best Crops for Raised Beds
Raised beds excel with hardy, cool-weather Irish favourites:
Raised beds are also ideal for:
- Improving poor soil
- Creating neat, low‑maintenance layouts
- Reducing bending and strain
If you're completely new to gardening, you may also find it helpful to learn how to start flowers from seed, both indoors and outdoors, you can read our beginner’s guide here: How to Plant Flower Seeds
Best Crops for Polytunnels
Polytunnels shine with crops that need warmth, protection, and a longer season:
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Peppers and chillies
- Aubergines
- Strawberries
- Tender herbs (basil, coriander, dill)
- Early seedlings and transplants
If your goal is maximum harvest and season extension, a polytunnel delivers results that raised beds alone simply can’t.
Raised Beds vs Polytunnel: Quick Comparison
|
Feature |
Raised Beds |
Polytunnel |
|
Cost |
Low |
Moderate |
|
Durability |
High |
High (frame) / Medium (cover) |
|
Weather protection |
None |
Excellent |
|
Growing season |
Standard |
Extended |
|
Ideal crops |
Hardy veg |
Warm-season crops |
|
Maintenance |
Low |
Moderate |
|
Space efficiency |
Good |
Excellent |
|
Installation |
Easy |
Moderate |
So, Which Should You Choose?
Choose Raised Beds if you:
- Want an easy, affordable starting option
- Prefer tidy, organised growing spaces
- Mostly grow hardy crops
- Have limited space or poor soil
- Don’t need season extension
Some options are:
- Yarus Raised Bed 1m x 4m (17cm height): An ideal raised bed for beginners, offering a durable galvanised steel design that assembles without tools and provides tidy, well‑drained growing space for vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
- Yarus Raised Bed 0.7m x 4m (17cm height): A slim, space‑saving raised bed that’s easy to set up with simple pin‑corner assembly, perfect for smaller gardens or narrow spaces where you still want healthy, organised planting.
Choose a Polytunnel if you:
- Want to grow for more months of the year
- Grow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, or strawberries
- Want protection from wind and rain
- Need space to start seedlings early
- Want the biggest possible harvest from your garden
Some options include:
- Strong Greenhouse 3x4m: A great starter greenhouse that gives beginners a warm, protected growing space with its sturdy galvanised frame, easy ground‑anchor setup, and UV‑protected panels that help plants thrive for longer in the Irish climate.
- Sigma Greenhouse 3x6m (6mm): Perfect for gardeners who want extra room to grow, this extended greenhouse is strong, simple to assemble, and uses thick 6mm polycarbonate panels to keep plants warm and protected through changing weather.
It’s also very common for gardeners to use both raised beds and a polytunnel: raised beds for outdoor staples like leafy greens, carrots, onions, and herbs and a polytunnel for heat‑loving, high‑yield crops like tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries. Using both gives you the best of both worlds, tidy outdoor beds and a protected, season‑extending growing space.
Ready to Choose the Best Option for Your Garden?
Whether you’re upgrading your garden with a set of sturdy raised beds or investing in a polytunnel for year‑round growing, Keans has everything you need to get growing with confidence. Explore top‑quality gardening structures, tools, and accessories designed for Irish conditions, all in one place. Shop Now at Keans