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Anyone have a Polytunnel?
Vegplotmummy
Posts: 96
Evening all,
I've been thinking about getting a polytunnel to grow flowers in. However there's so many out there and I'm a bit baffled as to which ones are better, what to avoid etc?
Any help appreciated 👍
I've been thinking about getting a polytunnel to grow flowers in. However there's so many out there and I'm a bit baffled as to which ones are better, what to avoid etc?
Any help appreciated 👍
0
Posts
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
The ones to avoid are these green plastic covered ones with the metal or plastic framework, I had one of those once and the whole thing just blew right over even though it was pegged down and had breeze blocks right along the edge. The bottom of the frame stayed out, the rest had gone!
Old school measurements I'm afraid ( they come in multiples of 3ft widths and 8ft lengths) My "hot" tunnels is 21ft x 48ft and is all polythene and my "cool" ? Hosta tunnel is 21ft x 56ft and has netting up to about 3ft from the ground to let more air circulation and to keep the heat down a bit.
My advice would be to decide what you want to grow. You mention flowers, but they'd not like too much heat, also how much room you have, and I'm afraid most importantly, how much is in the budget.
There are two basic arrangements, one - which is easier to build - uses rails that sit along the ground with the polythene attached to them, and you fix those rails down to ground anchors. The other - which is more work to construct but is more wind-proof - you have to dig a foot deep trench right around the perimeter, then you put the 'tail' of the polythene into the trench and bury it.
The key thing with building them is to do it on a sunny day - preferably a warm one so the polythene is soft - and to get the cover really tight. That's MUCH easier with the rails, so if your site is moderately sheltered, that would be the best route to go. If it's very open and you need to go for the trench option, it's easier with a mini digger and a couple of handy people to tension it from both sides as you bury the tails.
Get the biggest one you can afford.
New covers are relatively cheap once the frame is in place, so get a good sturdy frame. Second hand isn't a bad option if it's ex-commercial and therefore a strong frame.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I'm more than happy to supply photos of mine if you'd like.
Mine came from
https://www.northernpolytunnels.co.uk/
and I'm very happy with them ( useless instructions notwithstanding )
My neighbour has one from Ferryman (local to us) which looks great and seems to be coping with the weather as well.
I think any of these sort of companies will give you a decent tunnel. Just don't get one from Argos or B&Q
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
As I stand at my tunnel, I can see Dartmoor 25 miles in one direction and Bodmin 30 odd miles in another. We've had winds recorded here of 92mph. I had damage to one end this winter , but , given the conditions here and it's 5 years old,I'm happy (?) with that.
As @raisingirl says, don't get one of those flimsy jobs from Argos and the like unless you rarely have more than a breeze in your garden, otherwise it'll end up in your neighbour's garden.