[Amatuer Allotmenteer]

Hi all,  so I've acquired a roll of polythene from work which measures 4m in width, my plan was to use it to re-cover my polytunnel which is also 4m long. My question is would it be ok to either recover the frame in 2/3 sections so as to cover each end or use one sheet over the top and separate pieces for the ends or should I stop being tight person and just order a proper, to size covering 

[New shoot]

I think that will depend on how exposed the site is where your poly tunnel is.

The wind will nag at any joins and eventually start peeling them apart, so you could end up spending a lot of time and effort covering the frame, only to have to do the whole job again. 

If it was me, I would get the proper size and know it was going to be OK, but maybe I have traded being tight for being lazy 

[rowlandwells]

i must say all the poly covers I've ever put on have been the proper size covering end to end and side to side making it drum tight although you could try sowing the pieces together with a needle and thread 

[snowdrops]

Yep having just bought a tunnel this year after careful consideration for a few years over hubby building me one the cover was never going to be scrimped on. I would also say what is the acquired piece of plastic made of & to what grade, uv stable etc? The last thing you want is to put all that work in covering & then growing & planting everything for the cover to rip, blow away or not last.

[grinling]

Polytunnel covering is different to other plastic sheeting as it can cope with uv. Other plastic sheeting, though thicker, biodegrades into little pieces in a few years.