Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: infowarrior on April 04, 2011, 20:58

Title: The "Correct" way to cover a polytunnel??
Post by: infowarrior on April 04, 2011, 20:58: I'm nearly ready to put the cover onto my polytunnel and want to know if there's a certain way to put it on so to not make things difficult?? I thought the best way would be to tack it on to the top of the first door frame then pull tight and tack to the other door frame then fill in the middle bit etc but some people I spoke to said that you should tack it to the full long side, flip it over then do the other long side then the short ends last. Is there a right and wrong way to do it??

Cheers.
Title: Re: The "Correct" way to cover a polytunnel??
Post by: Yorkie on April 04, 2011, 21:25: I'm afraid I have no idea; have you tried searching You Tube for videos whilst waiting for others to reply?
Title: Re: The "Correct" way to cover a polytunnel??
Post by: infowarrior on April 05, 2011, 06:42: Been down that route mate.
Title: Re: The "Correct" way to cover a polytunnel??
Post by: joyfull on April 05, 2011, 07:01: is this any help to you?:-

http://www.horticultural-supplies.co.uk/pdfs/Tunnelcoveringbrochurepdfweb.pdf
Title: Re: The "Correct" way to cover a polytunnel??
Post by: arugula on April 05, 2011, 07:17: I can't remember if you said what size the structure is going to be, but if its smallish you may get away with picking a relatively calm day and throwing the plastic sheet over the top, getting it centred as best as possible then burying the sides to hold it. With this method, tensioning can be a slight problem.

For a more "professional" look and, as you said you are not taking the plastic to the ground, you can get a plank of something like 3 x 2 CLS and wrap and pin your sheet with clout nails to this longways. Drill holes in the CLS then attach the plank to your uprights using U bolts or similar. Measure and do the same down the other side.

:)
Title: Re: The "Correct" way to cover a polytunnel??
Post by: infowarrior on April 05, 2011, 20:16: Cheers for the replies. That link was pretty helpful joyfull.
Title: Re: The "Correct" way to cover a polytunnel??
Post by: joyfull on April 05, 2011, 20:20: it's amazing what you can find on google :D
Title: Re: The "Correct" way to cover a polytunnel??
Post by: Goldfinger on April 05, 2011, 21:06: What about that.. 'over the garden gate, a DIY poly tunnel' web link thingy??

Poly tunnel??..... Jealous :blush: :blush: :blush:
Title: Re: The "Correct" way to cover a polytunnel??
Post by: sonnycbr on April 06, 2011, 19:42: Just put the cover on my second tunnel today. The tunnels are 20ft X 12ft and I ordered polythene to go to the ground although I finished it 30inches above the ground and used netting on the lower part. I enlisted the help of a lady neighbour and we pulled the cover into position. I then tacked the long side on to the frame using slaters latts and 2inch wood screws. I then went to the other long side and, while pulling down on the polythene to tension it, fixed that using the same method as on the other side.The short sides are exactly the same.I've found that as the weather warms up you need to undo the screws and re-tension the cover. I've done this 3 or 4 times on the first tunnel and expect to do the same on the second one. for this reason I leave a good 6 inches on the cover when trimming to size.Hope this helps. ;)
Title: Re: The "Correct" way to cover a polytunnel??
Post by: arugula on April 07, 2011, 07:27: Quote from: sonnycbr on April 06, 2011, 19:42
Just put the cover on my second tunnel today. .....Hope this helps. ;)

This largely echoes the second method in my reply, its a good tidy way to do it - I have experience of both. :D