Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: JKJ on October 02, 2009, 17:35
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Hi all,
I'm looking to make a poly tunnel over the autumn and winter for next year. I reckon I can make the frame but can I buy the plastic covers seperately? How much are they? (are you allowed to reccomend any websites? ::) )
Also, any tips would be great. :)
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Oddly enough, i was just looking at some that were linked directly from this site.... It was the advert link just at the top of each thread....
£99 for the complete kit 4.5Metres long..
Now all I have to do is remember the name of the firm......
Oh, and convince the missus, of course.... :nowink:
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This might be useful. :)
http://www.overthegardengate.net/UserPages/pp_view.asp?FName=polytunnel&Page=1
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I was asked to start this sticky about polytunnel growing. You may find the links on there interesting!
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=30820.0
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Oddly enough, i was just looking at some that were linked directly from this site.... It was the advert link just at the top of each thread....
£99 for the complete kit 4.5Metres long..
Now all I have to do is remember the name of the firm......
Oh, and convince the missus, of course.... :nowink:
http://www.warehouse24.co.uk/products.php?category_id=20&af=allotment (http://www.warehouse24.co.uk/products.php?category_id=20&af=allotment)
That's the link that was on here,I had a look.
I worked it out if you bought two of the 3m x 2m polly tunnels for 79 quid each it'd be cheaper than buying the biggest and most expensive one they do at £179.96 for a 6m x 3m one.
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Posted by: Mike the Postman
I worked it out if you bought two of the 3m x 2m polly tunnels for 79 quid each it'd be cheaper than buying the biggest and most expensive one they do at £179.96 for a 6m x 3m one.
See, that's the kind of thinking I can only covet... :blush:
Well spotted Mike. ;)
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Thanks everyone :)
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I am now very envious--- must think about a polytunnel!! ;)
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I worked it out if you bought two of the 3m x 2m polly tunnels for 79 quid each it'd be cheaper than buying the biggest and most expensive one they do at £179.96 for a 6m x 3m one.
but surely it's the area you need to think about - £160 for 12m2 or £180 for 18m2 - know which I would go for...
M
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oops my post ended up in the quote... :(
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Is that better for you Savbo? :D
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thankyou Yorkie! Will preview before posting next time!
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So who is buying what and what will you use it for? :unsure:
I have no greenhouse on the plot (unlike most other people nearby) and I rather like the look of a polytunnel if it is good, longish lasting value for money and helps me produce a crop I would otherwise miss.
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Could i just say that the polytunnels advertised above some of the threads are best suited to a garden, where they can be tied to hedges or fences. I don't think they are strong enough to withstand real wind on open allotments.
For there, IMO, you need a proper polytunnel as sold by First tunnels etc etc. or a good DIY job like those shown at overthegardengate.net (link above in Ice's post)
Wouldn't want anyone else to be as dissapointed as I was when my one broke an upright in the recent windy weather :(
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Thanks, mumofstig, that is something to keep in mind.
The do-it-yourself version does look lovely..... all I need now is the time and the skill. ;)
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My husband built ours basing his design on the ideas shown on the overthegardengate site, and a fine looking tunnel it is too. :) Looking at the pictures on overthegardengate, we have sturdier bits of wood and some very tough black pipe which he obtained, rather using than the blue MDPE.
Good advice on that website though :).
Lorna. :)
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Any chance of a few photos Argyllie?
I'm sure any tips, advice or photos could help those wanting to build their own. :)
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Any chance of a few photos Argyllie?
I'm sure any tips, advice or photos could help those wanting to build their own. :)
I'll have a go, Learner.
Lorna. :)
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Well, here are a couple of pics, I'm not sure how much help they would be... They show the overall shape and size: 3 metres L x 2.5 metres W x 1.8 metres H. This is dictated by the size and shape of the piece of polytunnel plastic which we were given (mentioned elsewhere in a previous thread and I haven't got the size to mind or to hand atm ::)). Scaffold pole cut up and driven into the ground to hold the ends of the lengths of black pipe - 3 metres IIRC - which then form the hoops. Trench dug around the outside to be back-filled to hold the plastic in place. Wooden door frame and roof struts fixed into place. Plastic thrown over and placed as well centred as possible :blink:, then ground frame, which has been constructed out of situ, slung over the top and slid to the ground. Then the plastic is tweaked into place as best as possible and fixed around the door frames. The doors are made of windbreak fabric and as such can be blocked up with something solid like ply or even insulation sheeting if a warmer or in our case less windy tunnel is required. Some lengths if large bore pipe insulation came in handy to buffer the plastic away from any roughness on the black pipe and serve to taughten the plastic further.
I hope this is useful.
Lorna. :)
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That looks grand
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Thanks Noshed, I'll tell OH about the praise! Its not very big but there are only two of us to feed. It only went up late May/early June this year so we spent the summer experimenting with what it might do, i.e. planting things like toms, french beans and peas inside when they didn't really need to be. We'll use it for extending into autumn, early bringing on, hanging basket toms next year, chillis.....
Lorna. :)
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Thanks for the pics argyllie....... what a nice looking job. Perfect cover and looks as if it'd stand a really hefty gale without bother.
Your time in posting the photos much appreciated - gives me a better idea of what I would love to achieve. ;)
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Thanks Learner :). We're just approaching the time of year when the gales will test it as we are only 100 metres back from the Atlantic shoreline. We placed it on the site of "Chickenopolis" after the girls went and the chicken run came down, so this is a relatively sheltered spot being protected on three sides with the main day/sunlight side being the only one totally exposed. (I understand you are by the sea?).
A note for frugal living enthusiasts. The whole thing cost very little, as everything (plastic sheet, scaffold poles, black pipe, pipe insulation) was free apart from the windbreak fabric, which we bought by the linear metre from eBay and the timber and fixings which my husband gets at staff discount from the builders merchant where he works 8).
Lorna. :)
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im starting prep for what will be my second full season on mine.. used my old patio doors as a cold frame this year, but im SO tempted to throw up a polytunnel to get earlier starting and for £80.00 or so?
Its can be get windy, so apart from the obvious of "nailling" the * down, anyone now just how robust they are?
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see my earlier post about the cheaper types!
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Try the www.firsttunnels.co.uk website..... they have 'how to put up a poly tunnel ' instruction video's which I thought were really good.
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We have used the pipe lagging stuff to stop the bars rubbing the plastic but itisn't working very well as the lagging stuff breaks down in the sun (yes we did have enough to find out this year)