polytunnel advice please

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sunshineband

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polytunnel advice please
« on: June 04, 2016, 08:44 »
http://www.ebay.co.uk/cln/pearl150908/arm-caps/302647285019

Has anyone used these? If they are well secured into the ground with dogties and trenching in the cover, they should stand up for a while I reckon.

Given the price, they seem to represent reasonable value

Does anyone have any experience of growing in them please?
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mumofstig

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Re: polytunnel advice please
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2016, 08:57 »
Growing in an arm cap?  :lol:

I think the frames are much improved since I had mine - but they still cover them with that green window pane plastic that only lasts a couple of years.
Still a good buy if you are prepared to cover with proper poly at a later date.

I loved growing in mine, because they are tall and airy, they feel big inside, with lots of room for growing  :) I just didn't like looking at it in the garden  :D so never replaced the cover on it.

I'd have one on my plot in a trice, if I thought it would stand up to the strong wind on the local allotments. Even 'proper' PTs struggle here  :(

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sunshineband

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Re: polytunnel advice please
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2016, 17:28 »
OOOPS yes, I saved it in a collection on ebay lol

The quality of the frames does vary and this winter saw the 19mm ones buckle but 25mm seemed to stand up to the rigours on the gales if properly anchored. Cover life varies from observation. Our current minitunnel (2m x 3m) is now nearly six years old but is doubtful for another winter, whereas we have seen neighbouring plots lose one to holes after 18 months.

I hadn't considered replacing the original cover with a "proper" one when it wears through. Thank you for that suggestion.

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snow white

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Re: polytunnel advice please
« Reply #3 on: June 06, 2016, 15:23 »
I had a small one, 2m x 3m.  The cover eventually fell apart at the seams.  Literally.  It was the seams that let it down after three years.  The actual material would have survived for much longer as it was in perfect condition.  It now has a proper plastic cover on.   It was 25m galvanised pipe and I did shore it up considerably, sinking wooden posts into the ground and cable tying them to it, as well as putting a door frame in, again sunk into the ground.  It has survived quite a beating from the wind.  It does have my shed to one side of it so I think that does protect it somewhat and my pallet compost heap on the other as well, so it all helps.   Someone on our site bought a huge one like in your link, did not shore it up and it now is a tangled metal mess after one windy day.

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Dopey113

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Re: polytunnel advice please
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2016, 19:07 »
The zips seem to go first then the windows, I caught my zip just in time, put WD 40 on the zip and its fine now, will put a smear of Vaseline, or petroleum jelly  on them at a later date as it will stay on longer
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sunshineband

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Re: polytunnel advice please
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2016, 19:24 »
Yes... zips!! That is what has gone on our little one. Thanks for the Vaseline tip, Dopey

Snow white, I saw one decorating the hedgerow last winter after some fierce winds and it was only 19mm frame too, so it was  a tangled mess, and I am keen to avoid that. I shall speak to Mr S about the doorframes. Did you cover the door you made with the existing zippy one or buy more material?

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snow white

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Re: polytunnel advice please
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2016, 22:05 »
I put a fine mesh on it.



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