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My Polytunnel(s)

Discussion in 'Poly-Tunnel Gardening' started by Webmaster, May 17, 2015.

  1. Webmaster

    Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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    Not had any issue with my posts, the tunnels are still rock solid and haven't budged, I'd suggest just drilling through the bottom rail as I did, and just screw them to the top edge of the boards as I did, if you add straps, they may chafe on the tunnel cover?
     
  2. wavebuster

    wavebuster Gardener

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  3. fingersuk

    fingersuk Apprentice Gardener

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    Yup exact one quality is ok not great but should do job if put up ok same sort of cover as about probably will not last ages
     
  4. andrewYSK

    andrewYSK Apprentice Gardener

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    Hii,

    i would like to change the timber which you use to hold the plastic sheet to wiggle wire and c-channel or c-rail, anybody know where can i purchase it ? i have rang to almost all of the gardening center, but none sell that. the most i saw is aluminium c-rail, there is none galvanized c-rail..

    pls tell me where.

    thanks.
    andrew


     
  5. andrewYSK

    andrewYSK Apprentice Gardener

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    hii, is that paprika or chilli ?
    how d? o you grow those in spring, because often the temperature in polytunnel will drop down to 2C even during day time just like yesterday and today morning..
    i am here in wissington, it is very windy.

    btw, if you able to over winter this plant, they will bear a lot more fruit the following summer.

    if you can give me advice on how to over winter it. i appreciate it.

    by the way, any body know where can i get c-rail and wiggle wire ?

    pls also give me thumb up so that i can able to post thread here.. thanks.


    andrew

     
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    • Webmaster

      Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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      Going to be doing something to my tunnels again this year .... Keep them peeled :)
       
    • Steve R

      Steve R Soil Furtler

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      How do you peel a polytunnel?

      Steve...:snorky:
       
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      • Webmaster

        Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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        That is what I'm doing Steve, two are going to become 1 ;)
         
      • Steve R

        Steve R Soil Furtler

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        Thought you might do that eventually, as they are already aligned for it. But I expected that to happen when the present covers where a bit more worn or used.

        Steve...:)
         
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        • Steve R

          Steve R Soil Furtler

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          Can you not wait till a little later in the season?

          Once spring is underway, used commercial polytunnel frames start to flood ebay, for next to nothing.

          Here is one 20ft wide, 74ft long for £290. Commercial Polytunnel Frame 20' X 74' | eBay

          You will get much cheaper than that in the spring but you get a wider and longer space with more headroom all with a substantially stronger and longer lasting frames.

          If I was to buy another tunnel, I would buy the above and set up a 30ft length of it, leaving me 44ft x 20ft to sell to a friend or maybe 2...so up to 3 cheap tunnels for all.

          The bonus then would be you have a couple of tunnels now for multi use, useful for propagating or seed starting, or recovered with netting as fruit cages or brassica frames.

          Its a bit of work to do, collecting frame, getting the fittings etc, but I know your not afraid of that given what you have done so far here on this topic.

          My new poly on the right, 18ft x 30ft. Frame cost £100

          [​IMG]
          Comparison, older 10ft x 20ft tunnel on the left

          Steve...:)
           
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          • Webmaster

            Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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            Steve,

            My anchors are all concreted in, so would be a bit of a nuisance now, + it means I have a decent width at the allotment to grow beside the tunnel.
             
          • Webmaster

            Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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            I've been doing stuff today ....


            What is that Spice Girl song ...?


            That's it .... When 2 become 1 ;)

            As you can see, the original Green covers were more or less Green nets !

            [​IMG]

            Covers removed, and also I need to add Scaffold boards between the two tunnels to create 1

            [​IMG]

            When you start to think you've bitten off more than you can chew ...

            [​IMG]

            New tunnel cover draped over ...

            [​IMG]

            Battened down both sides and started on the rear, and then my battery on the drill ran out, so I walked off to get another battery ..

            [​IMG]

            [​IMG]

            [​IMG]


            The rear battened..

            [​IMG]

            Internal view now .... all 13.2 metres in length :)

            [​IMG]

            Front as I left.... Light beat me, I just need to put a door on to make it finished(ish)

            [​IMG]


            A couple of things I want to do now ...

            Fit a door, which will be sliding rather than hinged, this way, it can be left partly open without the worry of it blowing off in the wind (which has happened to my other tunnel door).

            Also, if you look at the rear pic. of the tunnel, I have left an excess round the window, I'm planning on passing the cover back over the batten and battening aver again, in effect creating an 'S' so that the cover isn't just held by one pass between the batten, but instead going through twice, which will add quite a bit more hold.

            Here's a pic. of what I have in mind, shown with a scrap of wood :-

            [​IMG]
             
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            • Steve R

              Steve R Soil Furtler

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              Looking good Nathan, you will also need a door bell now, in case someone comes a knocking and your in the west wing..:snork:

              Your right to add the extra s curve to the plastic at the window, on mine even though it was battened the plastic did pull a little during fitting and ripped slightly where the screws went through both battens and plastic. I just added many more screws than needed to ensure battens where really holding the plastic. About every 6 inches.

              I foresee lots of chillis in your future.

              Steve...:)
               
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              • Webmaster

                Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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                Well.... I fitted my door today.

                I wanted a sliding door, so that I could leave it open partially or fully, without worrying that a gust of wind would blow it off its hinges.

                I installed some garage doors recently, and the roller/brackets and tracks were ideal for converting or making a sliding door.

                Door I made

                [​IMG]

                Excess trimmed

                [​IMG]

                Then needed to prep the frame opening by trimming excess cover and then double battening.

                [​IMG]

                [​IMG]

                The next few pics were taken more or less when it was completed, as everything was done to suit the specific opening and door I made.

                Top track of door

                [​IMG]

                Bottom track of door.

                [​IMG]

                Door in open/partial open and closed

                [​IMG]

                [​IMG]

                Side view

                [​IMG]

                And done

                [​IMG]

                [​IMG]

                I just need to now just get my finger out and finish the double battening around the base
                 
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                • Mo_

                  Mo_ Gardener

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                  looking very nice. Where did you get your cover from and what kind is it thanks ?
                   

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