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Building my own polytunnel

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  • #1

    Building my own polytunnel

    Hi all

    I am looking for a bit of advice about a polytunnel. I want to build my own over the winter ready for next Jan and have already drawn up the plan. My only concern is the size wood required. Can anyone offer advice on the following idea.

    I have some of that blue plastic pipe for water which I will use to form the hoops, but I want the sides to be vertical so i can build some staging for seed trays etc. So I was thinking of building a frame 3 or 4 ft tall which the pipe would attach to. This would keep the bottom vertical and the curve round to the top.

    However I am not sure if the pip should feed through the wood (through a hole slightly larger than the pipe) or simply attached to the wood via some bracket.

    My choice is either 19mmx100m plank or 22mmx50mm timber to form the frame.

    Has anyone got experience in building something like this or a better way to keep the bottom part of the hoop vertical?

    Thanks for reading my ramblings

    James
    BW
    James

    I like to try, might not get far, but I like to try.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Hi bud,try the link in this thread for ideas .......... http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...nel_60759.html
    He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame

    Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

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    • #3
      Hey
      I was looking at that one the other day, but it uses scaffolding poles which I don't think I will be able to get hold of at the moment.
      It was one similar to that one which had a bar running around the tunnel at around 3ft which gave me the idea for my plan.
      The more I think about it, the more I think it will need to be the squarer wood for rigidity. The plastic pipe does like to curve and it could force the thinner plank out of shape.
      BW
      James

      I like to try, might not get far, but I like to try.

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      • #4
        Pigletwillie did it too, Evington Hilltop Adventures: Tunnel Time 2

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        • #5
          Forgot to add, there's scaffolding tubes on ebay all the time - 16' are around £20 - cut in half, then buried 3' in the ground will give you decent headroom.

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          • #6
            Wow, that is a very nice tunnel he has there. The pipe looks much thicker than the stuff I have, so I may have to end up buying some more. Mine is 20mm if memory serves.

            Back to drawing board maybe...
            BW
            James

            I like to try, might not get far, but I like to try.

            Comment

            • #7
              I have 20mm conduit, which I highly doubt would be strong enough to withstand some of the gales we had back earlier in the year.. I am pretty sure scaffolding tubes are 48mm, so the MDPE stuff must be thicker than that [google search suggest, suggests it's either 50mm or 90mm!].

              The plastic will act as a kite I guess when the wind strikes it, so I think overkill would be better

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              • #8
                Originally posted by chrismarks View Post
                [google search suggest, suggests it's either 50mm or 90mm!].
                There is also the in-betweener 63mm
                He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame

                Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

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                • #9
                  Alkathene pipe we sell at work starts at 12mm up to 100mm, for water (drinking quality).
                  I'm going to be 'borrowing' some to make a cloche, lovely stuff!!
                  <*}}}>< Jonathan ><{{{*>

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                  • #10
                    the pipe is 63mm and is a nice tight fit for the scaffolding pipes, you will need conduit or the like to have at the top of the hoops to prevent the ends pulling in when covering. This method of tunnel construction is bomb proof as it flexes really well in the wind, and mine are on a hilltop. A 12 x 24 tunnel willo cost about £300 all in if you have to buy poles etc but with the great head room and stability outdo a bought one by about £800.

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                    • #11
                      How did you fix the conduit between the hoops?

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                      • #12
                        One of my plot neighbours is turning his pergola into a polytunnel and has used blue water pipe for the roof, he has it attached to the wood with what I can only describe as several giant cable clips.
                        My blog - http://carol-allotmentheaven.blogspot.com/

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