OMG i want to cry :(

[craftymarie]

I'm so sorry to read this. Yes I would feel like crying too There are some very good suggestions here like the mini polytunnels etc so hopefully there are some practical things you can do for now that will help. Hoping you find someone to help you recover the PT too.

[Bigmallly]

It may not be what you want Lisa but given the warm temps & the shortage of water, I would be really tempted to salvage the polythene, fasten it to the bottom half of the tunnel & net the top half. I have done that with 2 tunnels & am so glad I did. Your PT will have both the protection from the winds & pests plus what little rain you do have will dampen the soil................As I say, it may not be what you want. You could always knock up a cold frame for your seedlings.

[Jungle Jane]

Have you got a table or bookshelf (anything) you can put next to the window?

[Lisasbolt]

This is the only window i can put anything next to as you can see already being used, potatoes might have to go in the other room. Just not enough light but will have to do for a few days.

I have still got bags of soil in the boot of the garden which is window height so i have put some bits in there.



On the up side, i am ordering a greenhouse this weekend, and my dad will be out next month so might have to get him working on his holiday

Thanks for all your lovely messages

[lottie dolly]

OM word Lisa,I would be in tears,what an awful thing to happen so sorry to see your news,another thought/idea stuck me looking at you potato tables,is there any way,you could erect another shelf above it,so more plants can have the light,done this in the lottie grow place,like a book shelves with no back on,only cross braces,just a thought,when you have got over the initial shock of OMG,your mind will click onto something,all the best huggs to you lass x

[Glutton4...]

Oh Bummocks matey - what a pain in the arris.

((((HUGS)))) from me too.

[Jonny.D]

Sorry for your loss, though loving the robot

[Nicos]

Oh flipping heck Lisa.....I too would be in tears.
You must feel sick.
That is exactly what I would expect if I had a PT in our windy field.

There are different thicknesses / weights of poly aren't there?...maybe buy a heavier duty the next time round? Expensive though

Big hugs over to you.
You have some brill ideas on offer here

Let us know how you get on.
Oh....and I'm going to send you an extra hug for trying to be as brave as poss in front of your OH cos he too must be just as upset...but very frustrated that he can't do anything much to help.

[Lisasbolt]

It was just so much worse being able to sit and watch it happen feeling useless.
It was one of the best you could get the same they use on the big industrial PT´s in Almeria, should have had a 5 year guarantee, but one of those things, think i am going to wait till October to re-do it as the heat and the sun really kill it in the summer months.

[Nicos]

I was shocked at how quickly our UK hosepipe and wheelbarrow disintegrated when we brought them over here.
As you say, the UV and the heat really affect plastic. ...and yep, I'm waaaay north of you!

Salvaging what you can is good. Have to say that the PT frame looks incredibly solid!
How did the professional PTs get on- or do they have wind breaks or less exposed sites?

[Jay22]

Oh Lisa...big hugs from me too and there are a lot of good suggestions being made, hope some of them are useful to you. Let us know how you get on.

[Lisasbolt]

I paid a lot for the frame, it is strong steel and only has a little hole going through the middle, thought it best to invest and never have to buy another!
I have been wanting to make a couple of cold frames for a while so will save whatever i can, it will all get reused for something, wether is is covering something or lining something.

[Verinda]

Oh Lisa, that's awful, big hugs from me too.

Good suggestions from everyone, I hope you can make smaller tunnels and your plants will survive.

Your husbands robot is brilliant by the way, so creative, I hope he gets through the chemo ok xx

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

No Lisa!

Here! I'm "Gutted" for you too!

Now if you were in the uk, and understandably your "Fella" not being at his best! I wouldn't hesitate in booking a few days off and offering my services, but Almeria is just a little out of my scope unfortunately!

[mothhawk]

Gosh, sorry to see all that, Lisa. Lots of good suggestions from peeps though. Hope you can get it sorted.
Could you hold off potting on the seedlings for a couple of weeks till the month goes on and the weather gets more spring-like? Maybe give them a dilute feed instead, to keep them strong.