polytunnel/greenhouse/shape

[lottie dolly]

we are hoping to build 1 or the other above,we have free wood that OH collect from taking large palets to bits,some lenghts 13ft apox,also a lot of polythene,6ft wide,is from scaffolding,a white,stronger version of the green tunnels/cold frames,so i thought it would be worth a go,i have lots of ideas as to how to assemble a structure,with lots of drawings and sleepless nights ,i am hoping to grow not only the usual greenhouse stuff,but would like to try some early/late crops inside, does it matter what the shape or size is,my thoughts are to go with 10ft x 18ft,with 5ft side walls,then i can collect rain water,with a heighth of aprox 7.5,so as to work with the width of the 6ft poly,my question is,does the shape realy matter,
1 like greenhouse with peak,
or 2 rounder like a pollytunnel,
i think maybe it not matter,only need to concider heigth and shading as to what i grow,please can some one,any one,put me out me torment,i want to grow ,thanks

[pigletwillie]

The roof shape is not so much a consideration as the wall heights before they curve in. Five foot high ones will be great.

[Sanjo]

Hi Lottie Dolly. How opaque is the plastic? Will it let in much light ? I saw some fairly opaque tunnels in Wilkinsons last week so some light must get through I suppose. How will you collect the rainwater. I think I read somewhere on here that you can get stick on raingutter or were you thinking of attaching the gutter through the plastic and into the wood. I would have thought the tunnel shape would be kinder to the plastic that an apex shape but it would of course depend on how thick the plastic is. I'm sure they'll be other grapes along soon who have more experience than me.

Sorry for all the questions but I am like you. If I have an inventive idea in my head I can't sleep until I have ironed out all the wrinkles. Currently waiting for OH to construct the walls to my new raised bed. He wants to do it one way, I want it another 'cos I think his is too complicated!! Let us know how you get on in any case.

13' they were big pallets weren't they? And weren't you lucky. I have just spent a (to me at any rate) large amount on 9" x 16' wood for my bed as I was unable to source any cheap scaffold boards locally. Good luck with it anyway.

[lottie dolly]

thank you for the responce people,
not only were they big,they were very heavy,one factory loaded us up using a fork lift,then OH wrigled,and slid them of the back of the little waggon,what fun,
we had a good size peice of the material a while ago,i cut some up and played around with regarding a zip,machine around a bend,you know,like one would,to get the feel of it,and it was great,i was given one of the 4 x 6 walk in green ones a couple of years ago,the cover is now no good,so me being me,has taken it apart for a pattern,and hope to try and make another one,but that will be later,
the poly stuff i have is the same principle,as in enforced with the stringy stuff,set in a square pattern,and is fairly supple,if you know what i mean,it is used on scaffolding,in the same way the debrie netting is,only nothing will enter or ecape through it,the draw back is being only 6ft wide,so i have sussed out the best way to do it,either machine it together,or lay it just overlape,and secure it with tanalized lathes,i cannot begin to say anymore on construction as i not good at expaining things,but i have been all through different ideas,and is all on paper,i know i am very lucky,not just to have the materials,if it not for my husband,i would not be having a poly structure at all,this is were i wish i got and learn how to use a digie camera,and post pickies,still,cannot do every thing yes,rain water i plan to cover the roof section separatly,thus creating a finnish licke a green house,i suppose the finnished building will be a cross between the two.

[Sanjo]

Sounds good to me, and what is more, it will be all your very own ideas and work (well OH as well of course!!) I know what you mean about taking things apart for patterns. I have done that all my married life, from dresses to cloches etc. Look forward to seeing the pics.

[krazy_krok]

Planning something similar myself getting the hand of this diy malarky just built a coldframe from an old bed and some off cuts of car port plastic! I was thinking of cementing four 2.4m 4x4 posts into the gound, 2 x 2m above ground and 2 x 1.8m above ground for a sloping roof. Was then going to connect them up at the top and bottom with scaffolding boards to form the frame of the green house. Wilkos are selling UV Plastic 6x4 metres are bout 4 quid so was going to staple/nail this to the sides. Not thought about the doors or ventilation through it yet. Thinking of a size bout 3m x 6m and plan to attach guttering to collect water in my butt.