How high?

[LizyDrippin]

Hi

I need some advice.

I'm about to build some enviromesh covers for my raised beds.

The beds are 4.8 metres by 1.2 metres (I have three)

I've bought the mesh I've got the blue pipe I've got some dowel to slot the blue pipe onto. I've even got some wood slat things to hold the mesh down once it's in place.

My question is how high do I make the loop?

The enviromesh is is 2.6, now with my basic math skills I reckon I can make a loop 2.3 m, allowing for overlap and 15cm of dowel.

This would make my loop 75cm (ish) high in the middle

Is that too tall, would it make it wobbly and prone to fall over or would the dowel at the side and a bamboo pole along the top be okay to hold it in place?

All comments welcome

[carlseawolf]

My blue pipe hoops are 6' or 2m long and i put a peace of wood or branch in the ends to push into the soil , this seams to be sutible for cabbages.

[w33blegurl]

My hoops are 2.5m long and are about 80cm high (my beds are a little wider than yours) nd so far they have held up pretty wel in the wind. A really useful tiop from another grape was to lay canes across the top of the hoops and tie them on as it stabilises the structure a bit more.

[LizyDrippin]

Thanks for the replys

So I'm on the right track size and build wise,

It's always good to get some reassurance that your not way off base

Thanks

I'll be putting it all together over the next couple of days


Liz

[carlseawolf]

forgot to mention my beds are 1.2m wide

[Emmylou]

Hi, can I just ask....what sort of pipe do you use? :0)
Is it "special" blue pipe? I've seen it down the lottie and wondered if it is just any old pipe! I intend to do something similar but don't want to spend lots on fancy stuff!
All suggestions welcome!

[w33blegurl]

I got MDPE pipe (20mm). They sell it in lots of places eg. MDPE Blue Pipe 20mm x 50m - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

I ended up getting the black version from an online gardening store, mainly cos I can see the veg beds from the house and wanted something a bit less eye catching! It was more expensive though.

You could also try freecycle?

[Snadger]

My carrot bed has a cover which is about 2 foot high and the carrot foliage was rubbing against the top!
I just used wooden posts at the edges and fastened wire around the top of these. I then draped the enviromesh over the top.

I think the poly propolenr pipe might make a better job though as long as the sides are quite high before bending the pipe over!

I'll see if I have a piccie of mine? ...................Here we go......

[kitchengardner]

Hi

I need some advice.

I'm about to build some enviromesh covers for my raised beds.

The beds are 4.8 metres by 1.2 metres (I have three)

I've bought the mesh I've got the blue pipe I've got some dowel to slot the blue pipe onto. I've even got some wood slat things to hold the mesh down once it's in place.

My question is how high do I make the loop?

The enviromesh is is 2.6, now with my basic math skills I reckon I can make a loop 2.3 m, allowing for overlap and 15cm of dowel.

This would make my loop 75cm (ish) high in the middle

Is that too tall, would it make it wobbly and prone to fall over or would the dowel at the side and a bamboo pole along the top be okay to hold it in place?

All comments welcome

It is definitely worth using a stabiliser. You can either take a plank of the right length and drill holes in it to feed the pipes through or tie 2 bamboo canes, one each side about 2/3 of the way up. Either of these produces a much more stable structure than a tied cane along the top. Also if it is a windy area I would recommend using a guy rope tied to the top of the end hoop at each end

Regards

Kitchen Gardener

[LizyDrippin]

It is definitely worth using a stabiliser. You can either take a plank of the right length and drill holes in it to feed the pipes through or tie 2 bamboo canes, one each side about 2/3 of the way up. Either of these produces a much more stable structure than a tied cane along the top. Also if it is a windy area I would recommend using a guy rope tied to the top of the end hoop at each end

Regards

Kitchen Gardener

I like the idea of two canes, I would imagine that causes less friction on the top and therefore less chance of holes forming in the mesh.

Due to the set up of the garden can't use guy ropes but was going to use a pole at each end to help with the stability

[LizyDrippin]

I got MDPE pipe (20mm). They sell it in lots of places eg. MDPE Blue Pipe 20mm x 50m - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

I ended up getting the black version from an online gardening store, mainly cos I can see the veg beds from the house and wanted something a bit less eye catching! It was more expensive though.

You could also try freecycle?

I bought mine from screwfix, got triple necter points as well

[LizyDrippin]

Hi

I need some advice.

I'm back again

Just realised I was that preoccupied at how tall to make the hoops I forgot to ask ...

How far apart do people have their hoops?

No point having lovely hoops and the mesh sags in the middle