Making a netting tunnel

[Meschuee]

I've bought fine-guage pond cover netting and want to fix up a tunnel over a raised bed. I don't have hoops. What would you use - wooden battens? Will I have to purchase cane hoops to use or do you have a better idea.

Penny

[teakdesk]

I use hoops made from old plastic pipe or thick fence wire.

You can stick some short canes or wood into the ground and put a plant pot or plastic bottle over the top to support the net.

Or make wooden "frames" to drape the net over.

The possibilities are endless!!!

[Eyren]

The usual suggestion is to get some plastic tubing from a builder's merchant (2cm or so?) and make hoops using lengths of the tubing slotted onto canes or similar. The downside is that it's usually bright blue!

[Meschuee]

Thanks, teakdesk. I hadn't thought of putting plant pots on top of canes. I'm not very inventive, I'm afraid. Appreciate the ideas. Good to know what works for other people.

Penny

[Two_Sheds]

My "hoops" are made from canes stuck in the ground and linked by lengths of old hosepipe at the top (like an upside-down U )

[Meschuee]

What a good idea, Two Sheds. Thanks. I have old hose pipe I could use. I'll get canes tyomorrow and give it a go.


Penny

[podfather]

doesn't the hose bow in the middle

[jlottie]

The water piping is called MDPE and comes in different guages (just google). Its semi rigid and can be cut and bent to make various width/height cloches. The hoops need spacing at approx 1m and can be covered with netting, plastic or fleece. They work best if placed over canes that are sunk into the soil. To secure the covering, short pieces of pipe approx 10cms can be cut and slit lengthways and placed over the covering and the hoop. I just tie each end of the tunnel and use pegs or stones along the edges.

[Meschuee]

Thanks for the information about the piping, jlottie. I'll take a look on the internet.

Penny

[jackie j]

I bought piping from Mole Valley Farmers and paid about £15 and I have about 20 lengths from it.

[Two_Sheds]

doesn't the hose bow in the middle

Not so you'd notice.

[Dane End Dolly]

This may sound silley, but we bought some cheap plastic hula hoops (large size) froma pound shop, mad a cut to enable us to open them up and covered with netting to protect my cabbages and voila!!!!

I must admit it was for a smallish bed and we only needed 3 hoops - but it still only cost us £3.00 and should last quite some time being plastic.

Kimxx

[Lazgaot]

I scrounged some mains water pipe from a building site but then bought more from B&Q, £19 for 25m. Its very sturdy stuff and should not bread down in my lifetime under the sun from UV. Thinner plastic may split after a few years.

I've used it for a makeshift cloche through the winter and now I have netting over it.

[jersey bean]

I used pipe/bamboo for a netting tunnel and it works really well - gets the chickens from down by the house along the raised bed and to the back of the garden where we have our mini orchard! Our neighbours laugh but in a kindly way.....

[Meschuee]

Thanks for the ideas, everyone. Will take a look in the local DIY and farmers' shops.

I would enjoy seeing the chickens walking the tunnel, Jo.

Penny