Polytunnel extras.

[annie trip]

Hi all, i am just looking into getting a poly but the list of extras is endless and could really bump the price up what do i need?? Anchor plates, timber base rail, base plates, timber side vents, vents screen, crop bars, ventilated ridge, aluminium base rail and storm braces??!!!!!!!!!!! I think the standard cover is super clear and presume thats ok. Think i am going to go with first tunnels as they seem to have a good rep>

[JennieAtkinson]

Mine is First Tunnels Annie and yep there do seem to be alot of addons if you want them. Is your site exposed? If so go for the timber base rail and the crop bars. Makes a stronger structure. Cant remember whether I had anchor plates or base plates? I think anchor plates because they were concreted in. I spoke to First Tunnels on the phone and got alot of advice from them before I ordered. They were extremely helpful.

Good luck!

[annie trip]

what size have you got Jennie? My site not very exposed but think will ring them for some advice too.

[JennieAtkinson]

Mine is 14 feet by 20 feet. Felt HUGE when I first got it, now I need another one! Do give First Tunnels a ring, I found them so helpful.

[annie trip]

Yes will do, and inside have you just dug a bed down each side or have you made some raised beds? May seem odd but i have never been in one and i dont know anyone who has one for me to see either.

[JennieAtkinson]

Annie, if you go into Undercover Operations and go onto page 2 I posted some polytunnel pictures back in the summer. I've never done a link before, but this might work!

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ead.php?t=1360

I have got a mixture of raised beds, dug areas and flat areas for grow bags. The thought of digging the whole area out filled me with dread, so I have done it over time, but am quite happy with the layout now. Would recommend that you have a growing season first with a flexible layout as I did find that what I thought would work didn't leave me with much room. But at least I hadn't done anything drastic. So my layout has evolved really over the last couple of years.

Good luck!

[annie trip]

Thanks jennie it looks great,doubt mine will stay as organised tho. Did you get your staging from first tunnels too?

[nick the grief]

Hi Annie,

I looked at getting a polytunnel and a lot of the extra's you don't really need.

I wouldn't bother with side vents, sods law says the y will be the source of a problem to you. A lot of the wood you can probably source cheaper from a local timber yard as well.
I would have a door at either end but again you can just pay for one & then get the stuff & copy it to make the other if you want to keep the price down.
The concrete in anchor plates you probably won't need if you site isn't exposed & you don 't have to have the wooden base rail ( or get it locally) I would have the crop bars as it does stiffent the frame up a bit Like Jennie says & they are always useful.
Go for the best cover you can afford as this will make a load of difference I'm told.

And finaly if you haven't got it, get hold of Bernards Salts book Gardening under plastic - Very well written & loads of snippets of info in it I thought.

[annie trip]

Cheers Nick,my xmas list just been amended and thanks for usefull tips just dont wand to spend a fortune on stuff thats not needed!!

[filthyrich]

hi annie have a look at the reply i sent kimbo re polytunnel construction which is on the main "undercover operations",should save you a lot of pennies.