fitting cover on baby polytunnel?

[salilah]

I'm planning to do a baby polytunnel on one (or more) of my raised beds over winter - I've black conduit to do the hoops, but not sure how I should do the ends of the plastic? It is 1.2m wide, 2.4m long, and will have 4 hoops probably...
Harrod H do a clever looking clip that I hope would fit the conduit (think it is 20mm) to hold the cover on, but I'm just not sure what to do about the ends?
Any suggestions (on this, and anything else related to DIY mini-polytunnels) much appreciated!
thanks
S

[King Carrot]

I usually wrap any spare in wood or a metal tube, I've even used stones and rocks as well, though I'm not too fussed about how it looks

[Bigmallly]

If it is the ends of the conduit you mean, assuming it is tubing (I only know conduit to be square) then hammer some thick canes or old copper pipe into the ground where the hoops are to go then just slide your pipe over the canes. Leave the canes out of the ground about a foot or so, maybe 2 foot if the tunnel is high. I may have mis-read & you may mean the ends of the sheeting.

[salilah]

If it is the ends of the conduit you mean, assuming it is tubing (I only know conduit to be square) then hammer some thick canes or old copper pipe into the ground where the hoops are to go then just slide your pipe over the canes. Leave the canes out of the ground about a foot or so, maybe 2 foot if the tunnel is high. I may have mis-read & you may mean the ends of the sheeting.

Thanks Bigmally!
It's the sheeting I meant - the conduit is round, and 20mm in diameter, and will be attached to the sides of the raised bed going through "saddle bar spacer" type fittings so should be pretty stable

I just couldn't work out what to do with the ends of the cover - the sides either sort of sandbags to hold down, or clipped with elastic - but the end feels like it might need either gathering up to a point or folding over? Not clear here!

thanks
Salilah

[Bigmallly]

Have a mosey through these, it may give you some ideas.

small polytunnel - Google Search

[Queen of Spades]

I taped the edges of the sheeting to the end hoops (so I just had a tunnel - no ends on) and then stood a sheet of perspex at each end, held tight against the hoops with canes stuck in against the outsides, if you can see what I mean! That way it's easy to access the plants without having to unwrap the ends every time.

[salilah]

Have a mosey through these, it may give you some ideas.

small polytunnel - Google Search

You are clever! I never thought to google pictures - that's a great idea!
thanks lots
S

[salilah]

I taped the edges of the sheeting to the end hoops (so I just had a tunnel - no ends on) and then stood a sheet of perspex at each end, held tight against the hoops with canes stuck in against the outsides, if you can see what I mean! That way it's easy to access the plants without having to unwrap the ends every time.

That's a great idea - thank you! What sort of tape did you use?
I've used hard plastic (perspex?) for the cold frame lid, so easy to get hold of - might try that this year, as one end backs up against the fence anyway, so the main access is through the other end

This is fun!
thanks again
S

[SarzWix]

I tend to gather the plastic at the ends and tie it with thick nylon cord, a bit like a pony-tail and then put a tent-peg or similar through the loop of the cord to hold it down. Works for me

[Queen of Spades]

That's a great idea - thank you! What sort of tape did you use?
I've used hard plastic (perspex?) for the cold frame lid, so easy to get hold of - might try that this year, as one end backs up against the fence anyway, so the main access is through the other end

This is fun!
thanks again
S

I use the clear, waterproof tape used to repair plastic greenhouses. I use it for loads of things, taping up rips, as a hinge to join two pieces of glass or plastic for use as a cloche, to stick plastic to framework for coldframes etc. It lasts for years without coming unstuck!

[salilah]

I tend to gather the plastic at the ends and tie it with thick nylon cord, a bit like a pony-tail and then put a tent-peg or similar through the loop of the cord to hold it down. Works for me

Thanks for this - good suggestion!
think I'll have to see how much spare plastic I have - awaiting clips for hoops...
cheers
S