Cloche hoops - advice appreciated

[BarleySugar]

I found these cloche hoops https://www.recycleworks.co.uk/produ...1&cat=0&page=1, in uv stabilised polypropylene. I would be looking to get the 3m ones, which work out at £3 each.

Now, as I want to use these to make tunnels to support environmesh, do you think it would be better (i.e. cheaper, give me more size options etc.) if I bought a quantity of the blue water pipe, MDPE Blue Pipe 25mm x 50m | Screwfix.com If I buy from screwfix I have one locally, so no delivery charge and I can cut to any length. It is also cheaper than the ready made hoops, BUT will it last as long, be as stable etc?

I was thinking if I use the pipe I can put some canes/sticks in the ground, and push the pipe over them, which might help them withstand the gales we get at the plot.

I don't think I can afford to buy the posts that you can get with the cloche hoops, (just over a tenner for 2 posts + 1 hoop), so if I get these I will have to push them into the ground a fair way to keep them stable.

Ideally I would like these to be tall enough to keep the mesh clear of kale and sprouts grown in a double row in a bed system. I did buy some cane holders FIGO Universal Frame Connectors (FIGO Frames) to build a cage over the strawberries, but these will be too expensive for the environmesh I think.

Any opinions/advice/experiences would be appreciated.

[hollychap]

i use the water pipe to make small cloches( see attached pic) the material is exellent and will be around a lot longer than me the way i make them is with 3 lengths of roofers slate laths which are very cheap if you get them from roofers or builders merchants the one in the pic is covered with pea/bean netting which can be changed to clear poly to help with heat retension . on another allotment close to mine a chap as made a large poly tunnel out of the thicker water/gas pipe (gas pipe is the yellow one).
by using the slate laths it gives you something to fasten your covering to and they can be easily moved to another part of your plot before buying from screwfix place an ad on freecycle or check fleabay for some local to you

[SarzWix]

I'd use the blue pipe, personally. You can design to the height you want then, giving you more control. I had some specifically designed as, plastic, cloche hoops and they deteriorated in 12 months I've seen blue water pipe being re-used for 3 years by the man across the way from me.

[hollychap]

the blue water pipe or the yellow gaspipe are alcathene which is designed to be buried and will last for years

[allotment grower]

I use the blue alcathane piping to protect the brassica's on my plot from the pigoens.
used the same as the photo in the above previous reply..

I use netting approx 2 meters wides by 6 meters - the width of my plot 6 meters.
covering over the hoops and cable tie the netting loosly to the hoops so the netting can be lifted from each side to do weeding or cropping..

to further stabilize the hoops i tie string to each end hoop at the top of the middle and the other end of the string to a wooden stake and tention and put into the ground to keep the frame taught..

[Potstubsdustbins]

No underground pipe is made to be UV stable, however it will still last for years above ground. The industry does use some UV stable plastic pipe but it is much more expensive. Go with the blue pipe it has thicker walls than the yellow pipe for gas.

Colin

[smilingshoe]

I used the blue pipe for my cloche/ enviromesh hoops. It's worked really well and I just cut the pipe to size and fit it over canes pushed in the ground, just as you've suggested. They seem very strong and I can't imagine them perishing for a very long time. Here's some pics

[BarleySugar]

Thanks for all your replies, I think you have confirmed my gut feeling to go with the pipe rather than paying out for 'custom made' hoops. As usual OH was keen for me to go with the more expensive option, but I don't see any point if they don't give me any definite benefits. I'll now check out pricings to find the best source, ready for when the snow has gone .
How far apart have you put yours please?

[chris]

I use conduit from screw fix.

[Potstubsdustbins]

BS Screwfix.com - Power Tools, Electrical, Plumbing Supplies & more 25mm x 50mtr roll MDPE pipe £24-99 + vat. Part number 19606.

Colin

[marcofez]

MDPE Pipe 25mm x 50m | Toolstation
I buy mine from here, cause it was cheaper!

[Bigmallly]

Are you on a time warp marco?.............the thread's 3 years old........exactly.............

[marcofez]

Must've been that glass of red wine! That's what I'm blaming anyway! (can't believe I didn't notice)

[marcofez]

I know what I did now! Was following the thread on "walk in wonderwall" and got side tracked on cloches!
Ha ha

[lottie dolly]

But you did your best,it might be just the thread someone else is looking for,