Polytunnel Irrigation - Pack it up over winter?

[Hedgerow74]

Hello!

I've got a blow-away style polytunnel on my allotment and I've set up a watering system which involves an approx. 15mm black pipe running as a ring around the base of the tunnel (well, a couple of inches off the ground!) with micro pipe coming off at intervals going to drippers which drip into plastic bottles with holes in sunk into the ground.

It's fed off of water but with a timer and worked really well over the summer.

I'm planning on changing it to be fed off of an IBC soon but wondered if I should take it all up during the winter in case the pipes perish due to the cold weather?

Do other people leave there's in situ?

I'm going to bring the timer indoor and disconnect the pipe from the water butt but wondered if I should take any other precautions... I'm worried I'd struggle to store it inside anywhere as the thicker pipe is more rigid now and less easy to curl up due to the cold!

[lottie dolly]

never had that system but,what i would do is lift an end up and drain the water out,or disconect the little drip feeds,a hose pipe seems to be ok,just freezes,the plastic gives a bit,it's the little dripers i would be concerned about,

[Bill HH]

I too would remove the drippers and store them in a box, when you set it up again give it a good flush before you put the drippers back on because you get a lot of insects in the pipes, but as for frost the rest will be fine as long as you drain it well. make sure the timer is drained well and the batteries might be best removed.

[Hedgerow74]

Thank you both!

I was on the plot yesterday when I saw your replies and fortunately had a flask of hot water with me so got the drippers off fine.

I have taken off the timer and bought it home and will take the batteries out!

I need to disconnect it from the polytunnel frame so I can give it a proper drain and try and rotate it as the IBC is at the other end to where I had the water butt. Might wait until it's a bit warmer to do that so the hose is a bit more flexible and just do enough to drain it for now!