Stone Fruit Cage!

[Bigmallly]

Just want to pick your brains.........again.....
As some of you know, I currently have 3 greenhouse frames joined together to make an 18ft x 6ft Munty Frame. It hasn't been a great success so far as most of the crops are getting Marbed.....................so I have another idea I would like to run past you.
I have 9 stone fruit trees dotted around ( Peach, Nectarine & Apricot), my thought is to cover the roof of the frame with polythene & have a dedicated Stone Fruit House.
I was thinking of covering the ridge with pipe lagging, running double sided tape along the guttering, attaching the polythene over the lagging, sticking it to the double sided tape & fixing the cover with cable ties to each upright for extra strength. 2 or 3 Wires would then run the length of the house to grow the trees along. Can you think of a better method or do you think this would work?
As always, thanx in advance.

[Potstubsdustbins]

My only question would be is the frame firmly secured to the ground. In effect your putting a giant sail up and we wouldn't want the frame to go walkies...........

[Bigmallly]

My only question would be is the frame firmly secured to the ground. In effect your putting a giant sail up and we wouldn't want the frame to go walkies...........

Yep, that also crossed my mind Potty.The structure is well anchored down, the sheet will have around a dozen guy ropes over it (which are already in place), both ends & sides will be open so should aid tunnelling...........fingers crossed I guess. Thanks.

[Baldy]

BM - will the polythene roof be there to deter birds or to improve the micro-climate for the trees or something else?

Balders

[Bigmallly]

To stop Peach Leaf Curl Balders.

[SaraJH]

I thought that you were considering a fruit cage made of stone..... I'll get me coat

[Snoop Puss]

Trees are quite long-lived, plastic, pipe lagging and double-sided tape aren't. If you need to do repairs, could they be done easily?

[Jungle Jane]

Have you seen this lean to type construction? You could make one on each side & have the middle free for the rain to get in a bit but not on the trees?
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/pdfs/p...ean-to-diagram

[Bigmallly]

Trees are quite long-lived, plastic, pipe lagging and double-sided tape aren't. If you need to do repairs, could they be done easily?

Yes, no problem. I'm expecting to replace the cover after 2 years, any longer is a bonus.

[Bigmallly]

Have you seen this lean to type construction? You could make one on each side & have the middle free for the rain to get in a bit but not on the trees?
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/pdfs/p...ean-to-diagram

It's a good idea but I would end up with dry beds & a waterlogged path. I need cover over the trees so I may as well just cover the whole roof. So in effect I'll have a greenhouse with masses of ventilation.

[Containergardener]

Sara... I'm with you , I saw a country cottage style stone clad greenhouse tbh

**slopes off**

[Bigmallly]

Unfortunately my talents don't stretch to brick laying....................

[veggiechicken]

At Aberglasney, they have put a glass roof on the old ruined house. Its odd walking through the rooms of a house, full of growing plants, including bananas..

[Bigmallly]

How Ironic!...........I replaced the roof on the kite with debris netting, now I've decided to put a roof back on and dedicate it to Peaches, Nectarines & Apricots. I think covering the Munty House was too risky. Just need to get rid of the triffids then I can start pruning and planning where the trees are to go. Feeding the polythene between the roof bars & the netting was tricky but it should do the job. Plus the netting will help stop the polythene from taking flight.

[Guest]

Sorry I don't have any advice just some more ideas to throw in. Were you planning to train the trees or just keep them tidy. From what I can understand peach leaf curl is only an issue whilst the trees are in bud - so a couple of months. If they are trained you can just have something slope-like over them. In victorian kitchen garden Harry Dodson uses rolled up reed screens (it is for frost, but it would keep the majority of rain off). I think there is someone on here that props up corrugated plastic on theirs. Just an idea