Polytunnel options.

[its4billy]

I have a bit of land that I want to put a poly tunnel on. I'm quite new to growing, past attempts have been peas and tomatoes in our conservatory, spuds and carrots outside.

I'm wondering if a poly tunnel would be a good idea? Can I grow earlier in the year? Could I grow tropical stuff?

So many questions spring to mind so I thought I'd try a forum to find tips and advice.

THE ABOVE IS JUST COPIED FROM MY INTRO POST

I’m really amateur at growing and a complete polytunnel virgin. My land can take maybe a 30ft tunnel and I want something that will last more than one season.

I’d be grateful of any advice as I go along but to let you know how novice I am, this forum has just taught me that they are called polytunnels and not polly tunnels as I’ve always thought

So I guess my first question is build or buy ?

[nickdub]

"I’m really amateur at growing and a complete polytunnel virgin. My land can take maybe a 30ft tunnel and I want something that will last more than one season."

The metal frame on a poly-tunnel should last for ages ,its the plastic which is in question. Being stingy, when I bought my last one I got some high quality plastic off eBay, which someone-else had bought from new but had never used and then bought a 3 by 6m frame. I mounted it on top off boards which were raised of the ground on concrete block walls, as my site slopes.-

probably cost me about £300 all in. I reckon it will last 3 or 4 years and I'm weighing up the possibility of re-roofing it with flexible clear corrugated plastic sheets, as being much longer lasting material.

[bario1]

Tunnels are great, and the bigger the better if you really want to take advantage of the advantages to regular (outside) growing they provide. A good 30ft tunnel is going to cost you a fair bit though, even if you go 'DIY'. You can't exactly grow tropical stuff, papaya and pineapples are out - think chillies, tomatoes, melons if you're lucky. All the regular stuff we grow in the UK can be started a little earlier in a tunnel and will survive a little later - i.e. an extended season, rather than a completely different climate.

[its4billy]

Yes, I would definitely try growing melons. I have thought about chilli. I’m not a great fan of them but it’s something I might try.

[4Shoes]

See they advertise Premier Tunnels and 1st Tunnels on here - Are they any good?

What are the must have options and minimum size for family of 4.....

Space not a problem

[MarkPelican]

I've got a Solar Tunnels 20ft x 10ft polytunnel (not cheap). The cover is still good after 15 years and being moved twice.

[bario1]

First Tunnels are good IMO.

[Jimny14]

I have heard Bob flowerdew on GQT talking about his polytunnel. He uses 2,one smaller inside the bigger one. He grows bananas, pineapples and passionfruit amongst others inside the inner one. Something to consider for when you're bored of your extended cropping period of your standard tunnel.

[Vince G]

We've got a 10x10 polytunnel which we've had for 4 years bought from Citadel Polytunnels of Warwick. It's all still in good nick, very minor repairs to the skin, and the hotspot tape is now starting to perish so will need replacing before the summer.

There are lots of things we try to grow in this country outdoors which are a bit hit and miss due to the dodgy summers we get sometimes. Such as: peppers, chillies, tomatoes, melons, aubergines, okra.......inside a polytunnel all these suddenly become a lot easier, you're pretty much guaranteed.

Another advantage is you can get things earlier if you grow in a tunnel. We've planted new potatoes in mid Feb, and had strawberries 3 weeks earlier than the same variety outdoors. You can also prolong the season of things like salads because although the temperature will drop during the night to more or less the same as it is outdoors, it will warm up quicker in the morning and cool down slower in the evening.

Tropical stuff might not work. If you can give plants higher temperatures than they would get outdoors all the year round and somewhere near what the plant would get in its homeland, you never know.

It's also great for overwintering plants in pots and they'll get going a bit quicker in the spring too.


All in all, a great investment.

[unclefudgly]

To be honest I think any of the "cheaper" polytunnels on ebay with 25mm galvanised frames will last quite a long time if fixed down properly, think 10 years plus. You definitely have to sell on the cheap green covers you usually get with them and instead buy good 4 season UV protected 500 gauge or more polythene from a good supplier.
Then as mentioned by others you will need to put a wooden skirting around the polytunnel frame to secure the polythene to using 2x1 batons, you will also need to fashion a door and lots and lots of ventilation ( I have the bottom 2ft of the front and rear faces of mine all the way across, ventilated with mesh as well as the door)
Going upscale from this will be your first and premier polytunnels.

If possible orient the tunnel into the prevailing wind and side on to the arc of the sun to maximise light, especially if you want much longer growing season.

I'm jealous, a 30x15 tunnel would be my dream!!

[bazzaboy]

Some good advice on here (as always), its4billy... I'd love a polytunnel but every time I set about getting one I run into problems.... I was going to put one on the allotment but that caused such trouble I thought World War 3 was going to break out, and when the local district council informed me they wanted £45 to answer the question "Do I need to apply to you for planning permission?" I gave up! I could put a small one in the garden but might well run into the same problem. And the other obstacle is I don't fancy the DIY aspects as they seem quite complicated..... One of the supply companies has a speeded up video attempting to show you how easy it is, and it takes 2 guys (in the know, they've obviously done it many times before) 6 hours to put it up (the speeded up video takes 6 minutes). Admittedly it's quite a large one but the intricacies seem much the same whatever the size.... So meantime I end up cramming greenhouse, cold frames and a conservatory that no-one can get into. I'll ponder it again, meantime best wishes for your enterprise. bb.

[Small pumpkin]

First Tunnels are good IMO.

I was in the process of commenting on this thread when my interweb connection had one of its hissy fits .
But bario said it all
First tunnels are brilliant, very solid bits of kit, with lots of options when buying. Last really well and trust me when I say they are more than capable of standing up to some VERY strong winds.

[nickdub]

I used to work for a local Council, but let me add a caveat that the following piece of advice is out of date, so may not work.

Anyone with a "do I, don't I" type question re planning permission from their local council, can write in to the planning department along the lines of "I am intending to erect a 3m by 2m by 2m high poly-tunnel on my allotment at .... for which I do not believe planning permission is a requirement" and keep a copy of this correspondence. Having informed the local authority of what you are doing, the ball is in their court to respond or not.

[4Shoes]

I was in the process of commenting on this thread when my interweb connection had one of its hissy fits .
But bario said it all
First tunnels are brilliant, very solid bits of kit, with lots of options when buying. Last really well and trust me when I say they are more than capable of standing up to some VERY strong winds.

Will be planting in open field in DG8... By open, I mean open... The hedge is 3 years old

Do you have?
2 or 4 part hoops
Crop Bars
Twin support Brace

Looking at some sites, they say align the tunnel wall (curved Side) with prevailing wind. (Stops the doors blowing in and lift off) Got to do something in this space now.

Think is can't decide how big and would it be better getting 2 so that one can get gentle heat early season, or... or..

[nickdub]

I've got 4 part hoops in mine, which is a 3 m wide one. There are horizontals at ground level, at about 4' and along the ridge.