Polytunnel options.

[muck lover]

I must admit with my main polytunnel I just shelled out a fortune and the company put it up.
Regarding the beds the ground wasn’t diggable. Constructed very large raised beds and filled them with a variety of stuff. Leaves, multipurpose compost( the big 100liter verve ones)seaweed, manure, topsoil. Anything else I could get my hands on. I wish I had put more topsoil on as the mix is so free draining.

[muck lover]

My tunnel has a mesh panel at one end which is open all year although there’s a plastic cover I can put over it. At the door end there’s a second sliding mesh door so I can leave ventilation all day whilst keeping larger animals and birds out. If you can work in some ventilation I think it’s definitely worth doing and even in spring the trade off between ventilation and retaining temperature is worth it. And in summer or sunny spring weather the ventilation is essential or your plants will suffer
Honestly I could use four more polytunnels quite happily. Space is so precious.

[nickdub]

The commercial guys round here who have vast tunnels running the whole length of fields for crops like strawberries just don't have anything on either end so they are left open (they take the covers off in winter).

I reckon the best bet is as you say to put it up and see how you go - I'm a little ahead of you but though I've put a door etc in one end, I'm still not sure what to do with the other one - I've left it partly open while I have "a think" about it - plenty of other jobs to do meanwhile.

[unclefudgly]

More ventilation is better, especially at apex of tunnel, mine has 18" all across bottom of each end and door has netting on 365 days per year with just a loose plastic flap in winter to help with draughts. would be nice to know if anyone has worked out a way to put vents in a round polytunnel? Preferably at the apex

[nickdub]

I built the end of mine from scratch using a wooden framework and ploy-carbonate sheets. At the top I put a hinged piece which can drop down, the plan being to attach some wire to it via a pulley - like a lot of my jobs its not 100% finished yet. :-)

[its4billy]

I must admit with my main polytunnel I just shelled out a fortune and the company put it up.

Sorry if this is a bit rude but how much did it cost to have the company install your tunnel ?

[purplekat]

would be nice to know if anyone has worked out a way to put vents in a round polytunnel? Preferably at the apex

An expensive option but they do make ventshttps://www.northernpolytunnels.co.u...ntilation.html

[its4billy]

I have found someone locally selling a polytunnel fame 8m x 14m. It’s a bit shabby but it should clean up. Can anyone recommended a company who sell just the poly cover? I’ve looked at some big polytunnel companies but prices are through the roof (no pun intended)

[Dogs and Veg]

Hi guys,

excuse my ignorance...what is the advantage / disadvantage / difference of having a polytunnel over a greenhouse?

[nickdub]

Hi guys,

excuse my ignorance...what is the advantage / disadvantage / difference of having a polytunnel over a greenhouse?

price mostly - they say "twice the size for half the cost" and that's not far off right for tunnels v greenhouses - the other consideration is ease of putting one up. Round here where you see a lot of fields with the them in, the tunnels very often run down quite a sloping site, with a glasshouse you really need a flat piece of land to put it on, in fact most greenhouses are erected on a either a concrete base or a low brick wall .

In effect a polytunnel is more like a tent where as a greenhouse is more like a see-through house.

Of course no one is going to argue that a tunnel can be as aesthetically pleasing as a pretty glasshouse, and another advantage is that glass is generally a very good transmitter of light and a not too bad insulator.

You pays your money and you takes your pick :-)

[Small pumpkin]

Hi guys,

excuse my ignorance...what is the advantage / disadvantage / difference of having a polytunnel over a greenhouse?

The million dollar question .
I think they both have the same amount of advantages/ disadvantages as each other.
Its Just comes down to personal preference.

For example. I have polytunnel because I could get a bigger one with the budget I had compared to a greenhouse. Also (but very personal choice) I went with tunnel because I think they're stronger and safer in the very strong winds we get here. I don't think there's a lot of difference in the heat produced in either, but I know lot of people think differently.

[veggiechicken]

..........and I went for greenhouses because I kept being offered them for free - I did buy one of the 5. The one I bought has been in place for 25+ years and only one pane of glass has needed to be replaced. It it had been a PT it would have needed recovering in that time.

[Bacchus]

Sorry if this is a bit rude but how much did it cost to have the company install your tunnel ?

I know this wasn't directed to me but...

My tunnel cost about £800 as I recall - for a 36' x 18' with crop bars, cover, tape, etc but NOT installation. I did that myself with the help of a builder friend. As I recall I think they said it was be a couple of hundred to install if they were doing it.

I also changed the design to put double doors on one end but that was only a few quid to get some extra timber.

However I did have to spend a bit more on some ground work. I got water plumbed into one end of the tunnel. I've a standpipe that I can connect a hose to for general watering or connect a soaker hose and timer to a for more technical solution during holidays. This involved some digger work and was expensive but it was the single best decision I made. I also had to put up some fencing and a 16' gate which added to the overall cost.

It was pricy but worth it in the long run.

[4Shoes]

I have found someone locally selling a polytunnel fame 8m x 14m. It’s a bit shabby but it should clean up. Can anyone recommended a company who sell just the poly cover? I’ve looked at some big polytunnel companies but prices are through the roof (no pun intended)

Again it comes down to preference and warranty.
Remember you will also need the heat tape.

I've looked at ebay, Elixir Garden Supplies and the 2 companies on this site. All are reasonable for the plastic provided 5 year and 7 year options. You could get cheaper plastic is sheltered environment.,

Plastic doe a 2 x 3 fly-away (7m sq) was around £75.00.

[4Shoes]

I know this wasn't directed to me but...

My tunnel cost about £800 as I recall - for a 36' x 18' with crop bars, cover, tape, etc but NOT installation. I did that myself with the help of a builder friend. As I recall I think they said it was be a couple of hundred to install if they were doing it.

I also changed the design to put double doors on one end but that was only a few quid to get some extra timber.

However I did have to spend a bit more on some ground work. I got water plumbed into one end of the tunnel. I've a standpipe that I can connect a hose to for general watering or connect a soaker hose and timer to a for more technical solution during holidays. This involved some digger work and was expensive but it was the single best decision I made. I also had to put up some fencing and a 16' gate which added to the overall cost.

It was pricy but worth it in the long run.

Priced a 14' x 35' with
5' hoops, Aluminium base rails and sliding doors, Crop bars, extra lateral rails, Staging one side, 7 yr plastic, side vents and ground cover at just shy of £1.8K

It's just over £1K with basic tunnel, wooden base rails and doors, no ventilation and single doors.