New mini polytunnel

[muck lover]

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All pleased and excited with new 2x3 m polytunnel.
Construction took a morning and some marital discord but it now seems pretty strong.


Hoping to grow some tomatoes and maybe cucumber and French beans.
The plan would be to take cover off for winter.

[nickdub]

Looks pretty well identical to one I bought a few years back, which has lasted well really. The only thing that went on mine were the zips on the "door " at the front - not sure if they are a weak spot, or maybe I should have been more careful. Anyway I had some old clear corrugated sheeting knocking around, so I made a sort of hatch type opener to go over the outside, with hinges at the top. (I couldn't do the normal side opening door, cause there's a raised bed in front which would have stopped it it from opening more that 12") It does the trick OK, but is v heavy - keep meaning to add a counter-weight.

[muck lover]

I think I need some anti-hotspot tip to try to protect the polythene cover. I’m looking forward to growing some stuff in the ground in this tunnel hoping that the watering won’t be so demanding as in my main poly tunnel where everything is in large raised beds approximately 2 1/2 feet high.
Due to shoulder limitations my input during construction was being the brains of the operation. SOMEONE needs to be able to read a diagram.
As far as i know my dear spouse never reads this forum.

[veggiechicken]

The zips have gone on mine too - so be gentle with them!
I've used foam pipe insulation on the framework to cushion the cover. Cheap and easy to fit. Cut it into short lengths and pad the vulnerable bits of the framework.

[muck lover]

Thats a brilliant idea. I will do that v soon. The bits where the screws stick out will damage the cover over time. I think i have some old bits of insulation foam.
I can see the zips at the door would be a weak spot too.
Ive been layering on various goodies on the ground since autumn. Seaweed compost leafmould and grass clippings. Today i put a fairly thin layer of marshals veg compost. It truely stinks. Hope its not too rich.

[nickdub]

To be fair I'm lazy, so I leave my cover on all the time - in fact It would be a right faff to take it off as I put the frame on top of some edge-on scaffold boards to give a bit more height inside when I put it up. Then I let the extra length of the sheeting fall over these boards and screwed battens down all the way around the outside to hold it all in place.
I live at about 500' ASL and we get some really cracking gales sometimes, so I didn't want to leave any chance of it taking off for the neighbor's place.

[muck lover]

Mine is in a really sheltered spot. Do you grow anything overwinter on this tunnel?
Im getting ideas. Overwintered brassicas for example.

[nickdub]

I've got a few things in there like apricot trees planted in the border and some salad greens over winter, but I was so impressed with it that I built a new 6m by 3m one next to it last year, which still needs a lot of work - so that has occupied quite a bit of my time. Also I had to do some DIY in the kitchen, so my gardening activities have been "patchy" :-)

[veggiechicken]

The covers have deteriorated on mine so have been covered over with debris netting. I use mine mostly for fruit - cherries and strawberries in one and peaches and nectarines in the other.

[muck lover]

Wondering how long the cover lasted?
Im going to leave this for a fortnight or so to warm the soil a bit. Anyway my tomato plants are small so far. My main polytunnel is 4x7m but theres just not enough room.

[4Shoes]

Wondering how long the cover lasted?
Im going to leave this for a fortnight or so to warm the soil a bit. Anyway my tomato plants are small so far. My main polytunnel is 4x7m but theres just not enough room.

If exposed to the wind, 1 year. My tunnel cover was held down with breeze blocks., Pegged out man guide ropes tight.
When I took it down, all inside ties snapped, no ropes attached and the seams torn there they were.

Would have been better off not using the ropes (I think).... On a positive note, Zips were fine.

Just your Donald Duck I think.

[Thelma Sanders]

Wondering how long the cover lasted?

Mine lasted a couple of years before the little clear squares of plastic started falling out of the green mesh, then there was no need to water
If the frame is still in good condition then, I think it is worth buying a 'proper' polytunnel cover

[Bluenowhere]

Our allotment neighbour had one with the sides of the cover properly dug into trenches and buried, she took the allotment about five years ago and it was already there. Has only just disintegrated this year. Top ripped as had been weakened by UV degradation of plastic.

We bought one last year. Was okay for the whole year until Feb weighted down on the sides with concrete fence posts/lintels which we found when digging the allotment, got through all the named storms just fine but eventually the plastic must have escaped on one side, and a couple of the poles bent as we had fixed the frame down so well think the cover was acting like a sail rather than the whole thing escaping. Poles sleeved and riveted and this time we have dug it in!

I’d say unless you want to move it you are better off burying the edges of the plastic in the ground and leaving it up all year. The bricks will be fine for ages until suddenly they aren’t.

[4Shoes]

I’d say unless you want to move it you are better off burying the edges of the plastic in the ground and leaving it up all year. The bricks will be fine for ages until suddenly they aren’t.

I also found that the breeze blocks damages the wall - which over time - would lead to a catastrophic failure like you described. Anyway looking at a more permanent solution now.

[nickdub]

I also found that the breeze blocks damages the wall - which over time - would lead to a catastrophic failure like you described. Anyway looking at a more permanent solution now.

Mine is about 4 years old now (memory none too reliable these days) and definitely showing signs of polythene degradation due to UV damage. I'm thinking of getting some clear corrugated roofing sheets to make a more permanent roof and sides out of. These are strong laterally, but easily bent to form circular arcs width-wise. I reckon a few battens attached long-wise inside the existing steel frame, then it would be a simple job to bolt sheets through from the outside to these.

Back to my trusty Ebay for bargain sheets :-)