What dia pipe to make covers for my beds?

[68lbs]

I've seen people use mdpe tubing to make mini polytunnels/net covers for their beds. I want to do the same and have found some suitable tubing on eBay, but am unsure what diameter is best?

My beds are 4' wide and I am planning on making hoops to go across the whole bed that I can then fix netting to them, to keep the birds off my strawbs, etc.

Thx in advance...

[bearded bloke]

For open netting my brother used 20mm pipe with no problems,I keep meaning to make some but am not very organised

[Bigmallly]

If you want hoops, I would go with this

If you are using tennis balls or similar for an angled corner then These are very good.

[Bren In Pots]

68lbs have a look at this site it gives details of hoop to bed sizes plus a calculator down at the bottom of the page to work out how much fabric :-

Buiilding frames for insect netting and row covers

[chefgage]

I have used 20mm electrical plastic conduit pipe. Its the pipe used for running wires through. With this type of pipe there are many different types of fixings, connectors etc that are available and its fairly cheap. I made a frame using the pipe and connectors and then attached pond netting to the sides and top using cable ties. The netting at the bottom which sits on top of the raised bed is secured using them brass hooks you can buy that have a screw thread on them.

When i want to gain access to the bed i just unhook the side netting and it folds.over the top.

I will post some pictures shortly. I have found this is ideal for keeping birds, butterflies out.

The strawberry bed has a similar set up but does not have a top netting. This allows the bees to do their job of pollinating. I was them going to cover it over when the strawberries formed to stop the birds eating them. But i have found the birds dont like strawberries around our way

[bearded bloke]

Great find Bren

[chefgage]

As per my previous post this is what i have done. Just noticed......please excuse the weeds (as he goes outside with the trowel)

[Greenleaves]

Like so many others I use overflow pipe and fittings. I have made two 4mtrs x 2mtrs x1mtr total cost excluding netting £19

[68lbs]

If you want hoops, I would go with this

Yep, that's what I was looking at. Tho I found some in black which should be a little better visually.

68lbs have a look at this site Buiilding frames for insect netting and row covers

Ooo, that's great... Will have a good read of that tonight. Thanks

I have used 20mm electrical plastic conduit pipe.

That looks really neat in your pic. Is it not the sort of conduit that's quite brittle though? I'd imagine one week of sub zero temperature and the plastic would just crack?

[Bigmallly]

When I had the lottie, I made my cages with the Screwficks conduit, bent at right angles with a cane in between. The plus was I could grow tall stuff at the edges, the minus was they had to be turned upside down in winter so the weight of the snow didn't buckle them:

[chefgage]

That looks really neat in your pic. Is it not the sort of conduit that's quite brittle though? I'd imagine one week of sub zero temperature and the plastic would just crack?[/QUOTE]

There should not be anymore problems using this type of pipe than any other. It has been out for a couple of winters now with no problems and as its only a couple of quid for 2M lengths ( you can get longer lengths) if it does break its cheap to replace.

[Kristen]

I found some in black which should be a little better visually.

I think?? that the Black is external, rather than under-ground (i.e. the Blue) and as such will have better UV resistance - thus better all round

Here's how I do it:

Brassica Netting – against Cabbage White Butterfly | K's Garden