Poly Tunnel- Anyone recommend?

brewboy_2

I have a family that like to grow their own, we have been talking about upgrading our grow your own with the addition of a poly tunnel. I was hoping for some suggestions on size needed for say food for 7 persons. Anyone recommend the best place to buy also

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Depends on your budget.

And how much time you have to build it.

Or get someone to build you one yourself.

And how much space you have.

I've built several and am covering a 50ft one this autumn. We are inviting people to help! As it's no mean feat. However it means you extend the seasons a good 6 weeks either way so it makes it worth it if you have the money and space to put one in.

I don't have one at home, I have a greenhouse. And don't have one at the allotment. But I do have one at college and at a community garden that I run.

If you are feeling incredibly creative, you can make a geodesic dome from wooden batons, with eyes screwed into the ends, and all bolted together for £120 ish...and just cover with plastic bought separately.

Rummer

I have heard others use this company however I don't have personal experience of them. We have chewed over getting a poly tunnel however we will need to wait until I get a real grasp on the use of our greenhouse first :rotfl:

brewboy_2

Funky Bold Ribena, I don't mind taking time to build one myself although space maybe an issue, Ihave a strip of land at home around 20' x 12' ish, would it be worth it? I have a greenhouse at home too but it's v small.
Rummer, I'll have a look at your link thanks

moneyistooshorttomention

I shall be watching peoples recommendations with interest myself, with particular reference as to whether polytunnels will stand up to wind (ie regular wind of a RATHER strong variety:(). Don't want to spend out on one that ended up blowing to several gardens away...:cool:

Funky_Bold_Ribena

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I shall be watching peoples recommendations with interest myself, with particular reference as to whether polytunnels will stand up to wind (ie regular wind of a RATHER strong variety:(). Don't want to spend out on one that ended up blowing to several gardens away...:cool:

A proper poly like the first tunnels ones, is concreted into the ground and shouldn't go anywhere...the cheap put ups won't last one winter in the UK...

peter_the_piper

Northern Polytunnels. Not cheap but strong. Sheets last upwards of 5 years. Its who we have used in the past.

Davesnave

Peter is right, Northern Polytunnels are probably the best, but they are more expensive than First Tunnels, which are perfectly OK and very customer-friendly.

I have a 42' x 24' First Tunnels poly with some extras such as netting down one side for extra ventilation and sliding doors at both ends. I've adapted the side so that I can vary the ventilation and close it off altogether in winter. It cost over £2k, so it's an indulgence, but I'm outdoors every day, and it's a good, light and airy alternative workspace on days like the one we've just had.

There's no danger of a proper polytunnel blowing away. Mine has special plates on the ends of each 'leg' which are buried a couple of feet down, but there's also 3 tonnes of concrete attached to the corner and centre legs, just to make sure! If you are burying the plastic instead of having wooden side rails, that will be fine too.

It takes quite a while to build a big tunnel, and if you're going to use wooden side rails etc, it pays to get the foundations totally right. My wife & I are a bit OCD about things like that, so we used a laser level and set the string lines out as if we were building a house. :rotfl:

moneyistooshorttomention

Right you are...Northern or First polytunnels sound best and should cope with even the windiest weather.

Personally, I think a little one of around 5' x 10' should do me, so am guessing that it wouldn't be necessary to do quite such a "belt and braces" jobbie, even in a very windy part of Britain...??

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Personally, I think a little one of around 5' x 10' should do me, so am guessing that it wouldn't be necessary to do quite such a "belt and braces" jobbie, even in a very windy part of Britain...??

As with sheds & greenhouses, you get better value by going slightly bigger, because a tunnel with a floor area of 80 sq ft isn't double the cost of one of 40 sq ft.

Also, bear in mind that they get hot and the sides curve inwards. On the smaller models that's quite a consideration, as one can feel somewhat claustrophobic.

An 8' wide tunnel would give a central pathway + beds 3' wide.

peter_the_piper

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Right you are...Northern or First polytunnels sound best and should cope with even the windiest weather.

Personally, I think a little one of around 5' x 10' should do me, so am guessing that it wouldn't be necessary to do quite such a "belt and braces" jobbie, even in a very windy part of Britain...??

Are you sure that a 5x10 is big enough? You say you want to grow for 7.