Poly Tunnel- Anyone recommend?

brewboy_2

I was thinking 20' x 12' as thats all the room I have, I was hoping that it would be enough space, maybe thats wishful thinking for 7 people

peter_the_piper

Might not make you completely self sufficient but will go a good way towards it, plus the freshness factor is a definite bonus. Good luck.

Davesnave

brewboy wrote: »

I was thinking 20' x 12' as thats all the room I have, I was hoping that it would be enough space, maybe thats wishful thinking for 7 people

It really depends what you want to grow in there. That will depend on what your family likes/uses and whether those things can be grown well outside. If they can, there's no point putting them in a polytunnel.

For example, we use a lot of sweet peppers, so I've grown something like 20kg of those and frozen them. Outdoors, I'd be lucky to grow or ripen more than a few in an average year
We also get salad greens and other greens of different types through most of the winter + other vegetables that have struggled outside in their different seasons. e.g. dwarf beans

I only have a large polytunnel because I had a business, which I might well open up again in a few years. Meanwhile, it doubles as a good workspace and I overwinter tenderish things in there too.

brewboy_2

I have some raised beds in the garden with a small greenhouse so i'm hoping that the poly tunnel will allow me to have success with veg that has failed outside so far. Hoping to have one sourced over the winter so that we can get started next year.
I like the sound of being able to grow sweet peppers and salad etc, what else works well

knightstyle

Have a look on Ebay for secondhand tunnels, often dismantled and needing new cover and when you erect it make sure the metal frame does not touch the polythene, you can get stick on foam, as the polythene degrades if it gets too hot.
Also look at collecting the rain from the top as we found the ground at the edge soon gets soggy and mould grows on the tunnel.

brewboy_2

Knightstyle,
Great tips thanks i'm hoping to pick one up reasonable so second hand is a great idea

Davesnave

brewboy wrote: »

Knightstyle,
Great tips thanks i'm hoping to pick one up reasonable so second hand is a great idea

Most polytunnel parts are generic, so even if the ground tubes are rotten, or lost because they were buried in concrete, you can get new ones. Common sizes of tube are 35mm,50mm and 60mm. Tubes can be fitted together and held with self-tapping, hex screws used for screwing down metal roofing..

All the fittings are available separately. I bought more in order to make modifications to my tunnel.

The same goes for the wood if you are going s/h DIY. It's usually based on CLS sizes, and roofing battens, but CLS often isn't available tanalised - certainly not from places like B&Q! I get mine done to order at the local timber yard and it doesn't add much to the cost.