Polytunnel Advice

Community Community General Gardening Sowing and Growing Polytunnel Advice

This topic contains 5 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by  charles 6 years, 10 months ago.

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  • #40411

    MarkH
    Participant

    I am considering purchasing a polytunnel to extend the growing season on my allotment, Probably 20 ft x 10ft. The basic tunnels seem to be around the £5/600 mark but if you add the extra ventilation / side rails etc. the price soon shoots up. Are these extras really necessary? I am in East Yorkshire. Any help / advice much appreciated.

    #40412

    charles
    Moderator

    Stick to the basics Mark, you don’t need side rails or extra ventilation. Tunnels, with doors at both ends, have plenty of airflow.
    Side-rails, as opposed to digging polythene into a trench, allow entry to weeds, slugs and rabbits!

    #40508

    MarkH
    Participant

    Thank you for the advice, and quick response. Mark

    #40537

    JD
    Participant

    Hi there,
    I am also thinking of buying a polytunnel. Maybe 12 x 20ft. However I’m in Cambridgeshire and the temperature last week was 34 degrees in the shade. I’m worried about ‘cooking’ any delicate plants in the obviously hotter temperature in a polytunnel. Is a door each end really enough for this temperature? This would be on an allotment and I can’t always get there to water/open/shut doors. Any other suggestions to keep temp down in extreme conditions? Thanks for help
    Jan

    #40744

    John
    Participant

    I bought my 25’x12’tunnel from Ferryman Tunnels in Crediton, Devon. Steph had suggested them to me. I did not get any of the extras that you mention but did get crop bars and thicker section tubes as my allotment is on a windy site in Exmouth.

    Charles has an excellent discussion of poly tunnels in Learn > Articles

    I have one 4′ opening door and one non-opening door, otherwise they are the same with a mesh (windbreak/scaffolding netting) cover. I have made frames for polythene inserts on the doors so I can have doors with all polythene, all mesh or half and half. Both doors have a 6″ gap above so there is always minimum ventilation and a route for insects. I can’t open and close every day so I vary the amount of ventilation according to the prevailing weather season.

    #40748

    charles
    Moderator

    John that looks impressive, you must be thrilled.
    I envy you those straight sides.
    Thanks for mentioning the article, it’s here

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