Poly tunnel

[Meggido]

Hi all,i have three allotments side by side so have a very large growing area, i was thinking about getting a large greenhouse, they are quite expensive even second hand, as an alternative i started to look at poly tunnels.
The benefit of poly-tunnels is that you can obtain them quite large, and at a lower price than greenhouses.
they can last up to ten years if you use the better quality coverings.
After deciding a poly tunnel was my best option, i started to look for the best price i could get.
While looking i stumbled on this site, http://www.overthegardengate.net/UserPa ... nel&Page=3
I have sourced all my materials very cheaply, although it has cost me £186 for the cover and anti hot spot tape from here
http://www.premierpolytunnels.co.uk/
It will still be a fraction of the price of a bought one.
I am using 63mm piping as it fits perfectly over the scaffold tubes.
The whole thing will end up costing around £250, but it is going to be a lot bigger than most people would need and if you built a tunnel 12ft by 8ft and scrounged your materials, i know you could do it for around £80.
Hopefully mine will end up 7mtrs by 12mtrs.
I will let you know how i get on, i hope this has given others the incentive to build their own.
Kind Regards
Meggido.

[Wesley]

Good post mate,I was looking into this also, few phone calls and a visit to my local ind est soon to see whats what.

[startfresh]

id travel for good veg anywhere shop tesco yuki

[slimline66]

Can't wait to see it when it's finished.

[Star-Child]

Cheers for the link meggido, I've got a small tunnel 10*6 that needs new plastic , so I will get this one herehttp://www.premierpolytunnels.co.uk/product-details.asp?prod_id=129&level_id=44&level=3 and see how I go with fitting that and building in a small wooden door frame this summer......

Now that water piper for the BIG project I dream of........ this place , ebuilders do MDPE Water Main Pipe 50mm Blue 25m Coil http://www.ebuildingsupplies.co.uk/cust ... Id=1004229 for price £46.08 ish

and 50 metres for £93.12

now that chap built "15ft x 10ft tunnel will require 4off 19ft lengths of pipe", so that only needs the 25 metre roll,

So I think one could halve the retail cost even without scrounging about....

Anyhow I've got a big space at bottom of garden 120 foot by 40-50 that I would love to whack in a monster tunnel at some point and hell, why not move in it , like a tropical oasis , couple of parrots, hammock and a beer fridge and jobs a good un.

Still I'll wake up first and attempt the recover of the 10 by 6 poly frame and see how I get on..... we've got a few veggies on the go , wife is getting a poly-carb greenhouse to generate seedlings in, for a good run for next year. We are next to a tourist museum and we flog excess stuff that we grow, put a sign up at the gate and they mosey over, only done tom plants this year for them really, but looking next year to grow more herbs and chilis, etc, tourists will like that and the revenue should fund the garden projects and seeds etc.......

But is it a bloke thing eyeing up the size of them poly tunnels ? They look great...... and they are generally peaceful relaxing places when inside, must be the plants energy or something ...? Anyhow....

Green fingers crossed........

[Star-Child]

Now just thinking ahead,,,, this water pipe how much span width wise can one go with say

50 mm compared to 63 mm pipe , anyone done the maths yet ? Like that chap said 19 feet of 50 mm pipe will do a tunnel width of 10 foot and giving 8 foot centre height , but is there a formula to go to say 15 foot wide ? etc... without worry of the thing taking off ? On the coast here a bit so we get the odd hoolie blow in like !!

Cheers all.

[Meggido]

First day of build today.
Started off by picking up 10 -13ft scaffold boards for around the base, got them off of Ebay for £80, they are used but in very good condition.
Also 5- 5mtr lengths of 3 by 2 for the end frames, they might seem excessive for framing but have decided to put sliding patio doors on one end, and a pvc door and window at the other.
Have got the door and window off a mate who has a double glazing factory, they were ones he had taken out so got them for free.
Just missed out on 9ft bt 6'6 sliding upvc doors on Ebay, they went for £27, i had left a bid of £26 (Bugger)

First problem we hit is that the ground slopes away a lot more than we thought over the total length, if we put a level from front to back we are about 2ft up in the air at the rear, levelling the ground is not an option, too much work and not enough time!
Time for a cup of tea and a head scratch......
Right... Have decided to make up the frame with the scaffold boards, get them square on the corners, level across the width and run with the slope of the land.
Might be being a bit too over complicated , after all it's only an allotment......
As long as we drive the scaffold poles in square i don't think it's going to look amiss (famous last words)
Not much progress today, too much head scratching.......
Hopfully move it on a pace tomorrow.
Kind Regards
Meggido.

[TheStoge]

M, You really mean business. Will be able to see the product of your hard work and planniing soon ? Nothing like a good sucess story to pick you up !
Well done pal !

[slimline66]

Can't wait to see it when it's finished.

Well here it is!

DSC00248.JPG

Seems that Firefox is better for uploading pics Meggido

Ps. remember to save post BEFORE submitting ...

Thanks for today, I really enjoyed myself.

[Freeman Stephen]

What are the arches made out of?