Posted by Dave Hill on March 5, 2010, 8:19 am
> X-No-Archive:Yes
> > Am thinking of buying a "Gardman" polytunnel...My allotment is quite
> > exposed and fairly windy..I was thinking of putting a piece of wood on
> > the skirts and then covering the wood with soil this would stabilise the
> > base and also prevent draughts ??...Anyone used one of these polytunnels
> > and have any thoughts on my ideas ?
> Dave has given very good advice. My only comment is that the
> polythene is usually too thin to last very long. We are in the
> process of having a polytunnel erected and the chap who puts them up
> will only recommend a special poly covering with a mesh inside.
> Judith (France)
Most tunnels I know have a 4 or 5 year life sheet.
I dont know which one you mean Judith that has netting in it, but what
ever you do DONT put shade netting inside the polythene, as it will
break down in no time flat.
David Hill
Posted by countymayo.j on March 5, 2010, 12:02 pm
X-No-Archive:Yes
> > X-No-Archive:Yes
> > > Am thinking of buying a "Gardman" polytunnel...My allotment is quite
> > > exposed and fairly windy..I was thinking of putting a piece of wood on
> > > the skirts and then covering the wood with soil this would stabilise the
> > > base and also prevent draughts ??...Anyone used one of these polytunnels
> > > and have any thoughts on my ideas ?
> > Dave has given very good advice. My only comment is that the
> > polythene is usually too thin to last very long. We are in the
> > process of having a polytunnel erected and the chap who puts them up
> > will only recommend a special poly covering with a mesh inside.
> > Judith (France)
> Most tunnels I know have a 4 or 5 year life sheet.
> I dont know which one you mean Judith that has netting in it, but what
> ever you do DONT put shade netting inside the polythene, as it will
> break down in no time flat.
> David Hill
No I wouldn't put that inside Dave, this type of sheet comes with a
mesh interwoven in the plastic, maybe it's a French thing?
Judith
Posted by Malcolm on March 10, 2010, 7:20 am
>Am thinking of buying a "Gardman" polytunnel...My allotment is quite
>exposed and fairly windy..I was thinking of putting a piece of wood on
>the skirts and then covering the wood with soil this would stabilise the
>base and also prevent draughts ??...Anyone used one of these polytunnels
>and have any thoughts on my ideas ?
More expensive, but in my experience more secure and longer-lasting, are
Solartunnels. Instead of burying the plastic skirts, there is a metal
ground frame fixed to screwpegs which one can concrete into the ground,
and to which the arches are fixed, and then metal rods running through
pockets along the bottom of the cover are clipped to this frame, making
a very solid structure. Ours is on a Hebridean island and has lasted 8
years without moving an inch whereas friends' conventional polytunnels
have disappeared in gales! We have just replaced the cover, which got
damaged by a falling branch and some wear and tear. It is made of a
plastic sandwich with a mesh inside and so is a lot stronger than
conventional polytunnel plastic.
See www.solartunnels.co.uk.
I've had fast and friendly service from them.
--
Malcolm
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> > Am thinking of buying a "Gardman" polytunnel...My allotment is quite
> > exposed and fairly windy..I was thinking of putting a piece of wood on
> > the skirts and then covering the wood with soil this would stabilise the
> > base and also prevent draughts ??...Anyone used one of these polytunnels
> > and have any thoughts on my ideas ?
> Dave has given very good advice. My only comment is that the
> polythene is usually too thin to last very long. We are in the
> process of having a polytunnel erected and the chap who puts them up
> will only recommend a special poly covering with a mesh inside.
> Judith (France)