Allotments 4 All
Produce => Under Glass => Topic started by: sawfish on April 28, 2010, 11:44:07
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I noticed them for sale at around £60 for a 3.5 x 2 metre one. Is this OK? Where can I get a good one by mail?
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Haven't bought one recently but used "First" Polytunnels and was very pleased... :)
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Probably not what you want but I thought I would mention it!
I went to Harrogate spring show last Friday and saw the best polytunnel I have ever seen.
It is this one; http://www.gardentunnels.co.uk/
If I came into a few bob I would certainly buy one!
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Thats a beauty Tee Gee ....does anyone know if I could fix that hinged work bench /staging to my glass greenhouse??
Duke :)
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I've got that 3.5x2 metre one, it's cheap ly built, the arches are pretty flimsy, however it's stood for about a month now and I don't think it is going anywhere. I found that by marking out on the ground where the poles were going to go and then sinking the poles into the floor to the lower bar I can put marquee pegs (1 quid each from my local Army Surplus) over the lower bar and really nail it down./ This does mean a significant "skirt" of material and the tunnel is approx 6" lower, but unless yyou put it on paving slabs or similar it would have sunk in anyway and loosened off your anchoring. It doesn't come with anchor kits. I'll be using it for this year, looking to get a proper greenhouse for next year and then decide whether to use the tunnel on an allotment and if so, how.... I might well just use it as a rain shelter but that would require the far end being cut, it only ha one "entrance" end, the other is solid and the zips don't inspire confidence :-)
It works, it might work next year, I'm not sure it would survive a winter up outdoors though... YMMV
chrisc
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so the general consensus is what? About a cheaper polytunnel? No? Yes? Give it a try? How long would it last in a Scottish climate?
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Mine are from First tunnels, very happy with them both. It can get quite windy here, I have extra bracing and crop bars. I think a cheep polytunnel wouldn't last here.
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I bought a cheapo 4mx2m one on Ebay, £70ish. Is very flimsy indeed, wouldnt recommend it unless youre in a sheltered place. The poles pop apart easily and have had to be gaffer taped, and Ive had to bodge crossbars on it to stop it bending out of shape. Will be surprised if its still standing by the end of the year!
Someone else has just bought a Gardman one from a local garden centre, which is smaller but looks much more robust. The poles are thicker and screwed together, and the plastic is thicker. The downside is it doesnt have side vents and the plastic is completely clear, so its probably more likely to fry your plants.
PS- just checked out Gardentunnels, wow they look great. If I had a spare £1000 I'd be tempted!
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Got both of ours from Northern polytunnels, between everyone,we now have 5 on site, including the 42' communal one...excellent service :)
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I`m no fan of `cheapies` (but a bargain is fair enough) I bought one of these 17 years ago and only had to replace the cover last year
http://www.solartunnels.co.uk/splendid.php.
Costed out against replacing `traditional` covers it`s a bargain-and no trenching required
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I got mine from First Tunnels nearly three years ago. We are delighted with it.
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liking the look of these I must say. 32mm tubes seem like they might stand Scottish weather. 300 quid though, its a lot of money. Is it worth it????
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these.... http://www.highlandpolytunnels.co.uk/10%27%20Wide%20Polytunnels.html
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I got one in June 08 for about £60
[attachment=1]
It was brilliant for the first year, masses of room and everything grew like mad.
The frame was very strong, but the covering started to deteriorate by the end of the season and some of the seams came undone. I patched it up and was able to use it last year, but this is what it looks like now
[attachment=2]
[attachment=3]
I might have been just unlucky and I suppose I should have taken the covering off in the winter.
I would still get another one, maybe even bigger because of the space and the way things grew but my husband thinks they are a waste of money. But he's not the gardener and doesn't understand the stress of having so many plants and nowhere to put them! :o
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I suppose thats the dangers of cheap ones as I've been told.
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got mine from premier polytunnels, a few things I didn't like, but overall I'm happy. ;D
Mark
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I was looking at Premier Polytunnels. What didn't you like?
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Just little things like the instructions were basic to say the least, had to guess for a few things, the clips that hold the tubes together didn't seem as good as first tunnels(top supporting bar / crop bars) and Joint Strengthening Kit made me smile as it was just 10 more small clips that fit over the joint, not sure what support they will offer, the door again wasn't as agood design as first tunnels either.................but............now it's up and working I will give it the benefit of the doubt as see what happens, the proof is in how long it lasts and how things grow ;D
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Hi
We are in sunny Cornwall and on our Allotment next to me they have bought from E Bay a £65 polytunnel at the end of last year. Where there is velcro on the roll up sides it has already ripped the cover. The owner said if it lasts him two years he will be happy. I have just bought one from premiertunnels and their backup is brilliant. They are not cheap and it comes with a manual and growing suggestions. We are digging trenches out at the moment for the base plates then full steam ahead. Bought 10 ft x 15 but wish I could have afforded bigger now. When putting on the polythene apparently it needs to be a hot day. We also saw old polytunnels disused but guessed the screws would be rusted and warped frame?
Goodluck
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We got one years ago from first tunnels polytunnels but we had a few problems with it (missing bits and not very strong) and they were very unhelpful and said the frame didn't have any warranty. We got a new one this year from premier polytunnels and we are thrilled with the product (bigger metal hoops) and aftercare service, the instructions were very detailed and when we got stuck we just called them up and someone answered even though it was 7.30 at night!
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I've got a cheap one from ebay and it's OK for the money as long as you take care in its positioning and realise that you aren't getting a "proper" polytunnel...... When the cover goes (hopefully I'll get another year out of it next year and it won't be outside through the winter) then I'll use the frame covered in netting as a fruit cage (and buy another one), they're OK but get a big one to make the thermal regualtion a bit better and I found pushing the legs into the ground up to the lower frame bar and pegging that down with 18" army marquee pegs has been very stable this summer....
chrisc
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Ive ordered a Polytunnel from First Tunnels nearly a year ago. I noticed that First Tunnels and Premier Polytunnels were very close to each other. I thought they might be the same company, when I rung them both I disocvered that Prmeier Polytunnels were a new compnay and the director once worked at First Tunnels.
I cant praise First Tunnels enough, they have a Facebook profile (very informative) - www.facebook.com/polytunnels and if you scroll through the comments of the fans you'll seee that Im not the only one who thinks so.
Id vote for First Tunnels, but my advice would be to contact them both, decide which compnay you prefer and then drop the competitors name, and you might squeeze a discount of them.
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For my requirements I am finding that I just can't justify spending the money.
Polytunnels are certainly cheaper than green houses but what I require one for is to house 2011's giant pumpkin effort and then later for traditional eating veg.
My problem is that I have a large plot and have earmarked a section out for say a 16x52 feet polytunnel (2 pumpkins). Now that I have seen the large tunnels I just cant settle for a smaller one. Its either all or nothing. So it will be nothing :(.
I have some instructions to build the frame myself but alas do not have the £300 required to by the plastic. Espeically when my wife complains that my wardrobe needs revamping :-\
Maybe when circumstances change I will get my dream tunnel :)
Sorry for not adding anything usefull to the forum
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May have been linked to before but here are good instructions for building your own
http://www.overthegardengate.net/UserPages/pp_view.asp?FName=polytunnel&Page=1