After weeks of storms and constant rain my Christmas present to myself is finally in service.
Here is the location, prior to setup.
(http://david-frary.com/images/poly_site.jpg)
Framework nearing completion.
(http://david-frary.com/images/polytunnel.jpg) (http://david-frary.com/images/polytunnel_2.jpg)
Cover on.
(http://david-frary.com/images/polytunnel_3.jpg) (http://david-frary.com/images/polytunnel_4.jpg)
Internal shots.
(http://david-frary.com/images/polytunnel_5.jpg) (http://david-frary.com/images/polytunnel_6.jpg)
Understage central heating system.
(http://david-frary.com/images/polytunnel_7.jpg)
I have already discovered one problem with the tunnel:
It's nice and snug inside and I get reluctant to venture out into the cold and wind to do the other tasks.
looking good, eristic..I know what you mean, it's quite a shock to go outside ;D
our rocket early spuds go in this weekend :o
It's gorgeous. I love it.
Brilliant Eristic!
Looking good!
And why would you want to go outside and get all cold!
Isn't it fun though when it is blowing a gale and p***ing with rain to be all smug and do your gardening!
Lovely christmas present I am sure you deserve it!!
Happy days
Old Bird!
;D
Looking good,
Enjoy your interior ill bet its a good feeling
mrf94
looking good mate!!, im doing a diy version as you may know ;D
& like you said it gets snug you can double it up as a large sauna!!! ;)
Ericstic - just a question here - on close inspection of your tunnel!! you have the top half of the door covered in that mesh stuff! When I bought mine I was sent this stuff too but wasn't sure what to do with it because I thought that it would let the cold in so I just ignored it!
I understand that the tunnel needs air through it but I generally (when it is warm enough) open the doors in the morning and shut them again in the evening.
Would I gain anything having the mesh on there - as opposed to having plastic?
Old Bird!
???
Ray made separate mesh doors, that way, they can be closed during summer, saves the site cats using the nice soft soil for a bed or toilet ;D
The tunnel was never intended to be a hothouse, and while the doors can be left open or easily removed during the summer the greatest threat to the plants in Feb-Mar is not the cold but Botritis and other moulds. As I'm just in my second week with it I still have a bit to learn about its management but there is always movement of air through the door vents even when there is no wind. Temperature seems adequate for tomato seedlings albeit aided by 3 ton of horse manure.
So far I have planted some broad beans and my free potatoes from DT Brown in the ground, and have tomato, leek and onion seedlings on the staging along with 6 doz Ullucus tubers and the first 3 doz Oca tubers all potted up for early rooting.
More staging is required but the squirrel store has temporarily run out of floorboards.
Well done Eristic. Nice photos too.
I am very jealous - we are not allowed permanent structures of any kind.
Slightly off topic, but should I be doing something with the Oca now?
If you are not able to grow oca under cover I would leave them for another month before starting them off. I'm starting mine off now because I have all this space under cover.
3 doz pink oca potted.
6 doz red oca potted.
4 doz red an 1 doz white oca waiting for acme squirrel stores to restock with 3" pots and plastic greengrocers trays.
Planning to experiment with different methods of culture this year including growing in pots.
Eristic
Also off topic what are oca? Never heard of them or seen them in shops or garden centres?
Old Bird ::)
Oca. The next new kid on the block. Actually very tasty and I like them. Once the teething problems are sorted out with growing methods, these could be very productive.
Link to my oca webpage david-frary.com/Plot/oca.php (http://david-frary.com/Plot/oca.php)
sorry to be inquisitive but where did you get it from its brilliant, and what are the costs roughly if you don't mind me asking, as my anniversary is coming up soon and hints may have to be dropped lol
I purchased mine from First tunnels http://www.firsttunnels.co.uk/ (http://www.firsttunnels.co.uk/) and I'm happy with what I bought.
As for the cost, I got mine in the Xmas sale but basically, you get what you pay for. They come in a large choice of widths and lengths and other optional extras. I am making my own benching and will make a decent floor when time is less pressing for all the other jobs. (There is still an allotment outside).
You look like a commercial grower there, Eristics! What a beautiful job you've done.
We're counting on seeing lots of produce pictures in a month or so.
I got mine from First Tunnels too. We put it up last September, and we have put in raised beds and I built some staging and we love it. All seedlings are in there, and we have mesh doors and they let the air through without it being too windy. It's on a site which is 1.5 miles from home, so can't be trhere all the time, but seems OK so far. Must get some spuds into buckets too.
We went the whole hog and got the extra strength tubing, crop bars (good for hanging stuff on), storm braces, the timber base rails, anchor plates and the posh polythene. That's all because we're on a windy site and I don't want it disappearing in a storm.