putting up a polytunnel

hedgewizard · Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:37 pm

My polytunnel arrives on Wednesday *vibrates with excitement*, but I see from the instructions that I should put it up on a "warm and sunny day" because the cover is more flexible in warm conditions. Ideally I suppose I should wait until the weather is hot (it's early spring here) but how crucial is it?

wulf · Post: # 11965Post **wulf** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 5:37 pm

What sized tunnel are you getting? I'm guessing it's a fairly large one, if flexibility in warm weather is an issue. I've got some small ones but they're a bit of a pain because what's inside needs watering even if the weather has been wet and it's a pain lifting them on and off!

Wulf

hedgewizard · Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:26 am

This one is 14' by 24' - that's 4.27 x 7.32m. I put the markers for the uprights in yesterday and I'm really hoping someone will tell me that the temperature won't matter too much...

Goodlife1970 · Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:32 am

Hi Hedgewizard,it is better (in my opinion and I speak from bitter experience!) to put it up on a warmer day as I put mine up late season and my cover appears to have stretched something alarming! This causes all kinds of problems when we have a downpour as I have to empty lakes of water from the roof,already had to repair two uprights as they snapped through.On the plus side,mine is a green,"flower type" tunnel,and not a clear one like I suspect yours is,prehaps the rules are different for your type?

hedgewizard · Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:37 pm

I don't think so. Mine is a 14'x25' job, and I suspect I'm going to have to wait a while. The question is, how warm do I have to wait for it to get? I'm BURNING to get started on my seeds (although I suppose I could start germinating stuff in our 4x6 coldhouse).

Goodlife1970 · Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:55 pm

Wouldnt bother this week as its forecast snow,well it is for here anyway! Mind you theres been some heat in the sun already,when it bothers to shine! Of course if you wait for it to be THAT warm and sunny youll have missed the season. Prehaps waiting until an afternoon when its been frosty earlier but the sun has melted it,we have had a few of those days,today being one and it was warm enough to be without a coat.It only need to be sunny and warm until youve put the cover on I suppose.

hedgewizard · Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:45 pm

what temp did you put yours up in then, to have such problems? Most days are about 7 or 8C down here at the mo... although last week was 13C and I was gardening in a T-shirt! (This is why I moved from the Isle of Man to sunny Dorset...)

*update* I rang the manufacturers and they said that ideally I should wait until the summer... but that as long as I was prepared to retension the sheet using the extendable portion of the legs come summer, I should be fine. Now all I have to do is wait for the damned RAIN to stop! (One of the big attractions of the tunnel for me was still being able to do some work on horrid days).

Goodlife1970 · Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:22 pm

I think it was September when we put ours up so it couldnt have been THAT cold really. Ive got to re- jiggle my cover but thought prehaps its best to do it in the sun,if it stretches anymore Ill have enough for TWO tunnels! Fancy saying wait until summer! What do they think you would use for this season?? Not raining here (suprise!) but freezing cold,suprisingly warm in the tunnel though despite the baggy cover!