Poly Tunnel advice in Spain

[chickentikka]

Hola everyone
I have recently purchased two polytunnels for my garden in Spain. Before I build them I wondered if anyone can offer any advice on the best way to approach my new project. The polytunnels are't a really strong industrial type model they are more like tent frames with plastic covers, size is 4.5m x 2 x 2. If you search on ebay there are lots of them. Although our garden is pretty well protected on all sides we still do get some strong winds in the autumn/winter and I am a little concerned that they could end up in the middle of the village if they aren't fimly held down. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[oldjerry]

I've only been to Spain once,but I've put up a lot of tunnels ,here's how I'VE done them ( there may be loads of other better ways).

1. put them side on to the prevailing wind.

2.If they are rooted into tubes that are hammered into the ground,measure up and put the tubes in first.

3.Then put your frame togetherand place on the edge of the tubes.

4.Then put the cover over,having dug your trench that the skin will go into around the perimeter.

5.Then bury the cover in the trench

6.The hard bit, with help,stick the frame in the tubes.

7.Dump more soil in the trench and tread down,now the skin SHOULD be really tight.

8.Sit back,look at it,remind yourself your brilliant,open a bottle of red.

Best Wishes.

[chickentikka]

Thanks for the info oldjerry, sorry if this sounds thick, but should I concrete the frame in place?

[oldjerry]

If the tubes are say 6'' long,they should be ok, I've never concreted them(hate the bloody stuff anyhow) plenty of respected people on here from the frozen north will advise you better than I. Best Wishes. ( n.b. part 8 is the most important!).

[chickentikka]

[quote="oldjerry"]
8.Sit back,look at it,remind yourself your brilliant,open a bottle of red.
quote]
Thanks for the info oldjerry, the tubes are about 6" long so I will try it without concrete. I will try and get point 8 right, it shouldn't be too hard here in Spain.

[wulf]

My tunnel is held in place by tubes buried in the ground. However, they go down at least a foot and, near the bottom of each tube is a square of metal (the tube goes through the middle and the plate is clamped above and below). It rests on earth and is covered with a lot more earth as the tube is reburied and so gives a firm foundation.

You could probably rig up something like that although you might need to bolt extensions onto the end of the tubes so they are a good distance under the surface.

Wulf

[oldjerry]

Absolutely,I was looking at my post,and 6'' tubes is drivel,I should think 12'' is much more realistic(too much red,late on......yeah it often leads to size estimation problems).
Still,it doesn't make much difference,rather like early fabric planes,the structure hangs together as a unit,keep it tight,and all is well.(thats why it goes pear-shaped when you a whole or rip in it.- Yonks ago I drove a Howard Gem straight through the side of one-not good!!).