Any tips on DIY polytunnels?

[Cheezy]

I want to build a 10ft x 14ft, but can't afford to buy one. I've heard you can cut down scaffold, hammer this into the ground then slot blue water pipe into in and fix it as the loops. Any other experiences, tips and material recommendations.

[Green Aura]

Dunno. We bought ours - I don't think it would have been any cheaper for us.

I found this though and I'm sure others will be more help.

[MKG]

I absolutely KNEW I had this somewhere. It's taken me hours to find ...

http://www.overthegardengate.net/UserPa ... nel&Page=1

Definitely the answer to your prayers.

[Green Aura]

Sorry I forgot to put it on. Duh!
http://www.overthegardengate.net/UserPa ... nel&Page=1
I think it's the same as MKGs

[Cheezy]

Many thanks both, thats a start on the construction.

Just need to see if I can get my hands on materials.

[hideo]

Just need to see if I can get my hands on materials.

I found those plans with great interest back in early spring and was all fired up. However, I tried phoning the two local scaffolding firms and one wasn't interested in talking to me, and the other offered to give me the "knuckle" offcuts, which he described as 10" or so of bent metal pole; they use the poles no matter how short they are.

So after that my plans started to fizzle out and never got any further. Still a cracking idea though, and if I could find anyone to donate a load of 5' poles I'd be very happy.

[contadina]

Check out freecycle for dome tents - a possibility for the frame?

[theabsinthefairy]

Our small polytunnels are made from old bits of a gazeebo that was left lying around in the barn and some blue water pipe, then we just used some plastic sheeting - some of which we have had to buy now as it does degrade.

Go for it as a DIY build - just use what you have. We have even got the ploy ends hammered in with the metal tube that was the centre of a garden brolly cut into approprate lengths.

The photo does not really help too much as the polys are shown a little small scale, but unfortunately having experienced a complete computer failure and lost most of my photos this is from what is left of the hundreds that we took cataloguing our move to France.

Monika

[MadTom]

There was a design given in Smallholder magazine three years ago.
It used lengths of blue water pipe attached to lengths of wood for the frame. And the lengths of wood were then fixed to the ground. This would make it a lot easier to move .

[MuddyWitch]

try

http://www.homefarmer.co.uk/stuff.asp?c=Backorders

you want to order July's mag

MuddyWitch

[maggienetball]

My local tip has a metal section that often has poles in it. Maybe yours might havethe same.

Definitely make sure you put some tape along the poles/tubes to create a barrier between them and the plastic or else it will perish in the heat. sticky draught excluder may do it or any padded tape. Try Freecycle if you want it free. I also have seen polytunnel skins on Freecycle.

[Colin]

I`d recommend using proper anti hotspot tape, especially if you fit a brand new cover.
Its not that expensive really and using anything else will generally invalidate the warranty on the poly.

[maggienetball]

Yes I definitely agree if you are using a new cover. However, this was a request for a diy tunnel with free sourced stuff so draught excluder or similar padded tape is a good free substitute.

[pureportugal]

So after that my plans started to fizzle out and never got any further. Still a cracking idea though, and if I could find anyone to donate a load of 5' poles I'd be very happy.

we haven't done the polytunnel yet (will get round to it eventually!) but i did use those plans to build an arch over the steps down to the house, to grow roses and honeysuckle on. i also couldn't source scaffold poles or similar, but i did have some old metal stakes lying around (about 1cm diameter and about 50cm long), so instead of putting the plastic pipe in the scaffold poles i hammered the metal stakes into the ground and slotted the plastic pipe over the posts - worked a treat :)

there's a couple of photos of it over at
http://www.expatsportugal.com/phpBB2/vi ... 4207#64207

also, another diy polytunnel at
http://quintacabecadomato.blogspot.com/ ... stufa.html
we have tons of eucalyptus and mimosa growing here, but i guess hazel or willow would be easier to source in the uk.