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Huzzah! I've finally finished construction of the polytunnel I bought from First Tunnels:


Polytunnel Front by basswulf, on Flickr


Polytunnel Back by basswulf, on Flickr

It took about three weeks from start to finish - certainly not non-stop but they weren't exaggerating when they said it wasn't a job to be done in an afternoon! Even with a relatively thick instruction book, there were still plenty of times when it came down to puzzling out how to proceed. I think it would be much easier to build a second one but we probably haven't got space with all the trees we've put in!

I'm glad I've got the construction behind me; now comes the bit I've really been looking forward to, of using it.

Wulf

Looks pretty well made,like the door a lot,think maybe you might consider really burying the sides.Whats the roll stuff above the door?

Congrats Wulf but one thing intrigues me - why is the door handle right down there by the ground?

The metal thing above the door is the runner it slides along. The door handle is a simple drop spike that anchors the door to the ground. There is a tube where the door is fully closed by you can also leave it partly open for limited ventilation.

Anyway, time to get out and play in the garden!

Wulf

Yay!

We also put up a first tunnels tunnel.... and likewise, it was not the easiest of tasks, and we puzzled several times. But it will make all the difference to your growing habits, you will be amazed

Have just ordered one from feelgooduk.net It's a lot cheaper than firstunnels but if it last a couple of seasons then it'll pay for itself

Was that one of these ones? They don't look quite as robust and I'd imagine the cover won't last too many years but, if in a fairly wind-sheltered spot and perhaps reinforced a bit, should do you well. I bet it will be a lot easier to put up!

Wulf

That's the one Wulf. It's £79.99 including postage from their website, but if you search for polytunnels on ebay they sell them there as well for £54.99 :-) If it lasts a couple of years then it'll be money well spent. Mine arrives Wednesday so I'll let you know how it goes

We've got a First Tunnels polytunnel as well (my avatar pic) complete with all the wind and storm up-grades. It has to put up with some serious weather conditions up here.

We've had it for 2 years and although the structure has stood up to the raging winds fantastically, the cover won't last another winter - not least because our kitten has been using it as a climbing frame (We invested in a 99p water pistol which cured her her of the habit quite quickly).

We were told by locals it wouldn't last it's first winter so I'm pretty chuffed that this will be it's third

Would it not work out cheaper to buy a greenhouse with glass or polycarbonate than to have to keep changing the plastic every so many years, which I imagine is not cheap?

Nope - we'd have to keep replacing the broken glass or flown away polycarbonate - we're talking 80mph+ here!

The only greenhouse that would stand up to the weather would be a proper brick and wood, glazed (as in stuck in with putty) type posh version. The pennies won't stretch to that I'm afraid - until we win the lottery

I'm thinking that a Richard type greenhouse ought to survive if it survived an earthquake!

Indeed! Unfortunately I don't have a Richard type husband to build me one (I wonder if his OH wants to swap him for a gorgeous but fairly useless computer programmer for a decade or two)

Oh come now Maggie you are being a bit mean, after all he does have experience of plasterboarding now.

Well the frame went up a dream. Swage joints with spring clips. Covered them with gaffa tape and all good.

Made the mistake of trying to place it on freshly dug soil and put cover on. Was a really tight fit and the zips really didn't like closing so much that one of them gave up and broke !!! Not sure what to do about that but as it was so cheap might just bite the bullet and get another cover, reposition the frame. Shame as it all looks FAB for the money