I have started...... So I will finish! (Pictures).

Fantastic job Chopper.. I could live in that tunnel.
Good luck on many hours of growing and chatting to your plants.

 

Thanks for the replies folks. Nice to see other more experienced gardeners liking what I have done.

I bought the tunnel from First Tunnels. http://www.firsttunnels.co.uk/polytunnel.asp?cbowidth=14SU

They have a good website which includes films of how to choose, buy and erect your tunnel. Mine is 30 feet long and 14 feet wide. I ordered the extra height version as I am not exactly a midget. I also ordered the staging supports, crop bars, storm braces, and the vent kit for one of the tunnel. The other side is shielded by a fence about 5 feet away from the edge of the tunnel.

I did look at several companies products before choosing First Tunnels. I think they offered the best package for my needs. When I called them, the lady was very friendly and helpful and included a free copy of a new book. They even send you a tea bag to make a cuppa for while you are reading the information.

Kristen.

I did order a wide sliding door for the front end of the tunnel. While I was looking at the set up and design I decided that I didn't really like it. I found some hinges and turned it into a normal door. The gap across the top and bottom of the door is due the ground levels. I am making a panel for top and bottom of the door. It is not the product at fault, it is me changing my mind about things.

All very exciting stuff for me.

Chopper

 

I'm very well impressed and full of admiration for what you have done Chopper. It's just fantastic. Do keep us updated as you go. :ntwrth:

 

This is brilliant and you have done a cracking job with it:thmb:

I love all your pots of seedlings and the staging made out of the decking type boards:gnthb:You need to pace yourself as I have overdone things on the allotment and then have paid for it with neck and shoulder problems afterwards:(

First tunnels are the best I think and I have often spoken to Mr K about getting a tunnel for the allotment but as yet he says no as he thinks the cover won't last many years due to the site being very windy and I read somewhere that replacement covers can cast as much to replace as the price of the tunnel in the first place

 

Hi Kandy, thankyou for your comments.

First of all, my neck and shoulder problems are never going to go away. They will only get worse. I have a titanium carbide joint in my neck and am waiting for surgery to implant four more. I refuse to accept that I am not allowed to do a lot of things. I do as much as I can whenever I can. I get pain on most days, I have some very strong painkillers but I will not take them unless I absolutely have to. The garden has become a brilliant therapy for me, far better than any drugs. Thankyou for your words of caution.

Now the tunnel. I did consider the possible weakness of the cover and its durability. A lot depends on where you site the tunnel. How you secure it and how you look after it. First Tunnels claim thier covers last 5 years. If you check out thier website or call them you will see that there are various different types of cover and the cost is notas much as you might think.

I used anchor plates for my tunnel and followed the instructions properly. You would be very surprised at just how strong the framework is. My tunnel is pretty big at 30 x 14 feet. Total cost was about £1550, delivered to my door. Check out the cost of a new cover, divide by five. A glass greenhouse of equivalent size varied in price from about £6000 upwards and I would have had to get planning permission. Swings and roundabouts. The tunnel suits my needs and my pocket.

By the way, you can buy much smaller or bigger tunnels than mine. I chose what was most suitable for me. It is a lump of money to spend whatever size you choose and I did take my time choosing. I am also keeping lots of notes on what I have spent on the garden.

Regards

Chopper.

 

Just repeating what's been said really, good job! That's a good sized tunnel...you ought to hire it out for parties before it's too full - recoup some of your outlay!!

 

Hi Chopper,

Wow,you sound like the Bionic man and all power to you for carrying on despite your health problems:yez::ntwrth:

I looked on the First Tunnels website some time back and also bought a gardening magazine the other year which had a Poly Tunnel supliement inside and it made quiet interesting reading:D

I do believe you can buy covers that are made of a different type of polythene{not sure if that is the right word}that will last a lot longer than the normal five years and also you can buy some special tape to use on the metal overhead parts that rub against the cover so that are not worn thin or something of that nature

I hope you stick around as it will be nice to see how the polytunnel progresses over the winter and into next year

 

In some ways I think you're right Chopper.
Money isn't everything and if the polytunnel is what you want, and you have the money, I wouldn't frazzle my head about the cost of it - or the plants.
Go enjoy. There's more to things than a financial cost.

 

Hi Kandy

Been called bionic more than a few times. Very clever what these doctors can do. I have had 24 operations on my left arm. There are 37 metal parts holding it all together. I can't quite straighten my arm and it 4 inches shorter than my right arm.

I went to see some friends in Northern Ireland recently, quite an emotional trip as that is where I was wounded. The trip out was no problem, but coming through Belfast International airport on the way back was quite amusing. The customs lady was rather bemused when after she had asked me to remove anything obviously metal, her detector was still buzzing when she held it near my head, neck, arm, hand stomach and leg. They got me into a little room and down to my underpants!!! I had a doctors letter but that did no good. Wasn't till they saw the scars that they let me through. :hehe::hehe::hehe:

The tunnel covers all have to be changed at some point. First Tunnels claim 5 years life for thier covers but also say that the covers may well last longer, depending on weather and maintenance. The material degrades over time and reduces light transmission. As I am sure you know, light is vital for plant growth.

There were 8 large rolls of "Anti Hot Spot" tape in the kit I ordered. This fixed to the metal hoops where the cover is going to touch the frame. It is foam tape, adhesive one side and very smooth on the outside. Very easy to use. They do also offer the tape for sale on its own.

The tape is designed to reduce stress on the parts where the cover is stretched over the frame. It also stops the cover getting hot when the sun warms the metal tubes.

I can do a close up ppicture for you if it would be of interest.

Chopper.

 

You are so right about that Alice. I am really chuffed with my tunnel. So much so that I now wish I had bought one sooner.

I had a rough night last night and couldn't sleep. Couldn't wait to get out there again today. Made myself a potting bench out of a recycled kitchen unit and some reclaimed fence boards. Made another set of staging for the other side out of more reclaimed decking boards. I have enough of the boards to make enough staging to finish the job which I hope to get done in the morning.

Having the tunnel means I can do things outside even if the weather is bad. :gnthb::gnthb:

Chopper.

 

Very impressive!!!!!!!:yez:

 

You've done a amazing job, Chopper.......like you said, LOTS of hard work, but worth it in the end!!

 

Hey Chopper,

You sure thats the right way round ? :hehe:

Well done mate, just in time for the snow.