My £50 polytunnel from eBay

Discussion in 'Poly-Tunnel Gardening' started by Scrungee, Mar 7, 2011.

  1. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

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    I haven't posted on this thread for ages, so here's a shot taken this morning of the tunnel full of tomatoes right up into the roof. The Sungolds are ripening up to eye level. Below is this morning's picking, but bear in mind that only 50% of the plants are cropping as the others are beefsteak toms, only some of which are starting to ripen.

    pt1.jpg

    pt2.jpg
     
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    • Webmaster

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      Gathering data ......... ;)
       
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      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

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        Cover got torn in the last big storm, the mesh ventilation panels were completely blasted away and it was leaking through the upper seams, so this afternoon it got the new cover I've had tucked away for some time that should be good for another 3 years.

        opolytunnel new cover.jpg

        The old vents were well knackered

        polytunnel vent1.jpg
         
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        • Webmaster

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          I asked for a spare cover after one of the zips failed as soon as I was putting the cover on, so I have a spare as well :D
           
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          • Steve R

            Steve R Soil Furtler

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            One of mine ripped on the end seem, from the top to about half way down. I "sewed" it back together using garden wire as the little squares of nylon are quite tough. Gaffer tape completed the repair and it withstood more storms very well, should be good for the rest of the season.

            Steve...:)
             
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            • Scrungee

              Scrungee Well known for it

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              In addition to some wire and gaffer tape, other useful items to keep in the tunnel for emergencies are large safety pins, Velcro tape, battens and nails.
               
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              • Scrungee

                Scrungee Well known for it

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                The end of an era (and over 28,000 views) !

                Erected March 2011 and re-covered after storm damage March 2014, used for growing for 6 years and just for storage last year following more storm damage, I started demolishing it this morning. (Had to evict a Rabbit who thought it would make an ideal nursery for her young buns).

                But the good news is that it's being replaced over the next week or so by a third 6m x 3m polytunnel, at least 75% of the timber has been salvaged and the upper framework and remains of cover will be re-used as a hoop house for one of my giant marrows.

                polytunnel removal.jpg
                 
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                  Last edited: Apr 18, 2018
                • Gail_68

                  Gail_68 Guest

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                  @Scrungee you've done a fair few years with it mate...just a shame really it's gone :sad: all the best though mate with re-erecting another :thumbsup:...pic's please when you've done your other :)
                   
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                  • DaiWig

                    DaiWig Gardener

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                    Looking really good @Scrungee . Ive just gone through this in the last couple of months but opted for raised beds instead. Like you I opted for a cheap tunnel with zipped door which Ive added a frame and double doors on advice from fellow polytunnel owners. Ive had to screw boards around the outside through to posts on the inside to prevent any lifting. Completely over engineered but its already withstood horrendous weather and 60 mph winds last weekend. Pics on other posts. Good luck and look forward to seeing your progress.
                    Cheers
                    Dai
                     
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                    • andrews

                      andrews Super Gardener

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                      Only lasted six years ? I'd ask for a refund - after all it wasn't cheap !

                      I'd imagine that the extra bracing has helped to prolong its life. We have a similar one inside our polytunnel and I wouldn't fancy its chances out in the wild in its standard form.
                       
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                      • Eden1

                        Eden1 Gardener

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                        Scrungee: I googled "Strengthening Ebay Polytunnel" this thread comes 5th in the search rankings. I can't tell you how much confidence I got from seeing your £50 tunnel jam packed with produce. I'll be copying a lot from what you've done.
                         
                      • Scrungee

                        Scrungee Well known for it

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                        That tunnel had ferrule type frame connections. @Eden1 I'll try and find the pics I took of a 25mm tube tunnel with bolted connections, showing how I swopped the supplied bolts for longer ones (Wilko) enabling me to fix stuff to the frame like holding down fixings, bearers, door post heads, etc., and post them in your thread.

                        Even in my 3 x 6m tunnels, I've found it useful to have demountable staging and high level shelving, the former for getting seeds and container grown spuds out of reach from vermin, and high level shelving up where it gets hot is great for germinating seeds.
                         
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                          Last edited: Aug 16, 2019
                        • Eden1

                          Eden1 Gardener

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                          Scrungee: Did you ever get round to making a hinged door for this?
                           
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