Newbie here

Hello. As an introduction to myself, I'm an allotment holder in St Helens, Merseyside of 8 years now but of course wanting and needing lots of advice. 67 years old with children(and Grand children) living in Belper (100 miles away) and Durham (140 miles away) so missing them badly during these terrible times.

I found this community when wanting more information about polytunnels which I'm looking to buy. I've not been able to decide between a "cheap" solution or a more professional design; how long will they they last, how much longer will I hold the plot, how difficult to erect, is the potentially 5 times the cost of a more expensive tunnel worth it?

I actually took the plunge yesterday with a "Blowaway" 4m * 3m tunnel that has metal hanging doors rather than a zip fold up. Hopefully, if I add strengthening to it, it may last for 5 years or so.

It's been raining here for days, but the rain stopped yesterday for a spell so I went along to the site to see what damage there was. My plot was just very wet but no standing water but on so many other plots there was more water than land showing.

 

Hello GD, welcome to the forum . Sounds as though you'll have lots of fun once the weather dries up a bit.
Will you be able to bury the edges of the polytunnel cover in the soil? That's the best way of ensuring that it doesn't blowaway

 

Welcome to GC I think you have come to the right place...Garden based with added extras

 

Hi noisette47.

I was going to run battens along the outer base and screw through them and the plastic into the wooden base which I was going to stand the PT on. I read that the "cheaper" PTs don't have a particularly large skirt which is why they can be so easily blown away because they can't be buried deep enough???

 

Ah right...sounds like a good solution, as long as the base doesn't go AWOL too

 

I plan to put 6 stakes in the ground which I'll attach it to. that will be enough.

 

Welcome to the forum @Grumpy Dinosaur

You'll find this a friendly place that has a lot of good advice for you.

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Grumpy Dinosaur.