Comments on: I’ve Bought a Polytunnel!

By: TheSpartacat

TheSpartacat — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:28:35 +0000

I got one of these 18 months ago. Dug a trench- pushed the poles into the soil a few inches, tucked the cover into the trench and covered with a decent amount of soil (slightly mounded)… then sowed grass over that soil to prevent erosion.
We had shocking winds over christmas. Half the plotholders sheds are completely thrashed. My glass greenhouse blew off its base and ended up hald in the next plot.

But my cheap plastic polytunnel has not moved!!!

I’m going to get another one… i’m pretty impressed with its endurance through 2 Winters so far

By: phillip

phillip — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:29:30 +0000

Hi All
i had one of the tunnels you are talking about, they are stronger than you think.
i fixed mine on soil a 4ft post 1.5 inch x1.5 knocked in at each leg and then gaffa taped to frame. I dug a 1 ft trench all around .when I put the cover on I nailed 2 bits of wood all around the edge and back filed with the soil to hold it down.

I am in a windy spot ! it was standing direct 90 mph winds until my shed roof blew off and landed on the tunnel. Good luck!

By: Donnay

Donnay — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:58:39 +0000

@Kevin Wallace:

I have read your reply regarding securing your polytunnel with the dog stakes. Im thinking of getting on and I’m new to allotment growing. Can you explain what you tied the tunnel to the dog stake with.

Sorry DIY and me not mix so don’t fully understand your reply but it looks a cheap solution.

By: Kevin Wallace

Kevin Wallace — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:20:10 +0000

Just to add, i also bought one two years ago now and used the screw type dog lead anchors that you can buy in places like Wilkos or pet shops. Screwed down one in each corner and the frame tied to them and two more in the sides with connecting tubes going through them. Absolutely rock solid. I am not sure what instructions came with the previous commenters but mine said to bury the bottom rails and cover the side flaps with stones then earth, also suggested using tie ropes over the polytunnel to help.

As for how they wear, one zip has failed on one side, clips and straps have dropped off from the vents, tubes that are underground are rusting and the plastic covering is starting to harden up in exposed places.
Overall for the £69 paid for it am more than happy.

By: Elaine Mullen

Elaine Mullen — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 10:58:24 +0000

we bought one of these hobby tunnels with the intention of using it as a fruit cage, as we thought it was too light to cover on our exposed site. but his year we put the cover on. as predicted it took off so we made anchors from folded rebar set into flower buckets Rebar from steel stck holderd and bent by them (8 cost £5.00) and flower buckets from morrissons 99p for 10.in the nexh high winds the frame stayed put but the cover lifted. solution was to use all weather tape to fix the cover to the frame and it hasn’t moved since. the door being zipped is not wonderfull and has ripped at the edge. We are impressed by how well things grow so we are looking at getting a proper tunnel next year.

By: Lizziewel

Lizziewel — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 22:34:38 +0000

After spending this weekend putting up a 4.5mtr version of one of these I thought I might add my method to the mix.

I staked mine tying the struts with cable ties to some off cuts of timber spare from a friend’s loft conversion aprox 2″x2″ & 3 foot long after setting them with postcrete in small buckets scrounged off local chip shops and kebab houses. The sort that mayonnaise and curry sauce come in. The pots are sunk into the ground with the legs in them, the legs have been pushed into the ground and the skirts are trenched and back filled in. The overall construction seems to be solid. I even finished it off surrounding it with the Daffodil bulbs that were disturbed from the ground clearance!

It was more than warm in there today and so far a small fig tree has taken up residence.

Reading all of the above I have my fingers crossed.

By: Paul Hyde

Paul Hyde — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:53:43 +0000

I also have bought one of these, although not the best quality steel, after the first day, winds howled and steel buckled and broke at the joints, 3 have broken, I will have to insert a piece of tubing into broken sections, it may last this year with a bit of luck, then I will remove frame and replace it with the blue water plastic pipe, you have a template for tubing by using frame,you can buy the fitments for attaching plastic to bottom of tube and edging it onto wooden boards, to create box section for tunnel to sit in. well thats my idea any comments are welcome thanks. Paul.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:20:17 +0000

Did you need to get PP for these to be put on the land? If not is there a minimum area of land you need to have before you can put one up?

By: John

John — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:56:23 +0000

It all comes down to cost – it’s a cheap product that will do the job but you have to secure it properly. As I said, you can pay ten times the price for a polytunnel. You’ll get a better product for sure but even then you have to secure them properly.

By: Steve Cole

Steve Cole — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:02:13 +0000

I purchased a 2m x 3m polytunnel last week that looks very much like the pictures shown. I dug a trench for the surplus cover (even though there were no instructions on how to secure it) and placed slabs over the soil covering. It two trips to collect the slabs as my car could not take the weight in one go. I finished it on Friday and on Sunday morning found it some distance away in a field. Unfortunatly the frame was damaged beyond repair. I go camping often and would never put a tent up without using the guy ropes. Perhaps adding these to the design would be a good idea.