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babylady · Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 43

Hi All

Am really interested in groewing my own veg but am astounded by the price of glass houses and polytunnells.

Would anyone know where I could get one relatively cheap or even better for free!!!

blowin · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 5:07 am Post subject:

Hi babylady and welcome to the forum . Very Happy

A polytunnel is normally the cheaper option and I'm sure one or two members of this forum would give you a hand to put it up if you aren't too far away . All it would cost you is copious amounts of tea and cake . Wink

Camile recently bought a very nice new one and will hopefully comment .

I got stitched up when I bought mine from the proverbial friend of a friend so I would recommend that you be cautious if you are offered one on the cheap . The cost-cutting will very likely be on the quality of galvanised steel and or the width and life-expectancy of the polythene .

On the other hand there is at least one member of this forum who has made a good number of them himself , and very impressive they are , too . He might be coaxed into saying something . Approx what size do you have in mind ?

Camile · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject:

Hello,

Blowin is the brain behind any polytunnels installation ,.. but indeed the tea pot has to be filled every minutes ..

we got ours from firsttunnels.co.uk .. relatively cheap enough ..

aand indeed if you are not too far ... there are plenty of specialists around us ..

Camile

babylady · Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 43

Thanks so much for the advise. May well be taking up the offer of the help. I have lots of tea and even more biscuits...

Am not looking for anything very big. Prob about a 10ft polytunnel or so.

blowin · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:11 am Post subject:

Hmmm , I am definitely no expert despite Camile's kind words but I suspect that 10 ft is just about "wrong" for both glass and conventional or commercially supplied poly tunnels . It is on the large side for the former but small for the latter .
A 10 ft glasshouse would certainly be expensive and you would need good footings to erect it on .
I see that First Tunnels do a 10 x 8 basic kit for about £465 ( roughly 650 euro ) plus shipping from the UK . I shall assume that's over budget .
Looking on the bright side you won't need a lot of hoops and struts etc so you might want to consider making your own . I have seen various threads which recommend the use of semi-rigid plastic pipe for the structure . Unfortunately I can't remember where I saw them but I think a search over on River Cottage would be fruitful .
Just a thought on DIY --- you definitely want the sides to be vertical rather than curved for the bottom 3 ft or so . You will otherwise lose a good deal of your growing space . I'd get a local welder to knock up a metal frame . It isn't complicated .
Try http://www.buyandsell.ie . They occasionally offer frames ( usually without the poly ) .
For the poly I would recommend http://www.highbankonline.com/index.html
IMHO their quality is better than the other place and I think they will prove to be cheaper too . I can't tell you for certain because I cannot figure out how to use the " easy calculator" on the First Tunnel's site . Maybe I am being thick but it seems that you have to calculate the circumference of the curve on the roof before you get to the easy bit . Feck that ! Ooops . Sorry Embarassed

. Happy New Year . Wink

blowin · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:21 am Post subject:

That same site carries this promotional ad .

Free with every Polytunnel Order

The ultimate guide to choosing and using your polytunnel. 'The Polytunnel Companion' covers all the essential do's and dont's involved in choosing and constructing your polytunnel, with diagrams and photographs to support the text and 'handy tip' boxes. 'The Polytunnel Companion' is an essential reference guide .....

Yep , it must have been written by the same bloke who produced the "easy calculator" . First you must place your order , then you get the free 127 page guide which tells you what you should have thought about before placing your order ?? Nah , must be me !

gardener · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 34 Location: SW Ireland

Hi babylady, don't know if its much help, but heres a link to a crowd making polytunnels down my way.....

http://orgaworks.ballingeary.net/

GB · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 317 Location: Ireland

Hiya, did you ever get your tunnel? We have a 10m by 5 m frame for sale, it needs a new cover which will cost around 200 euros from pollydome but other than that its only had one season of use. It also has MOST of the drip irigation system (never used) a few of hte drip points were eaten by the puppies Rolling Eyes

but as they were never plugged into the pipes it shouldnt be a problem.

We are asking 500 euros for it or a reasonable offer, it cost just over 2k less than 2 years ago.

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