Kitchen Garden Forum

My home made 20x10 polytunnel now has its door frames fitted, has had all the hoops leveled and the raised beds are full.

It is now time to fit a cover to it. Is an anti fogging cover worth the extra expense over a clear one and can anybody recommend a supplier. I had First Tunnels in mind.

Not sure about the anti-fogging Piglet, but do invest in the anti-hotspot tape. We had 2 tunnels where I used to work for growing herbaceous perennials. 1 had been taped and 1 not and the non-taped one went through over the hoops in a couple of years, while the taped one was still sound.

Sue

Sue,

no need for hot spot tape as my tunnel has plastic hoops (63mm mdpe)therefore they wont get hot like ally or steel. Thanks for the tip though.

Piglet - when we put up our 2 tunnels up I did my usual market research to establish who had the best type of cover at the best price. I have no idea which we chose but the OH will. He's out for the evening, but I'll get him on to it tomorrow and let you know what we (he) found. I do recall that the company reduced the price of the tape, included a reel of repair tape and delivered within 24 hours.

That reminds me, I bought 4 tunnels at the time, so the other 2 must still be at the nursery. I really must go and get them and sell them on!

Swap you one for a tray of calendula and a six pack of tomatoes

Here I am - National Polytunnels Ltd., 4 Cable Court, Pittman Way, Fulwood, Preston, lancashire. PR2 9YW. Tel 01772 799200.

Last year, 32 x 9.2 Multieva Thermic AF cost £132.20.

Lyndon says he contacted all the companies he could find and National gave the best price.

According to my catalogue the anti-fogging treatment only lasts for 1 year so it doesn't seem worth the extra. The cover always seems to go at the hoops first but it is very much linked to movement of the sheet in the wind si yet sot anti-hotspot but it is vitally important to get the tensioning correct to get full life out of each cover.Check the tensioning after it has settled in, if necessary re-do the tensioning. 700G UVI for me.

Hi Tigger,

When I saw the price you paid for the plastic I thought 'thats a lot less than I paid'...and was rather miffed

I ordered my plastic from First tunnels, as I had just picked up the tubes (secondhand) and lost one of the connector for the two halves to make a hoop. The tunnel had originally come from first tunnel, so I had to get the connector from them or get it made locally. However they made the connector for free, but my plastic cost £112.45 for 13m x 9.2m.

However thinking about it, is your 32 feet or metres? as 32 metres is an awefully long tunnel!

Don't worry Vivie - it was for two tunnels and some spare to make an 'inner hot house' in one of them.

STILL MIFFED