[kali291]

Can anyone offer some advice please.
I have acquired a polytunnel frame 13ft wide and 40ft long, but am
unable to find constructive advice for the questions I have.
1. Is it better to bury the liner in a trench, or use a cladding
rail ? I am probably being thick, but I cannot grasp how burying the
liner will make and keep it tight.
2. The tunnel will relace a greenhouse I have had for this year only.
It was covered in polythene due to the prohibitive cost of
horticultural glass in this country. Due to poor, almost non-existent
ventilation, I lost everything to grey mould. My tunnel has stable
type doors at each end, and I have been advised to cover the top half
of each door with wind break netting, and leave them open all the
time.The bottom half of the door has to remain closed at all times as
we have a flock of wild peacocks, and, from bitter experience, I know
they eat everything. Is this wise, and what effect will it have on
temperature during the winter.
3. I am looking at an overhead spray bar for irrigation. Is this an
effective means of watering?

Sorry if the questions are a bit basic.
Thanks
Ron

[Rebecca]

Hi

I can only offer my own opinion, which may not necessarily be correct!
1. But ... we put our plastic into trenches. We place heavy stones/small rocks along base of plastic to hold it in place and pull it tight. Filled one trench, then pulled tighter to other side, then filled the trench on the other side. I long term I think it will be harder to replace plastic down the line with this method, and we will probably use the other method next time.

2. put in as big doors as possible. we covered ours with polythene, we shut them on cold winter nights, and leave open all summer. We have chickens, so to keep them out, inside the tunnel doors is a half gate with chicken wire on it. I've also seen a 'curtain' of soft mesh used.

3. we find the overhead spray good for some areas of crops but other types of crops don't do well with wet leaves. On these areas we use home made seep hoses. You have to keep a close eye on the soil moisture as some areas will get too wet, others too dry and a watering can is sometimes the only way to even things out, along with switching off the watering system now and then.

I hope you enjoy the tunnel. I write about ours quite regularly on my blog site.[/quote]
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