I used First Tunnels and built a 12 foot wide 32 foot long tunnel just recently.The tunnel is excellent and the service was second to none.I would recommend this firm 100% and I am already thinking of my next purchase.
Regarding heating: Build a 'hot box' using a mix of fresh manure & straw & sit your germinating trays on top. You can't really keep the whole thing heated but you can heat where needed. (Mine's a First Tunnels 10x20).
We have very similar tunnels! My one has double doors but like you say they sent a little wheel thing. Even a complimentary tea bag so you can drink a cuppa with your manual! Lol
Could you explore building passive thermal stores to retain and release warmth over night - like black painted oiled drums full of water which you could drain in summer even you don’t need the nighttime heat, or paint the concrete floor black to absorb some of the heat.
That is a great idea and definitely worth trying! I have plenty of the drums so could try it. Think I need to get a max/min thermometer to help monitor it!
@@grantsyard get a hygrometer with Bluetooth then you can read the graphs of temperature and humidity changes. I think you will be surprised how they change overnight. Great place to be when the weather outside is raining. Cheers Martin
I am thinking of getting a politunnel next year, I really love the idea of extending my season and growing more warmer crops. i do need one thats good with strong winds...
They are an amazing addition to any yard, allotment or garden. Allows you to work even when it's raining. Best to call first tunnels or one of the other big suppliers to see what suits your needs best.
@@grantsyard completely agree but I don’t mind working in the rain lol 😆 I’m one of them strange poeple that will work in the rain happily as no one will be here which is so much nicer
Fair play! I have soooo many interests that when it rains I usually do one of them instead! It does feel strangely liberating to not care about the rain though 🤣
I used just concrete blocks as we have a block plant right next door. The beds then have broken terracotta at the bottom with a drain hole about an inch above
Ive had a pollytunnel up for a year now, but want to get a timber frame door just like yours, as the others are very flimsy, how could i do this without taking off the polly sheet?
I imagine you would need to either dig and postcode or drill and bolt on the outside edge of your entrance and then sandwich the polyethylene. That way you would not break it. Remember that the tops of the posts would need to somehow join the top part of your polythunnel frame.
@@grantsyard haha I've done a few where continuity went right out window when I sliced my face open during filming. I'm expecting to see a grants yard boiler suit merch by May
I bought the polytunnel through a different supplier who were drop shipping through first tunnels. It was about £1000 but money well spent , in my opinion!
Both door vents are opened up in the summer. The model I went for doesn't have the 3ft opening sides. This wasn't a problem during this last summer. We have good air flow east to west (door to door). The gaps under the edges do also seem to help
Is it complete concrete base?. as would be better to remove the concrete where you are growing - not easy I know but would give you much better results for growing
Thanks for your comment Nick. Yes it is a concrete base. I agree, it would be better removing the concrete for the beds but the concrete is roughly 40cm deep which is then onto of very old tarmac. It's laid so thick as It is part of an old quarry site that has been used for many different things over about the last 150 years. The old quarry company had their own people concreting and they liked to spread it on over the years!
I used First Tunnels and built a 12 foot wide 32 foot long tunnel just recently.The tunnel is excellent and the service was second to none.I would recommend this firm 100% and I am already thinking of my next purchase.
We've used First Tunnels for over 15 years (we have 5 tunnels) and highly recommend them for products and customer service
Regarding heating: Build a 'hot box' using a mix of fresh manure & straw & sit your germinating trays on top.
You can't really keep the whole thing heated but you can heat where needed. (Mine's a First Tunnels 10x20).
Thanks for the idea. I'll set about making one this afternoon!
I have been 'building' my own polytunnel from scrap for three years! 😂
Great video!
Happy digging 🌱
That's awesome. I hope it's going well!
Thanks for your kind words 🙏
Best video yet, i have ordered a poly tunnel, i 'bing'ed it and i cant wait to get started
Haha if you had I'd have to put it up for you!
I bet it gets warm in there, keep up the grind grant, you’re doing great
Great advice and feedback 😊
Thanks Amir
Excellent video very helpful. Cheers Mandy
Thank you
Very good video, thanks!
Thanks bud
Very well-done video!
Thank you 😊
We have very similar tunnels! My one has double doors but like you say they sent a little wheel thing. Even a complimentary tea bag so you can drink a cuppa with your manual! Lol
Yeah, they were really nice touches
Some nice editing work grant
Thank you
Could you explore building passive thermal stores to retain and release warmth over night - like black painted oiled drums full of water which you could drain in summer even you don’t need the nighttime heat, or paint the concrete floor black to absorb some of the heat.
That is a great idea and definitely worth trying! I have plenty of the drums so could try it. Think I need to get a max/min thermometer to help monitor it!
@@grantsyard get a hygrometer with Bluetooth then you can read the graphs of temperature and humidity changes. I think you will be surprised how they change overnight. Great place to be when the weather outside is raining.
Cheers
Martin
@Martin Ph yeah ill look into this. I would be really interesting the see the changes! Thanks 😊
I am thinking of getting a politunnel next year, I really love the idea of extending my season and growing more warmer crops. i do need one thats good with strong winds...
They are an amazing addition to any yard, allotment or garden. Allows you to work even when it's raining. Best to call first tunnels or one of the other big suppliers to see what suits your needs best.
@@grantsyard completely agree but I don’t mind working in the rain lol 😆 I’m one of them strange poeple that will work in the rain happily as no one will be here which is so much nicer
Fair play! I have soooo many interests that when it rains I usually do one of them instead! It does feel strangely liberating to not care about the rain though 🤣
think you will be grateful for that 2 inch baserail airgap in the summer
We totally were last summer!
Enjoy it. Home grown is far nicer, plus chemical free 😊
Looks great :)
I was wondering what you used t construct your raised bed out of?
I used just concrete blocks as we have a block plant right next door. The beds then have broken terracotta at the bottom with a drain hole about an inch above
Ive had a pollytunnel up for a year now, but want to get a timber frame door just like yours, as the others are very flimsy, how could i do this without taking off the polly sheet?
I imagine you would need to either dig and postcode or drill and bolt on the outside edge of your entrance and then sandwich the polyethylene. That way you would not break it. Remember that the tops of the posts would need to somehow join the top part of your polythunnel frame.
Follow Green side up. The guy is crazy. Just check him out
He was one of the guys that inspired me to get a polytunnel!
Sadly he passed away in May this year shortly after doing his 'Health' video. Shame his youtube was so honest
This gives me Dexter vibes for some reason.
As in the serial killer tv show?
@Grantsyard that's the one 🤣 it's the boiler suit and poly tunnel. Easy to clean up the blood spatter
@Express IT Tech Tips 🤣🤣 the boiler suit helps with continuity and means I have no branded clothes on....oh and so I don't destroy all of my clothes!
@@grantsyard haha I've done a few where continuity went right out window when I sliced my face open during filming. I'm expecting to see a grants yard boiler suit merch by May
@@ExpressITTechTips haha yeah right!
Nice video mate. Did it set you back much£££?
I bought the polytunnel through a different supplier who were drop shipping through first tunnels. It was about £1000 but money well spent , in my opinion!
Where's the opening for ventilation in summer?
Both door vents are opened up in the summer. The model I went for doesn't have the 3ft opening sides. This wasn't a problem during this last summer. We have good air flow east to west (door to door). The gaps under the edges do also seem to help
Is it complete concrete base?. as would be better to remove the concrete where you are growing - not easy I know but would give you much better results for growing
Thanks for your comment Nick.
Yes it is a concrete base.
I agree, it would be better removing the concrete for the beds but the concrete is roughly 40cm deep which is then onto of very old tarmac. It's laid so thick as It is part of an old quarry site that has been used for many different things over about the last 150 years. The old quarry company had their own people concreting and they liked to spread it on over the years!
Some Hybrid varieties of Tomato can be bland...
PEOPLE WHO DONT GROW FOOD WILL SOON STARVE
Get rid of the gap or rats and mice will eat your greens