Friday, March 29, 2013

Tunnel or Not








Is it possible to make a polytunnel from our old trampoline?



Tunnel Vision
I’ve turned into an embarrassment again with the young ‘uns.  My mobile phone is apparently really outdated; the last time I was this out of touch was when my phone had a three inch aerial sticking out of the top and was shaped like a brick.

Now I am faced with getting a smart phone, something that can take up more time in my day.  I have a limited vocabulary when it comes to texting on a numeric keypad on my old phone and usually just end up saying “OK” as a reply to almost everything as I can’t be bothered to press the little digits more than a few times before I get bored.  The new smart phones would do away with all of that as they have proper keypads so I could write “That’s OK instead”, before falling into a bored stupor.  

I have to weigh the facts though.  Do I NEED new phone?  Or do I WANT a new phone?  I started looking at the cheapest contract ones and they work out cheaper than the pay tariff as you go I am on now.  Alas though, these phones are out of date (by tekky standards) and the newer-faster-smarter phones are twice the cost, but they have all sorts of gizmos to play with.  I am really confused about it, mainly because I would happily live without a phone if I could.  

I have other dilemmas when it comes to buying and getting value for money too.  I have cleared a spot in the garden (got rid of the trampoline) and have enough room for a polythene tunnel.  It wouldn’t be a big one by any standards, I have an area of 12 feet by 20 feet to fill (4mx6m) but there are so many different types that I am as confused about tunnels as I am by phones. I initially spent a happy hour trying to make a polytunnel frame from the trampoline poles... I’m sure that I could do it but my lads insist they will be using it again in the summer.

Comparisons
My last tunnel was 30 feet long and heavy duty so could withstand the strongest winds coming off the Swilly.  I could get a smaller version of that, which would cost me about 600 euro which seems a bit steep.  The area where the tunnel is going is in a really sheltered space too surrounded by (but not in the shade of) trees, hedges and a wall, so I was thinking of something a bit more lightweight.  I pondered over a greenhouse but a new glass type that size would cost over 1000 euro and if you buy one second hand it’s usually “buyer to dismantle and collect” Now I don’t know if you have ever dismantled a greenhouse but generally you are left with a pile of aluminium strips that you don’t have a clue how to put back together again and a few bags of broken panes of glass... So I have discounted that line of buying. 

 Choices
There are other cheaper types of polytunnels on the market and an ever growing amount of companies bending galvanised tubing into hoops.  The coverings seem different too and range from thick clear plastic to hazy plastic and covers which sandwich green mesh in between layers which is supposed to give both strength and shade. They all have 5 year or more guarantees so chances are any will do the job effectively.  The design I am looking for in the hoops if for them to have straight sides.  The tunnel will be small enough without me being unable to get into the edges with benches or vegetable beds, so every inch of space is needed.  This thankfully cuts down the choices of companies as not all of them produce this type of design.
Cheaper models don’t seem to have wooden door frames either and rely on zip flaps similar to a tent, which will let you push a wheelbarrow through but I am wondering if it’s heavy duty enough.

It’s going to take me a bit of time to come up with the ideal tunnel for my needs; I will have to weigh up all of the options before buying. I’ll have to be realistic about the price too, I know it will cost me a few hundred euro to get a good one but it will be worth the extra money. I have to take into consideration any extras such as black plastic for the flooring or the cost of putting in raised beds... and buying plants and seeds for that matter.  It all adds up.  

If anyone has an old tunnel lying unwanted...give me a shout!

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