Snow on polytunnel

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Hi all,

I was out in the garden yesterday and thought that now that the season is over for another year the hens might like the run of the polytunnel during the snowy weather. So out I went to open up the polytunnel. The snow was lying about 9 inches deep on top of the polythene, but this is normal and expected.
However, because September’s weather was so good we did not finish harvesting the tunnel runner beans until October and then it went Autumnal overnight. Wet and dark is hibernating weather, and so we never took down the bean’s wigwams in the tunnel, in fact we hadn’t given the tunnel any serious thought for a number of weeks.
Therein lies the problem. The weight of the snow on the polythene had caused such sagging that the polythene was now in contact with the bamboo canes of the wigwams. Urgent action ensued with the dismantling of the wigwams and inspection of the polythene.
At the current time there are no holes or tears but the plastic has become distorted by about 1/2 inch around the area in contact with the bamboo canes. This is potentially a weak spot in the polythene and I think I’ll cover the area with repair tape just to be certain.
So, go out and have a look at your tunnels, and if you are like me and behind in your jobs take down wigwams to prolong the life of your polythene!

Happy Christmas,
Treeman

• 25 Dec, 2009
• 3 likes

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