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Snow on polytunnel

Treeman

By Treeman

5 comments


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

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Comments

 

Happy Christmas, Treeman.
Seems like you discovered the sagging polythene just in time !
I hope the repair tape helps keep the wigwams intact. :o)

25 Dec, 2009

uma
Uma
 

Merry Christmas, Treeman!

25 Dec, 2009

 

Merry Christmas :o)
I hope your tunel is all right

26 Dec, 2009

 

Thank you all. I shall keep you informed as to the health of the polytunnel. Fingers crossed. Today, Boxing Day is still bitterly cold, everything that melted yesterday has turned to ice. I think I shall have a look in the seed box for things that need stratified in the cold.

26 Dec, 2009

 

Hope your repair tape worked for you...

26 Dec, 2009

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