[egglady]

am nearing the point where pigs are going off to the Dark Side and I'll have my wages from doing the census...so it's time to order the PT....yahoo!

anyone know of any good deals around?

[NorthEssexsmallholding]

I've been looking around as well, but they seem to be expensive.  How big are you looking for?  I did post a link to a how to make your own polytunnel, thats an option, but you need to be able to source the parts from somewhere. 

They do say if you want a good solid one its best to go to a commercial scale manufacturer, and you may get a better deal.

[Hermit]

Sales are usually on in Autumn/ Winter but if you look at First Tunnels you can design your own on line and get a basic one or go for as much as you want.You can always add to them later  with First tunnels as they sell it all as individual units and you just add on.

[egglady]

NES, we dont have the skills to build our own sadly.  and i'd end up paying more to have someone come along and 'fix' i think   so a commercial provider is our only option i think.

looked at first and also at northern, both expensive

am looking at 20' x 12' or 25' x 12'

[Blonde]

Are there several companies that make them  or only one  I would  price them and see if you could get a discount for one

[manian]

we got ours from first tunnels and was easy to put up
we have a 20ft x 14ft
there is a book that shows how to make a polytunnel from bits and then just buy polythene
the book is called
the polytunnel handbook by Andy McKee and Mark Gatter
HTH
Manian

[Hermit]

Northern and First Tunnels are about the cheapest. We looked at others but could fully replace this one two and a bity times to match their price for one! Poly tunnels are not cheap, ours(35 x 15) was about 4 grand with all the ground works, bund and pallisade fencing, soil , raised beds inside etc etc. But it is invaluable when you consider the veg, herbs and fruit  I can grow when next to the sea in Shetland!

[Skirza]

We just ordered one from Citadel polytunnels, they are reasonable and the guy who runs the company is very helpful.

[Liquidator]

First Polytunnels give by far the best deal and also great advice. You can probably shop around and get cheaper but the quality will not be as good and it'll probably not last as long.

Follow the installation instructions fully and you'll have no problems for years to come. Also, IMHO, it's worth paying for the base rails, as you get a tighter tunnel than if you just dig it in to the ground.

 

[egglady]

all really good advice, many thanks everyone.
so can i check, if i buy base rails, do i still need to cement something into the ground?  surely things would just blow away otherwsie?

[benkt]

I got the metal hoopy bits for ours from a nearby allotment via freecycle. Bought a cover from first tunnels and timber from local builders merchant. Its still standing a week later although the second-hand poles aren't very straight which made getting a tight fit for the cover very difficult.

[Hermit]

Yes you get the concrete fixings with the base rails , it should all be on the First Tunnels website which even includes videos on construction. We made a full concrete foundation for our plates as mine is down onto bedrock. We actually dug a hole for the poly down to bedrock and built a bund all around the area with the soil. A trawler net over the bund with grass grown through holds the bund in place. We have steps down to the poly tunnel and the plants are grown in raised beds with imported graded soil. All to keep the winds off.

[manian]

you don't have to concrete thehoops in if you have base plates (these are just dug in)
the base rail is very easy to do and you can get a tight fit
Mx

[violet]

Hi there. I got my polytunnel from citadel polytunnels, who, in my opinion are not only the cheapest but the best.
When I spoke to them ion the phone I felt I was speaking to people who reallly knew what they were talking about & not giving some wide boy sales pitch.
I had the steel upgraded to 50mm, and crop bars & bracing bars added ( it can be very windy up here) and had a few other extra's & it was still cheaper than the standard equivilant size from the others. That was about 6 years ago now - but I'm sure things haven't chnaged that much.
http://www.citadelpolytunnels.com/