Foil tunnelsare often used in allotment gardens. We can build a small foil tunnel for growing vegetables or flower seedlings by ourselves. A simpleconstruction of a foil tunnel , made by yourself, will allow you to extend the vegetable growing season at a low cost and achieve good results in the cultivation of thermophilic vegetables. Seehow to build a polytunnelon a plot step by step. Here's our quick and cheap way!
Polytunnel - a simple structure that you can build yourself
How to build a foil tunnel from PVC pipes
The simplest and the least expensive isbuilding a foil tunnel on flexible sticksThe construction can be willow, hazel or flexible PVC tubes with a length of about 1.5 m. We stick them in two rows at a distance of 0.5 to 0.7 m from each other (Fig. 1). The distance between the rows should be 1.2 to 1.5 m. Bend the shoots opposite each other to the center and tie them together with string, creating a structure 40 to 60 cm high (Fig. 2). Thenthe construction of the foil tunnelcan be strengthened by connecting the consecutive arches with a string, which is then tied to the stakes driven at the ends of the tunnel.
Tocover the foil tunnelwe use perforated or solid foil, 0.1 mm thick. The dimensions of the foil should be selected in such a way that the width, after covering the tunnel, protrudes from both sides by about 20 to 30 cm, and in length it hangs beyond both tunnel peaks a little over 1 m.Start stretching the foil from one of the sides, on the entire length of which we cover the edge of the foil with soil. Then we stretch the foil on the handles and cover its edge with soil on the opposite side. Tie the ends of the foil and attach to the stakes (fig. 3).
Fig. 1 Stick flexible shoots or PVC tubes into the ground. Before we proceed to this, it is worth to outline the planned area of the tunnel on the ground, thanks to which we will drive the stakes evenly.
Fig. 2 Bend shoots or tubes inside and tie them with string.
Fig. 3 We strengthen the structure by connecting the consecutive stakes with a string, which is then tied to the stakes driven in at the ends of the tunnel. Then stretch the foil, sprinkle it with soil on the sides and tie it to the stakes at the ends.
How to make a metal foil tunnel
A slightly more stableconstruction of a foil tunnellow can be made using 6 mm thick galvanized wire. The wire is cut into lengths of about 250 to 260 cm. At a distance of 30 cm from each end, the wire is bent into a loop, forming an eyelet up to 1.5 cm in diameter. Then the wire is bent into arches. Drive the poles into the soil every 100 cm, to such a depth that the eyelets bent from the wire are just above the soil surface. Pegs are hammered in about 50 cm from both ends of the tunnel. I attach a string to one of them, which then has to be wrapped around each headband and finally tied to the opposite peg. This procedure will significantly strengthen the wholestructure of the metal tunnel
The tunnel is covered with foil250 cm wide and long enough to be tied to pins. Then the entire structure has to be laced crosswise, attaching the string to the pins and threading it through the eyelets made in the wire. Cover one of the edges of the foil with soil.The opposite edge is best loaded with heavy objects that can be moved aside. This will allow the foil to be lifted for airing. The width of the tunnel described in this example will be 120 cm, which means that it will be adapted to the average width of the bed. The diagram of thisconstruction of a polytunnelis shown in the figure below.
Fig. 4 Construction of a low foil tunnel (a - brace for constructing the tunnel, b - tunnel after being covered with foil, c - tunnel casing method).
Ifyou find it difficult to make a low foil tunnel , please visit our guide's store. The offer includes both low and high quality garden tunnels. Low foil tunnel available in our offer includes bends 120 cm long and 8 mm in diameter, foil with dimensions of 1.8 x 3 m, clips and pegs. It is a complete set that allows you to build a low polytunnel, 2 meters long, 60 cm wide and 46 cm high.Perfect for a small plot and a small vegetable garden: -)
