Garden foil tunnelextends the season of growing vegetables from early spring to late autumn and enables the cultivation of thermophilic vegetables.Choosing the right tunnel for the gardenis an important decision, because it usually costs several hundred zlotys, and the tunnel will serve for many years. I explainwhat to consider when buying a garden tunnel , what types of tunnels are and what the individual parameters provided by producers mean. We will also answer the question whetheris better to buy a white or green tunneland which foil for tunnels is the best.
Garden foil tunnel
Fig. © Home & Garden
The report on garden foil tunnels has been prepared for you by Rafał Okułowicz, the publisher of PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Thermophilic vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers are most often grown in tunnels as the main crop. But in the early spring, early vegetables can be sown as a forecrop, and after the cucumbers, there will still be time to grow radishes as polonium.
First, however, the question ariseswhat tunnel to buy for the plotThe type of tunnel structure and its dimensions are to be considered.
Choosing a tunnel for the garden, which will meet all our expectations, is not easy at all, because there are many models of foil garden tunnels on the market, differing in important elements. There are varioustypes of garden tunnelsand the manufacturers provide different parameters of the tunnels, which may be difficult for us to interpret.Therefore, I suggestwhat features of tunnels are worth paying attention to
Foil garden tunnel low or high?
Low foil tunnelis used to cover crops for a relatively short period of time. Its height does not exceed 1.5 m, so it is not possible to carry out maintenance work inside the tunnel. All treatments with plants must be performed before the tunnel is set up, and the next opportunity to care for plants will appear only after its disassembly.
Garden foil tunnel low
Fig. depositphotos.com
Buying a low tunnel is usually not a problem , as it is a small, simple and cheap construction. Skilled DIY enthusiasts can also build such a tunnel on their own from readily available materials. However, the purchasedready construction of the low tunnelwill make it look more aesthetic, and the assembly will go very smoothly.
High foil tunnelis one that we can enter and move around freely while caring for plants. The most frequently sold tunnels are 180 cm or more tall. Personally, I recommend slightly taller ones - if someone is more than 180 cm tall, even an additional 10 cm difference in the height of the tunnel will make a huge difference! But also shorter peoplewill feel more freely in such a tunnelOf course, higher tunnels will also be more expensive in terms of the cultivated area, but usually the difference in price will be minimal, and the comfort we will gain - definitely higher.
A tall foil tunnel with dimensions of 3x6 m and a height of 2 m
Fig. depositphotos.com
Foil garden tunnel made of metal or PVC pipes?
The sheathing of the tunnel is foil, and its supporting structure can be made of metal or plastic elements and PVC pipes.The latter type is gaining more and more popularity asplastic tunnel structuresare very durable and light. They do not corrode and can withstand large temperature fluctuations. Once assembled, the tunnel does not need to be unfolded for the winter, it is enough to remove the foil so that there is no snow on it or it is not damaged by strong gusts of wind. In the case of light tunnels made of PVC pipes, the entire structure can be easily transferred to another bed, a second person is enough to help.
The PVC pipe tunnel construction that is easy to assemble and movehas some disadvantages. We must protect such a light tunnel from strong gusts of wind that could shift it or overturn it. That is why these tunnels work best in gardens sheltered by buildings or tall hedges.
If very strong winds blow through our plot,it is better to choose a tunnel with a metal frame , which is much heavier and will be more stable on the ground.Usually, such frames are additionally strengthened by fixing individual elements with screws, andthe entire structure is protected against corrosion by making the pipes of galvanized sheet
For these reasons, in our climatic conditions Metal frame tunnels are more often recommended , although their price is usually higher than in the case of tunnels made of PVC pipes. If the tunnel is to be reliable and serve for many years, definitely choose a metal structure.
Foil garden tunnel with a frame made of metal profiles
Fig. © Home & Garden
It is worth noting here that some producers of foil tunnels provide everything that is needed to assemble the frame. Not only properly matched galvanized profiles, screws and instructions, but even a screw wrench. This is the case, for example, in the case of Home & Garden foil tunnels available in the shop of our guide. We chose these tunnels due to the manufacturer's attention to every detail.The rack elements are even numbered (photo above) to indicate the correct assembly sequence.
Types of foil for tunnel sheathing
When deciding to buy a garden tunnel, it is also worth paying attention to thetype of foil covering the tunnel . There are two types of foil to choose from:
- perforated foil , which has small holes enabling greater air circulation. As a result, the plants are less exposed to fungal diseases and the tunnel has to be ventilated less often. However, the tunnel covered with a perforated foil is less effective in maintaining the temperature and high air humidity required in the cultivation of thermophilic plants,
- foil without perforation , which keeps moisture and heat well and heats up quickly. However, we must remember to ventilate the tunnel regularly, often, otherwise the plants will get caught in it. Therefore,foil tunnel without perforation should be equipped withwindows, thanks to which it is possible to regulate the inflow of air from the outside.
There are alsotunnels covered with a foil that filters harmful UV radiation , with a welded-in polypropylene mesh, which increases the strength of the tunnel sheathing. Thanks to the mesh, the foil is not so easily damaged. If the tunnel is to be used for many years without the need to constantly patch holes in the foil, it is definitely worth choosinggarden tunnel covered with foil with embedded mesh
Foil tunnel with reinforcing mesh
Fig. © Home & Garden
When selectingtunnel covered with a foil filtering UV rays , it is worth paying attention to the UV filtration coefficient provided by the manufacturer. The number next to this factor indicates how long the foil will have UV filtering properties. For example, the marking UV=4 informs us that UV filtration should be sufficient for 4 gardening seasons.Both foil reinforcement in the form of a welded mesh and high filtration of ultraviolet rays UV=4 can be found in the Home & Garden foil tunnels available in the shop of our guide.We chose these tunnels due to their high quality.
Foil tunnel white or green?
There are white and green plastic tunnels available in gardening stores. For this reason, the question often arises whetheris better to buy a white or green tunnel . It is worth considering, because these colors are not only about aesthetics.
Green garden tunnel
Fig. depositphotos.com
There are also many myths around the colors of the tunnelsWell, in the past the reinforcing mesh embedded in the tunnel had only green tunnels. Therefore, a belief was born that green tunnels are stronger and more durable. Currently, this is no longer true, as there are also white tunnels with embedded white reinforcing mesh.
The white tunnel reflects the most solar radiation and the plants in such a tunnel will be best illuminated.On the other hand,the green tunnel heats up more and provides better shadingof plants sensitive to sunburn. Possible dirt on the green tunnel will not be as visible as on the white tunnel.
Therefore, the color of the tunnel should be adjusted to the lighting conditions in your garden and to the requirements of the plants grown in the tunnel.
Roller windows with the possibility of attaching
Fig. depositphotos.com
Garden tunnel with or without windows?
While the doors in the high foil tunnel are a necessity, otherwise it would not be possible to enter the tunnel, the presence of windows is not so obvious. On the one hand, windows make it easier to ventilate the tunnel and prevent the plants from overheating on warm and sunny days. On the other hand, through open windows, plant pests can easily enter the tunnel.The truth is, however, that especially in larger tunnels, windows are a necessity.And protection against pests will be provided by an additional mosquito net sewn into the window. Then we always close the door so that pests do not fly inside, and we ventilate by opening the windows protected with mosquito nets.
It is good if the windows are rolled up and have Velcro fasteners that allow them to be attached in the collapsed position. The door, on the other hand, should be fastened with a zip (slider), also with the possibility of being rolled up and hooked up to the top. When we carry out larger works, e.g. we bring something in or take it out of the tunnel, there is no need to hold the door with your hand each time.
Tunnel door with zipper
Fig. depositphotos.com
How big tunnel should I buy per plot?
Before you buy a garden tunnel for a plot of land , first choose a place in the garden where the tunnel will be built. It should be a sunny place and, if possible, sheltered from strong winds. The tunnel should run along a north-south line so that rows of plants in the tunnel also grow along this line.This position of the tunnel provides the best access of light to growing vegetables or flowers. It is also worth to have a water source close to the tunnel.
When you choose such a place,choose the size of the tunnel based on the area intended for the tunnelthat you have at your disposal on the plot and the amount of money you can allocate to the tunnel.
Tunnel width
High tunnels may have different areas, but gardening enthusiastsusually buy 3 meters wide tunnelsThere is logical justification for this. Well, the recommended width of the bed in cultivation on the plot is about 1.2 m. Then we have free access to plants growing in the middle of the plot. In order to move freely between the flower beds, the path between them should be 30 cm wide. Thus, two beds 1.2 meters wide + 30 cm of passage between them give a total of 2.7 meters. If a 3-meter-wide tunnel is placed above such beds, there will still be a 15 cm distance from the walls of the tunnel on the side of the beds.Thanks to this, the plants growing on the beds will have room to expand freely.
Tunnel length
The length of the tunnel depends on the area of the plot on which you want to have crops under the tunnel. As shown by the sales statistics of foil tunnels, allotment gardeners and home garden ownersmost often buy tunnels with a base size of 6x3 mIt is a tunnel large enough to allow you to freely grow vegetables for your own needs.If you have less space, it is worth reaching for one of the popular smaller tunnels. These are tunnels 2 m wide and 3.0 or 3.5 m long.
Will I be able to assemble the tunnel?
Installation of a polytunnelis a fairly simple task and any gardener can handle it without any problems. Home & Garden foil tunnels available in the shop of our guide include all the necessary elements of the tunnel structure, i.e. pipes, connectors and screws, as well as a foil for covering the tunnel, windows and doors.There is even a suitable screw wrench, so you don't need your own tools.
Tunnel assembly instructionsis clear and understandable, and the frame elements are marked, making it easy to see what it is. location and sequence of assembly of individual elements. The assembly of the Home & Garden tunnel is shown in a nutshell below.
