Hi
I'm a lucky chap. a friend has kindly donated the ribs of a polytunnel he had lying around in his barn (amazing what you find left behind in French barns!)
It will only have 7 complete ribs when constructed (I have 14 pre-formed tubes that have a connecting tube on one end and an earth spike on the other). The big question is, what would be the maximum workable distance between the ribs? We've figured that 1m would be reasonable, any further thoughts would be very helpful. Thanks
Polytunnel rib spacing
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Juddy in the Charente
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Polytunnel rib spacing
Surely it is better to have grown it and eaten it than never to have grown it all?
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Masco&Bongo
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Re: Polytunnel rib spacing
We've got 5ft spacings between ours (tho' it is a bought tunnel) and it's nice and sturdy... however, we've got ground anchors that are buried 2ft deep!
"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne
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Blog: http://mistressofmeals.blogspot.com/
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Green Aura
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Re: Polytunnel rib spacing
Ditto.
5' is what the manufacturers recommended. Ours are planted very deeply too, in anchor plates, approx 18" down.
5' is what the manufacturers recommended. Ours are planted very deeply too, in anchor plates, approx 18" down.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Re: Polytunnel rib spacing
Ditto ditto 
Mine is also 5' spacing, but mine has ground spikes too ... or to be precise it has 3' lengths of bigger bore tube that I hammered 2' into the ground.
The hoops then slot into this tube with an exhaust clamp to adjust it to the right height, with the polythene trenched in.
It has so far survived 2 winters of storm force winds 100 yards from the Atlantic.
Mine is also 5' spacing, but mine has ground spikes too ... or to be precise it has 3' lengths of bigger bore tube that I hammered 2' into the ground.
The hoops then slot into this tube with an exhaust clamp to adjust it to the right height, with the polythene trenched in.
It has so far survived 2 winters of storm force winds 100 yards from the Atlantic.
Tony
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
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grahamhobbs
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Re: Polytunnel rib spacing
Everyone is agreed 5 foot, but as it is illegal to have anything in feet and inches in France, 152.5cm.
Rather than bury the polythene in the ground, I have fixed the polythene to a timber 'skirt' fixed to the tubes about a foot off the ground, then the polythene drapes down the last bit to the ground. This gives greater flexibility in venting the tunnel and makes it easier when replacing the polythene.
But I am in London, buring the polythene is better if you live by the coast or up a hill.
Rather than bury the polythene in the ground, I have fixed the polythene to a timber 'skirt' fixed to the tubes about a foot off the ground, then the polythene drapes down the last bit to the ground. This gives greater flexibility in venting the tunnel and makes it easier when replacing the polythene.
But I am in London, buring the polythene is better if you live by the coast or up a hill.