Barbara3d
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Rustic polytunnelThought I would share my experience in building a polytunnel out of bamboo.
I've put a few pictures here to plot my progress.
Started with cutting the bamboo. As you can see there is quite a lot round here.
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Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
will post the updates later.
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Barbara3d
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I'm not very good at this. anyway this is now up to today. and my back feels as though it is broken . Lloyd - thought about what you said about the door but managed to make a frame and covered it with the plastic. Now all I have to do is make a frame for it and attach it. any advice gratefully received!
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
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Cabbagepatch
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Wow Barbara, that looks really good and how on earth have you managed to achieve so much in such a short time? Even the path along the middle looks nice. I would have just chucked some gravel down and hoped for the best!
Am sure someone will be along soon to give ideas about the door.
Keep posting your progress 
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Barbara3d
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thanks CP.
I was up today at 7 a.m. (Not my usual time but had been lying awake sinced about 6 trying to figure out how to do the door.) Done bits of shopping by 10 and then out in the garden. Came in at about 2 when it started raining and made the door. Not Obsessive - not me!!! dont think much else will get done now till Monday. It is thundering and lightening and raining and looks set for the weekend. May just bob out in between showers and put another roof truss on. then only two more trusses at the bottom and I can do the ends. Hope to get it finished by mid week.
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Kathy
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That's very clever, I love the path up the middle.
You are making fast progress, our greenhouse frame is still sitting where it landed back in August and the glass is in the outhouse. 
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Barbara3d
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PolytunnelI've got the promise of tomatoes going in there at the end of the month to spur me on. It's easy for me now as I dont have to work anymore so can use all my tiime when I want. When I was working time was always in short supply. I'm sure you are the same.
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Cabbagepatch
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Re: Polytunnel | Barbara3d wrote: | | I've got the promise of tomatoes going in there at the end of the month to spur me on. |
What is the temperature there now? We've just emptied our little greenhouse and closed it up for the winter 
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Barbara3d
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At the moment it is only about 15. Getting quite cold tonight supposed to drop to about 7 degrees. that is the coldest it has been. Next week looks Ok though. going back to about 20 degrees in the day and up to about 12/14 at night.
The thing I dreaded about the UK was the winter. I hated it. one of the reasons why I moved here.
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Cabbagepatch
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20 degrees, how lovely. Warm enough for a t shirt. Winters here get me down a bit but equally I couldn't cope with the fierce heat on the continent in summertime.
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Barbara3d
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It was incredibly hot in July and August. got to about 45 degrees one week and was about 27 degrees at night. Too hot to sleep. Also far too hot to do anything in the garden hence the fact that I did not start gardening until October. I Just had to go to the beach or pool most days and laze about. Terrible!!! Read a lot though. Always a down side to most things: lol
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Jellycat
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| Quote: | | I Just had to go to the beach or pool most days and laze about |
Oh Barbara - my heart bleeds for you, it really does 
I think your polytunnel is fantastic - I'm looking forward to the photos of it bursting at the seams with tomatoes
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Barbara3d
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Thanks Jellycat I know you must be able to imagine the stress of lying in the sun and swimming in the sea. Hard life. Anyway, joking apart, it cleared up for about half an hour today so I ran out and tied some more trusses in. Not really worth doing but I suppose every little helps.
I am probably only going to buy 12 tomato plants as I dont know what variety they are. The man at the Garden Centre said they were "climbing" tomatoes. I took that to mean that they were cordons as apposed to bush ones. Only time will tell!
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Barbara3d
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Thought I would update you all on the 'tunnel.
Didnt do anything on Sunday as it rained all day and ran out of string.. Monday stayed fine till about 4 so get quite a lot of tying in done and all the cross braces tied in.
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
Today set to and finished all the bits and pieces ready for the polythene.
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Hope to finish tomorrow but have to go and buy some more polythene for the ends.
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Click to see full size image
As you can see a couple of the overhead arches have snapped a bit but I am hoping once I get the plastic tied down they will be OK. It wont be perfect but so long as it lasts me for a year I will be happy!
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Jellycat
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That's absolutely brilliant Barbara3d - I must show these pictures to OH as well. Well done!
And just look at all that sunshine and blue sky [sigh]
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Kathy
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Echo what Jellycat said, Mr Kathy MUST see this, he's talking about paying £600 for one........................
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Barbara3d
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Yahoo!!! Finished it today.
Had to buy some more plastic (6 euros) to do the ends. The door was a bit of a problem but it opens and shuts. Now all I need are the tomatoes!!!
Altogther I would say it cost around 25 to 30 euros. (and a lot of hard graft - but that's free).
Quite chuffed with the result. not the most symetrical object but still!
Jellycat and Kathy, I hope Mr Kathy and OH dont blame me when you are both getting on to them to build you one!
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
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Bovey Belle
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Wow - who's a clever Barbara then?!!! I hope you grow lots of tomatoes and goodies in it. I am about to take mine down for the winter, before it blows away. (I have a little one I got from Lidls).
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Barbara3d
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Hi BB,
Loved doing it. Hope it doesn't rot too soon.
funnily enough we have a Lidl here so hope I can get some things in the spring for my gardening. I bought a lot of seeds there in the UK before I came out here.
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Aqui
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It looks great barbara - well done! Must be lovely to have winters that are that productive!
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Barbara3d
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Thanks Aqui.
I think it will be the winters that are actually productive and not so much in the summer. Have to adjust my thinking. Must admit it was lovely for the last couple of days working outside in a T-shirt. It does go quite cold though at night.
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TheGirlsMum
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You should be really proud of yourself
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Kathy
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What can I say? You've done all that on your own, I'm feeling pretty inadequate right now!
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Barbara3d
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No need to feel inadequate Kathy with all that you do. I have only myself to think about and be obsessive about one thing at a time. anyway time will tell as next week (Wednesday) it is forecast rain and strong winds. If the tunnel is still there on Thursday I will be proud of myself. Fingers crossed.
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