BUY or BUILD a Polytunnel / Hoop house? The Pros and Cons!
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- Опубліковано 7 кві 2022
- Check out my new book that you can pre-order now. Simplify Vegetable Gardening will be available on 16th Feb 2024. Pre-order now to be the first to get a copy of this book that has all my personal tips. geni.us/SimplifyVegGardening In this video, we look at whether we should build or buy your polytunnel or hoop house, greenhouse, or high tunnel. Whatever you call it doesn't matter in this video we are going to look at the Pros and Cons of either building or buying a polytunnel.
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very thorough analysis Tony... I've always found for those of us that love to "Macgyver" the self built tunnel is the way to go... it gives so much freedom to improvise things and get them suited to your exact style and conditions... Great video!!
I agree, there is a lot to be said for buying too having done both I think I can see the benefits of both and why I made this video
I built: 4.8m x 2.8m x 2.8m for £160 (inc £90 for the polythene!), mostly based around an old trampoline frame, with (sand heated and bent) plastic conduit in between. All timber came from skips apart from battens, to secure polythene, and for door frames... some from my Dad and some from wickes... flagstone and brick pavement, guttering, additional timber (for grow bars), racking (for seed trays), lots of topsoil and water butts all courtesy of freecycle (thank you generous people!). Eight (105cm tall) raised beds made from pallets. It took a fair bit of planning and some hard work, but only needed help when stretching and fitting polythene. Not been anything of a gardener before now, but seeing everything coming to life this spring has made it very, very rewarding :)
Hi I'm looking to get polythene for my polytunnel build. Can you share where you bought yours? I'm either seeing crazy prices or super cheap prices.
I thoroughly recommend anyone to get a polytunnel regardless of if it's bought or made. Pays for itself after a few years of growing, extends the growing season, although I use mine as a workshop in winter. No better place to be when it's raining too
Couldn't agree more
I am inclined to build one
I designed built one 5 years ago with wood and 32mm water pipe, 4m x 3m and the first winter I built a fireplace with a wood burner on it. A great place to spend the evening on a winters night! And toasty too. And it's still solid. I just bought the cover from Northern polytunnels. Be sure to treat all the cuts.
Great video!
Great video Tony. I love that design of the wiggle wires! I love both of your polytunnels though. The older one has a certain charm to it too.
It does blood sweat and plenty of tears lol
@@simplifygardening haha! Could be a summer project for us pal to re-skin it ;) haha
@@TheGrowUpChannel Prob be a next spring project due to me growing in it
@@simplifygardening gerron! The dream team could have that recovered before it drops 5° pal 💪😂
Both tunnels are gorgeous. Thanks for a very thorough and interesting comparison!
Hi Steve, great job removing your old tunnel. Looking forward to seeing the next stage. Thanks for sharing and take care
Your information is always so thoroughly thought out and well presented. Thank you!
Thank you Karen :)
Great video, Tony. I've been wondering about the differences and you did a great job analyzing the key points.
Thank you Scott. We need to get on a call together soon mate. Lots to tell ya
Hugely appreciate the discussion. Clearly time is the essence not to mention cobbling together the bits to make your own. However you have made convincing case to have a pilytunnel.
Spot on analysis on all the pros and cons Tony! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Aj
Awesome work and info! Thanks for sharing and have a great day!
Thanks for taking the time to comment
Another fab video, great work and we're so happy you love our tunnel :)
Glad you liked the video ;) Yes I love the tunnel and I'm looking forward to this years growth in it
Fantastic Video Tony, as always mate, very well presented and a wealth of knowledge and experience, thanks for sharing Stay safe Alan
Cheers Alan
It's great to see your channel exploding like it has tony. I remember when you did a 3000 sub thanks video a few years ago. It's great seeing you get the appreciation you deserve mate. With your book, your recent award and how big your channel has become, if monty is going to be leaving gardeners world, you and Huw should be getting asked.
Lol, yeah cant see that happening. Huw would be a good candidate though
Brilliant breakdown
Thanks
Hi Tony, great video in comparing both types of polytunnel. I have bought a polytunnel from first tunnels last October and its brilliant. Looking forward to my first growing season using it. Thanks for sharing and take care 🙂
Awesome hope you have a great year in it Christine
Thank you. This was very helpful as I am considering whether I want to buy a kit or build one from scratch.
Glad it was helpful! There are many options to consider and hopefully this has given ideas
Tony. This was such a great comparison video well thought out well produced and what was important you had both types in use of a very similar size. Anyone who is looking at getting one this is very helpful. Did you ever look at the other type like they have in the shetlands and Huw has?
Thank Tony. You now have so
Much growing under cover space your all set up for a great harvest.
Yes I love the look of those too, BUt cost plays a bit part, If they want to reach out though ;)
Well done video Tony. I really like the tall straight side walls of your home built tunnel. I know you can get that in the commercial tunnels too but it is less common.
It is less common and premium price as well
Awesome stuff, as you know I just put up a cheap store-bought for my wormery. People really need content like this!
Cheers Marty :)
You did a great job summarizing the positives and negatives of each type of tunnel, and the features that you find most useful in your polytunnels! Whether I would build or buy really depends on the size I was needing. If it was just a small unit, like to start seeds, I'd build it myself. But if it was big, like yours, I'd definitely buy it!
I think that be a good way to go
A great video Tony. The homemade tunnel has a feature that collects rainwater. Leaving that aside the purchased tunnel has everything that's needed. A worthwhile investment
Yes I agree Patrick
Another great video..and very timely. Just finishing the polytunnel build. My home build was timber and conduit piping and a Northern polytunnel cover which was anti-drip and great.. been up for 5 years now. .It's and been storm damaged a few times due to my design and inexperience, but still standing and producing through summer and winter. This prebuilt one, frame was free and first tunnel cover which to be honest is of a different quality cover but let's more light in.... just finished building it now one more door to put on will soon see how it fares. Yes it's work but it's the first thing I built on the plotl and well worth it.
Yes tunnels are worth every penny Rosi
Great content Tony 👍👍👍
Cheers Carl
Great video Tony, can i add that if you buy one or secondhand, and need extra parts, Direct Tunnels and the others mentioned can supply individual parts
Timely video, Tony. Like the pros and cons. Many things to consider foresure. Definitely saved this video and will reference it in the future.
Cheers Jason and Colleen 🌱👍🌱
Nice Jason glad you saved it and I will be watching to see what you do ;)
@@simplifygardening thanks Tony, not the first I've saved of yours ;)
Great video Tony! IF I had the ground and money I would do BOTH!! Thank you!!!
Its so nice having ground under cover in this crappy weather
Those are pretty big, wish I had the space for something like that. I ended up in the middle I guess, I repurposed an old 10'x20' car shelter frame into a tunnel last autumn and it's held up great. I started all my seeds in there this winter/spring and plan on growing squash and cucumbers in it this summer. My biggest issue is heat, when it's warm and sunny it can easily top 100°F inside without ventilation. Thanks as always for your time and effort.
All about undercover growing no matter how you do it
Thx Tony for the amazing content you provide us with. im currently debating wheter i should get myself a greenhouse out of foil for next year tomato's, benefits its cheap, easy to build and control the airflow, also gives me a idea of the benefits of having a greenhouse since i never had one before. Or wheter i should instantly invest into a green house made out of high quality iron, almunium and glass with a strong frame, windows, doors and all the options i need build into it including a water installation towards the tanks, and its installed by the company with up to 10 years of warenty. Also the last option is a perfect fit for my garden space and would allow me to grow up to 75% of my veggies under the greenhouse and having the fruits outside of the greenhouse.
I purchased a polycarbonate tunnel 8mx3m it took quite a bit of putting together lots of small bolts but it is fantastic. I grow all through the winter with a 3kw heater to keep the frost away
Sounds great! I do like this types of tunnels too
We're looking to buy and that was extraordinarily helpful.
Im so glad it has helped you with your choices
Very informative comparison. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed iy
Looking forward to this as it is next on my to do list :)
Hope you enjoy it! Ive had to delay it 15 mins as youtube are still processing it
Great video Tony, really helped me in my decision making. The wiggle wire is a genius idea. Thanks for sharing.
The wiggle wires are great. We built our own tunnel and purchased the wiggle wire from Amazon.
have you a link and can you get the channelling there too?
After watching your videos building your old tunnel I built my tunnel with a prefab kit but utilised your idea for the windows on the side. But every thing can be retentioned like your 2nd tunnel including the windows I just have to take up the slack at ground level
Thats awesome. great job
Just started looking at tunnels yesterday, will look forward to watching! I was looking at either the polytunnel or polycarbonate, don't know which one to go for!
Price and size will be the decision maker
Great video 👍👍 Tony.
Cheers Doug
Hey Tony thank you so much, another great video.
Thanks
due to budget, we'll be building ours. but, thanks so much for the tips!! we learned alot from your video!
Glad it was helpful!
i bought 15 by 10 ft northern after seeing your video, gorgeous tunnel worth every penny
So glad to hear that Andrew. I am glad your happy with it. they are amazing tunnels
I am building a lower hinged hot house to cover the existing vegetable garden bed. I have painted the timber with exterior paint so it will last longer and using pallet timber (cost is free) . Plastic was $50 AUD.
I also built a 12 ft long hot house with treated timber so it doesn't rot. Then later I added a 4 ft section using pallet timber and plastic. Still undecided on the door for the extension, I have potatoes growing in hydroponics in the extended part at the moment.
Perfect I always recommend reusing things if possible. Great job
This is the stuff dreams are made of - each of your tunnels is bigger than my whole allotment! However, thanks to your advice, I've just planted my potatoes in 30L pots and even found some OSR straw as a mulch.
Thats awesome Anthony
QUALITY VIDS EVERY TIME.
Thanks Michael
Great video, Tony. If you are going to replace the timbers on the tunnel that you built, then if you use yacht varnish on them they will last much longer before rotting. Keep up the great work on your channel!!
They were tanalized 10 years isnt too bad its still holding together but could be a good call thanks
@@simplifygardeningwhen using treated timber you must treat the cut ends, not many people do and that's where the rot starts.
Watched to the END…your friends from GBL-The Ole Church 5 Acre Homestead..see you around!
Thanks glad you enjoyed
Nice one Tony, I would say if you have the space, doesn't matter whether you build or buy, get one, they are a valuable growing space, however it all depends on your diy skills.
Agreed
Very useful tony thanks. Im hoping to get a poly tunnel this yr.
Nicola seriously think about northern tunnels they are great quality and they make all sizes
Thanks Tony. I have already approached then for a quote. Id also contacted first tunnels.
We build our own using old trampolines, very strong, has withstood all the bad weather. We do buy the proper polythene though. Great video as always.
With the occasional frameless greenhouse thrown in Susan ;)
I hope you've got plenty headroom!
That's a great idea.
When it comes to poly tunnel biulding it's best to be frugal.
Alot of my friends have built poly tunnels for less than £300 and that is for a massive poly tunnel.
The problem is most people don't know how to sucure the plastic.
A few scaffold poles and blue pipe can be salvged if you know people.
I’d do both. I have a polytunnel which I bought it’s great but I’m making my own as well using second hand trampolines for the main hoops etc cheers 🍻
Awesome Jacko
I have bought 1 and built 2 . I was talking to a lady at a farmers market , She sold dried Apple chips and fruit for sale . Her husband kick her out of the house because of all the moister drying the fruit was in their house .So she put it in her Greenhouse and it turned out the fruit dryers along with drying the fruit, also heated the Greenhouse .. FREE HEAT. Richard Castlegar British Columbia Canada . Great Show you have
Thank you Richard. Thats interesting she is doing that
Hi, thank you for the great advice. How you kip the container so clean inside? My'n is completely contaminated with algae. Thank you for your time.
They were covered in alge but only on the outside you will see it in a coming video, but the inside stays clean just keep water moving
That was really interesting thank you. As I don't have much space and I'm not likely to have enough space for a large polytunnel and with the cost of the plastic making them not particularly cheap I'd probably buy a greenhouse when we move. I garden in my garden and I'm forever hearing horror stories on the allotments close to me about stuff being nicked or vandalised or women being forced out by the boys club running the allotments I think I'd prefer to continue to grow at home where I'd feel more in control or be it that I'd be limited to what I can grow in my space
Some allotments can be bad and others good it’s like anything else in todays society
@@simplifygardening true I think my area isn't great as far as crime ect
Great vid
Thank you
✊Bravo friend. Fantastic
Wonderful explanation covered all the bases. If I were 20 years younger, it'd
be the purchase and just one large one. Time is money.
But a third choice would be 2-3, 6'x8' frame built, as a storage shed and just
covered with poly, strapped n stapled. The reason for 2 would be 1 for Tomatoes,
a controlled environment. 2nd one for germination. Using 1020 trays, 48 cell each
that's 9 trays per side and a total of 864 cells total. That's a LOT of plants.
I know they come in modules, but smaller builds would be more customizable.
Our garden is 20x30', with 3 additional 4x8 raised beds. We've started growing
only what we need for winter, NO, "Let's try This", and by using companion and
succession growing methods, we buy very little veg. From there it's a matter of
learning preservation methods Cut and store potato buckets in green house as
you do. Parsnips, beets, and carrots stored in large tubs with wood shavings.
One just needs to sit down and analyze individual goals and resources, and stay
focused.
Fresh during the season, or storage, and adapt. 😊
TYFS Tony, again, very thorough.
yeah a great idea Mark
Just watching out of interest...I adore the home made rustic look of your tunnel with all the wood and you built it to suit your needs. I think you definitely got your ten years worth out of it. Def the choice for me if I was in the market.
This is still up and running and I have a purchased one too
]
I love both of these great big beautiful Buggers you have Brother... I couldn't really pick between them as I would love the both of them however... I still recon the self built one is my fave pal... RESKIN IT ... I'm sure Danny would love to give you a hand... as would I Pal.. Peace & Love and Namaste!!!
~GURU M~ 😇😇😇
Eventually I will have to reskin it and repair the windows and stuff maybe this winter
Tony. If you build up some heat Inside the Tunnel. It'll help to shrink and re-tighten the Polythene. Though don't use a Hairdryer. You'll be there all week.
Thanks Ian
There is a third way that may offer more advantages to some people. It is the route we chose for both of our tunnels, a 20 m x 9 m, (66ft x 30 ft), and a 10 x 4.3 m, (33 x 15ft) we purchased used frames. Skin direct from a manufacturer, and wood from a builders merchant. This gave use several advantages 1 it finishes as a comercially produced tunnel, essentially whilst going through several different suppliers, it ends up as a self installed comercially available polytunnel. 2 by going direct to a poly manufacturer we were able to optimise our choice of poly for our local climate and crop selection. 3, it comes in at 60% the cost of the equivalent new polytunnel
Great idea Glyn
Northern pollytunnel is where I bought my tunnel a couple of years ago its one of the most basic tunnels. And while their ebay shop said it was in stock, it took 6months before I got it delivered while I watched their ebay shop stock slowly go down
Hmm thats very strange I have not ever experienced that with them
Is there a way to collect rain water from the bought poly tunnel? Great video, hope you have an abundant season👌🏽
Well Im actually catching off the shed for that one , however there are smaller guttering systems you can buy but they tend to be stickon versions. I didn't fancy that so if you check the video a few weeks ago about collecting gods tears you will see how I have 7,000 litres attached to the bought tunnel
You could always use a 2mx4m or 2mx6m garden polytunnel in the big tunnel for propogation.
Great Idea Pete
I love the grapevine! How often do you water it in the winter?
I don't water it Laura, It is planted outside and brought into the tunnel so it gets natural rainfall
I Learned a lot from this. Instead of a free standing structure, if you have a large wall area, (the side of a house) can you get "90 degree" polytunnel that can mount against the wall?
I'm curious if it would work to make a small, cubed one with a slanted and hinged roof. Hinged so it can be lifted on one end to cool it. I would only be using mine for seed starting and winter greens.
Yes that would work
I would have bought a ready tunnel if it were available here, so I'm stuck with the diy option.... I think it would be at least twice as expensive to try to import one due to customs fee, freight and so on. But I think that I have come up with an idea that might work for me...just have to save up some money to buy the materials.
That would be cool! Ill be interested to see what you come up with
What did you use to hold down the plastic on the frame
as for the rotting wood, I always paint my timber with used car synthetic oil. It gives the wood a brown stain and keeps the wood stronger for ages. Besides, I get the used oil for free from my mechanic
Great informative video as always Tony, l’d have to agree with you the price of building materials has now gone through the roof, yes you could buy reclaimed timber but you’d be hard pressed to get all the sizes you needed, l’m guessing those prices have also gone up then there’s the added price of screws and nails etc etc you’d also need a mitre saw as there’s no way to cut all the timber’s with a hand saw, and if you don’t have one you’d have to hire one more expense.
10 years ago l built a large workshop 16’ x 10’ on my own including the concrete base, would l do it again? Probably not.
Would l be correct thinking you wouldn’t build your own poly tunnel again Tony?
Now i can get the features I wanted prob not. Number one my time is more important than money atm, number two its just so much easier and number 3 this is so easy
We bought a polycarbonate greenhouse and the metal work was poorly fitting - this was despite extensive research re what and where to buy. Going to do self build and make sure we keep wood treated so it does not rot as we do with our wooden house windows.
Hi Tony I got a lot of inperaration from your home made tunnel I built one myself. Like you said it was hard work I'm still finishing it off but I love the satisfaction I've got from it. Would love to show you some pictures. How can I get in contact. Cheers Dan
Hi Daniel the email is on the website simplifygardening.com
It seems like the home build polytunnel can be piece part replaced as it wears out.
New window frame here, new mesh screen there. Spread the cost and keep it working well. Maintenance as required.
How much would it cost and how easy would it be to patch up the Pro-tunnel if it got damaged?
Yes it could be and like I said I love the home made one too
where would you buy the plastic sheeting? Cost of the plastic?
i really want a poly, i think it wi,l be my next big buy! i want the largest one that i can get!
They are awesome to have
Can you tell me where you got your poly tunnel from please ?
Hi Tony. Hope you can help me. I am trying to find out if maris peer potatoes are indeterminate or determinate. Regards, Rob
They are a determinate Robert
खूप सुंदर व्हिडिओ आहे भैय्या शेअर केल्याबद्दल धन्यवाद देव आशीर्वाद देईल तुम्हा सर्वांना 👌👌👍👍🙏🌹🌹🌻🌻🌷🤝
Greetings from Jaywick Sands Essex
Hey
I have a Northern Polytunnels one too, I couldn't fault it really. You mention the lack of hanging bars, but to be fair, that's because you didn't specify them.
I wonder how much it would have cost to have made your own polytunner using old scaffolding throughout? that would eliminate the future rot or decomposition of the wooden frame, yet retain all the design, maybe using wooden posts inside instead for things like a table or props, i'd imagine with good ventilation it would be fine.
Would be intrigued to know if anyone here has done that and what their total costs were.
Was wondering where you purchase your soil and those large planters in the bought polytunnel? Are they potato pots?
I have one and it cost about 1.5k its the same size. and i have a video comparing them
What about polytunnel wind resiliance?
A Superb Side by Side T 😁
thanks pal
"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach man to fish and he can feed himself forever". When you built your own polytunnel, you developed the knowledge on how to do it. I have no doubt that you COULD have built another tunnel
Has anybody a source for those C-channels and the wiggle wires? Preferably in stainless and uncoated variants.
Peter check the website for Northern tunnels as they may have them there. the link is below. But I'm not positive
Do they withstand strong winds? Where I live is open and very windy in Cumbria
They both just got through 3 storms that the biggest hot 122MPH here. they regularly go through 70 and 80mph storms
i like home made something about homemade
They are querky and I still love mine
why would you cut such small circles tho. Wouldnt the air flow be better if larger circles in the sides
Why not go the self build greenhouse route using polycarbonate?
Hm heat - with energy costs atm?
would a aluminum or iron be cheaper if it was a beam or pole?
I couldnt tell you to be honest as I never worried about price while looking I was looking for the features I wanted
Hello Tony boy how's things iv dropped a like 👍
Good stuff pal and all good
@@simplifygardening glad to her my friend
I take it that treated wood wasn’t used in the constructions?
Treated wood was used. but these days treated wood doesn't affect the ground like it used too. if you want to know more info I have a blog post on it on my website
Make sure the green house is very protected from the wind because they are prone to take damage.
Yes I agree
You forgot one more con. You don't have the same height by the sides, as you have in the tunnel, you build yourself.
How big is your gardening property.?
198ft x 76ft
👍👍👍👍👍
:)
Purchase
Yeah I would prob not build such a bog one myself again
Are your tunnels paying for themselves, i.e. do you sell your produce?
No I dont sell produce. It is against the allotments rules to grow to sell. If I was on my own land then I could sell no probs but it would mainly be salad leaves then