Hi,
I'm on the South West coast of Ireland, where the weather is fairly mild
(hardly ever snows, very little frost), and I'm looking for the pros and
cons of Solar versus Poly. The financial difference, I understand, and the
solar tunnel seems to be the way to go, for the following reasons:

Lasts longer
Possibly allows more light in
Easier to assemble
Easier to extend
Higher sides allow more growing space.

I'm sure there will be arguments for and against... I'd be interested to
hear them.

Thanks

Derek




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"derek" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I'm on the South West coast of Ireland, where the weather is fairly mild
(hardly ever snows, very little frost), and I'm looking for the pros and
cons of Solar versus Poly. The financial difference, I understand, and
the
solar tunnel seems to be the way to go, for the following reasons:

Lasts longer
Possibly allows more light in
Easier to assemble
Easier to extend
Higher sides allow more growing space.

I'm sure there will be arguments for and against... I'd be interested to
hear them.

Thanks

Derek


Not clear what you mean by a solar tunnel, I know what a polytunnel is, if
you are referring to structures covered in polycarbonate sheeting then most
people down here in Cornwall are replacing them as they proved a costly
mistake, caused a lot of scorch on plants, got too hot in summer and were
not as good in wind as a conventional poly tunnel. (but you may mean
something else entirely :~)

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

Sounds like a Solar Tunnel. Polycarbonate panels that basiclly, click
onto the fram, a bit like a big cloche. Reinforced with green mesh.
Take a look. www.solartunnels.co.uk

Tks
Derek


"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
...

"derek" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I'm on the South West coast of Ireland, where the weather is fairly
mild
(hardly ever snows, very little frost), and I'm looking for the pros
and
cons of Solar versus Poly. The financial difference, I understand,
and
the
solar tunnel seems to be the way to go, for the following reasons:

Lasts longer
Possibly allows more light in
Easier to assemble
Easier to extend
Higher sides allow more growing space.

I'm sure there will be arguments for and against... I'd be interested
to
hear them.

Thanks

Derek


Not clear what you mean by a solar tunnel, I know what a polytunnel is,
if
you are referring to structures covered in polycarbonate sheeting then
most
people down here in Cornwall are replacing them as they proved a costly
mistake, caused a lot of scorch on plants, got too hot in summer and
were
not as good in wind as a conventional poly tunnel. (but you may mean
something else entirely :~)

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)




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Hi Derek,

I also have the same questions in mind. I'll be going to the National Amateur Gardening show at the weekend to have a look at a display solar tunnel.

By the literature supplied I guess other benefits might be:

Look a lot better
Can fill a waterbutt from them (seems using an optional gutter system)
Might stay warner

Also by the time you have added a few optional extras to a standard poly tunnel the price does rise a bit.

I'll post conclusions after looking at the display on sunday.

Dave

Update on Solar Tunnels.

Had a good look at the recent National Amateur Gardening show. (3m wide version on display)

They certainly look better, lower roof height so not so 'in your face' as a poly tunnel and a nice greenish look due to the green mesh.

The material looks pretty tough, its in one piece (for the 6m on display) with two separate bits for the ends so pulls down without all the 'gathered' polythene on a standard tunnel. Extensions available with additional cover.

Framework looks pretty decent, slot together galvanised with rails around the bottom (so no digging in polythene), also rails along the top of sides at eye level. All seems to go together quite well, no overhead crop bars though, but wire would do.

Doors (hinged) again in galvanised so no wood to rot away, again these looked pretty decent with a basic workable opening handle system. Didn't see the sliding doors so can't comment.

Steel 'corkscrew' fixing to screw into the ground so no digging it seems, frame work fixes to these so looks quite easy to put up. Cover stretches down (with metal insert strips) to hook onto the bottom frame. A small gap between the two allows ventilation.

Seems that you can fill a water butt from the roof but not with a supplied system, standard guttering can be fitted and an adhesive flap would need to be attached to direct water from the roof into the gutter, a DIY option really but would work.

All in all it looks better than a poly tunnel and seems easy to put up. Framework and cover all look good and tidy compared to poly tunnel. Whether the extra cost versus a poly tunnel is justified is debatable, but I think it is and will be ordering one when I have prepared the site, it would certainly look better in a garden than a polytunnel and is more like a greenhouse in appearance.

Hope this helps

Dave (need any more info send me a message)