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From Pasture to Polytunnel – Part 2 – Cladding a Polytunnel

Joy Michaud — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:18:37 +0000

This is the 2nd part of a 2 part article click here to see the 1st part if you have not already read it.

Preparing for the plastic

Before the plastic can be fitted over the polytunnel frame there are still a couple of jobs to do:

Applying the insulating tape.

28. The metal hoops in a polytunnel tend to get very hot and over time will make the plastic on a polytunnel become very brittle. To prevent this happening an insulating tape should be stuck on the top of the hoops so the plastic and the metal hoops never touch.
29. Sticking hot spot tape to the tunnel to ensure the plastic never touches the metal hoops.
30. Every part of the tunnel hoops that might touch the plastic should have hot spot tape.

Digging the ditch

A ditch has to be dug right around the tunnel frame. This is for burying the plastic sheet, thereby securing it firmly into the ground.

31. The ditch should run a few inches away from the posts. A 2x4inch plank of wood placed flush against the posts is ideal for acting as a guide. Using a flat bladed cutting spade the soil can then be cut along the edge of the wood.
32. The ditch should be about 8 inches wide. The spade should be used to cut the outer side of the ditch.
33. With the sides of the ditch already cut the soil can simply be cut out. The ditch should be about 8 inches deep.
34. Move the wooden plank as the ditch progresses. A neat, carefully dug ditch makes the burying process easy and helps in achieving a well-covered tunnel.
35. The ditch goes all around the polytunnel frame except where the doorframes are.

Cladding the polytunnel

Lifting the plastic sheet over:

A polytunnel cannot be covered or ‘clad’ on just any day. The weather has to be still – any wind will make the plastic sheet act like a parachute. In addition, the sun has to be shining – the warmth from the sun’s rays trapped in the polytunnel make the plastic more supple and easier to handle and stretch. If there is no sun the plastic is prone to tearing.

If the weather is not right do not attempt to clad a polytunnel – even if a team of people have arrived to help or you have taken a day off work. Any attempt to clad a polytunnel in inappropriate weather will, at best, result, in a loose cover that will flap in the wind and may shorten the life of the plastic by years. At worst bad weather could result in a complete failure.

36. Before starting it really helps to make sure all the necessary tools and equipment are available. In particular, a knife is needed for cutting the plastic, spades for filling the ditch, and hammer, nails and wood for attaching the plastic to the doorframe.
37. The plastic sheet needs to be unrolled along one side of the polytunnel frame. Once unrolled the sheet will still be folded several times along its length. The different layers tend to stick together, so before lifting over the polytunnel frame the layers should be separated.
38. The sheet should then be pulled over the polytunnel frame. At least two people, preferably three or more, are needed for this job. The bigger the polytunnel the more people are needed. Holding both ends of the plastic sheet it should be gently lifted onto the frame and eased up.
39. The plastic sheet should never be forced, just gently manoeuvred to the apex of the frame. There may be times it seems impossible, but it will eventually get there. The only problem that might occur is if there is a gust of wind. The plastic sheet will act like a parachute. If it is too windy, give up. If there are occasional gusts of wind it might be exciting but it is not really a problem.
40. As soon as the sheet is over the polytunnel frame it should be weighted down with soil. This must be done quickly if there is any risk of there being more gusts of wind.
41. The plastic sheet must lie evenly over the frame, with equal amounts of spare plastic on each side and each end. Checking that the creases run parallel to the ground is a useful way of ensuring that the plastic is not skew. To secure the sheet further the spare plastic at the ends can be tucked in through the doorframe.

Attaching the plastic sheet to the polytunnel frame:

42. The plastic is first attached to the top of the doorframe at both ends. The plastic above one doorframe should be smoothed out, and a cut made diagonally, down and towards the centre from both corners, creating a flap of plastic that comes to a point 2–3 feet below the top of the doorframe.
43. The flap should be smoothed out, but not pulled. It should be folded inside and attached to the top of the doorframe on the inside of the polytunnel.
44.The door at the other end is attached in the same way, but before being attached it must be pulled as hard as possible. If the sun is shining the air inside the tunnel will quickly heat up, warming the plastic as well. It is worth letting this happen – take a break, have a cup of tea – as warm plastic stretches better.
45. If the plastic is warm it becomes supple and can be pulled extremely hard without any risk of damage. If the sun is not shining, particularly if the air temperature is cold as well, the plastic is brittle and will easily tear. Even if the plastic is warm, though, it must be held correctly for pulling. The best way is to bunch the plastic together and hold that. Clutching a single layer of the sheet when pulling is risky as fingers easily make a hole in the plastic.
46. The plastic can be attached to the doorframe by sandwiching it with wood strapping. Use several strips, and many nails.
47. Alternatively, in exposed sites where the polytunnel may experience strong gales in the winter, the plastic sheet can be attached to the wooden frame by cutting it into strips and rolling it around 1×2 inch pieces of wood, which are then nailed onto the frame. This method will not allow any slippage or tearing of the plastic.
48. After the plastic has been attached to the top of the doorframe at both ends, it must be buried in the ditch on the sides. This is done in a very particular order. Bury the plastic at the centre hoop on one side, do not pull the plastic down hard.
49. Then bury the plastic on the other side, at the exact opposite position. From then onwards, the plastic must be buried, hoop by hoop, first one side then the equivalent opposite side, moving gradually from the centre to the ends.
50. When burying the plastic the first time it should be smoothed out but not pulled. From then on before the plastic is buried it should be stretched as hard as possible over the hoops. To do this put soil on the plastic sheet; lift the soil up by holding the loose plastic on the outside; and then stand on the soil (still holding the plastic). Your body weight will slide the bulky soil down into the bottom of the ditch, thus stretching the plastic. The warmer and sunnier the day the more pliable the plastic is, and the better the results.
51. Work from the centre to the ends of the polytunnel. To save time at this stage it is only necessary to wedge soil into the ditch where the hoops are situated. The ditch between the hoops can be filled in later. Only bury the plastic on the sides, the ends will be done later.
52. If the site is particularly vulnerable to strong winds, the plastic can be buried in the ditch even more securely by folding the spare plastic over, like an “S”, and adding more soil.
53. With the ditch done the next step is to attach the plastic to the sides of the doorframes. Starting at the top the plastic is pulled around the last hoop and the doorframe and nailed onto the frame on the inside of the tunnel. The job really needs two people, one to keep a tight pull on the plastic, while the other does the hammering.
54. The plastic must be pulled as hard as possible around the corner of the last hoop.
55. Towards the bottom of the doors there will be a lot of spare plastic to deal with. This is quite natural and just has to be folded out of the way. Folds must be introduced to accommodate it all.
56. The plastic at ground level at the ends can now be buried in the ditch. The soil should be tightly packed in, and the extra plastic sticking up form the ditch should be cut just at the soil surface.
57. When all the ditches are filled in and the doorframes done the tunnel sides should look neat, and there should be no loose plastic.

Making the door

There are as many designs for tunnel doors as there are tunnel owners. They can range from very sophisticated methods using hinges and proper door latches to just hanging a sheet of spare plastic from the doorframe. Generally, the simple methods are the easiest to maintain.

58. A simple but effective door is a sheet of plastic wrapped around a piece of wood and nailed onto the top of the doorframe. The plastic should be larger than the doorframe.
59. Two planks of wood sandwiching the plastic at the end and at a couple of places in the middle will give the plastic ‘door’ extra weight and strength.
60. The door is opened by rolling the plastic up and hooking some string around it.
61. In situations where strong gales can be a problem it is important that the door is able to prevent the wind entering the tunnel. In these cases a slightly stronger door is necessary. One method is to make a wooden frame that is slightly larger than the doorframe. This can then be covered with plastic and kept on with string crossed over the door.
62. A more sophisticated system involves hinges and doors that fit accurately within the doorframe. These systems are easy to manage day-to-day, but do require more maintenance over the years.

Preparing the inside of the polytunnel

63. Many polytunnel crops, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, need some sort of support when growing. It is much easier to put the supporting wire up before any crops are planted. The wire should be laid out along the length of the tunnel.
64. The wire should be attached to the end hoops with attachments slipped onto the end hoops when the polytunnel was erected.
65. With the wire firmly secured at both ends of the polytunnel, it should then be attached onto each internal hoop. A short piece of wire wrapped around the hoop and wire does the job nicely.
66. When the four lengths of wire are secured to each hoop they are unlikely to get in the way of anyone working in the polytunnel. The polytunnel is now ready for planting.
67. The same polytunnel a few weeks later.

The finished polytunnel

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Don't forget to enter our competition for a complete growing kit by Greenhouse Sensation

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The US version of the Hairy Bikers eating super hot chillies in Texas

Hot Juan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:31:00 +0000

Paul Patranella and Bill Allen may not be the original UK Hairy Bikers, but they can take the heat as they visit Texas and taste some of the worlds hottest peppers. with our friends at eatmoreheat.com

eatmoreheat.com

James Wreck , John Scrovak and David Martin from eatmoreheat.com appear at around 11:27 into the video with some amazing burgers.

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ChileFoundry Newsletter January 2012

Hot Juan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:59:34 +0000

Happy New Year – 2012

Its 100 years of the since Wilbur Scoville created ther Scoville Organoleptic Test and January 22nd was also his Birthday..

We have a great competition this month – You could win the Ultimate Chilli Growing Kit from Greenhouse Sensation by answering one simple question, you can be entered in the draw.

And just incase you missed it below is a list of the articles we published this month, our thanks to all the contributors, it is going to be a fun 2012.

News & Info(in reverse order of appearance)

Fire Foods Chilli Jam

Reviews (in reverse order of appearance)

Chilliqueen Ginger & Line Chilli Jelly

Recipes (in reverse order of appearance)

Sinful Sauces Fatalii and Juniper

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This Newsletter is sponsored by Hot-Headz

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Top 10 UK Chilli Web Sites – January 2012

Hot Juan — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:34:41 +0000

This is our first Top 10 of 2012, and it is all change, a complete surprise was www.simpsonsseeds.co.uk comming in at #6, this is the first time they have even been near the top 10 as far as I can remember, Also after a long run at #1 www.hot-head.co.uk has dropped to #3, must be a sign that all that? Christmas? shopping is over again.

Another? amazing? move has been how fast www.dartmoorchillifarm.com has climbed back in to the Top 10 and almost to the #1 slot, following their request we have removed there other site from the list, but it would have been number #4 on the list otherwise.

And what can we say, we are please to be the #1 Chilli Web site in the UK for the first top 10 of 2012, I wonder how long we can keep the top spot.

Pos	Site	UK Rank	World Rank	Links
1	www.chilefoundry.co.uk	17,094	440,183	176
2	www.dartmoorchillifarm.com	17,931	666,503	129
3	www.hot-headz.com	19,533	401,052	129
4	www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk	53,621	819624	154
5	www.scorchio.co.uk	59,013	800,508	108
6	www.simpsonsseeds.co.uk	113,627	3,123,430	61
7	www.mexgrocer.co.uk	135,144	1,524,248	107
8	www.chileseeds.co.uk	136,421	851,851	168
9	www.coolchile.co.uk	149,775	2,437,178	149
10	www.chillisgalore.co.uk	166,325	725,624	157

This is based on data from Alexa (data recorded on 29/01/12).

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Josh Destructor (AKA ConalCochran ) has created what is best described as a tribute/homarge to Darth Naga, he has taken clips (With permission) from some of Darth’s videos, with some of Darth’s best facial expressions and personal sound effects.

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Chilli Stall Holders – Frosts Garden Centre’s 3rd Chilli Festival

Hot Juan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:21:48 +0000

During the weekend the Garden Room Restaurant, Orchid Cafe and Food Hall will be serving up a chilli inspired menu, you can talk to chilli experts, learn the secrets of preparing and cooking with chillies from our chef, enjoy live traditional Mexican music everyday as well as browse a selection of food & chilli stalls and after sampling all those chilli products why not relax in our Chilli-ed Out Zone!

The main event will take place at Frosts Garden Centre – Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes although a Chilli Festival will take place at Millets Farm Centre, Oxford and at Frosts Garden Centre – Willington, Bedfordshire on the same weekend. Please see website for full details.

There will also be a huge selection of chilli products to try and buy! Including a huge variety and display of chilli plants, chutneys, hot sauces, chilli vodka, beers and ciders, locally made chilli inspired sausages, cheeses, chilli chocolate, books, seeds, dried & fresh chillies and what’s more entry and parking is completely FREE!

If you are interested in exhibiting please contact Simon Gurnett in the Marketing Department on 01908 289217.

Frosts Garden Centre’s 3rd Chilli Festival – Newport Road, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK17 8UE.

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Monthly Newsletter – UK Chilli News, Review and Events

Hot Juan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:22:21 +0000

Why not keep up up to date – sign up for our monthly newsletter?

Subscribe now and we will send a once a month newsletter with details of all the latest:-

Stories - Who is doing what and when.
Recipes - What to do with your chillies.
Reviews - We rate every product we try!
News - What is happening around the world.
Events - Our massive directory of UK events.

For chilli news the UK and beyond.

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Can you grow the longest Joes Long Chillie?

Hot Juan — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:09:40 +0000

Joes Long

Fire Foods would like to see who can grow the longest Joes Long in the UK?

You have until the 1st November 2012 to enter your longest chilli in the competition.

You need to take a picture of your best chilli with a tape measure as proof, if you are after some seeds, they may also be able to help

for more details visit their forum at www.firefoods.co.uk

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Scoville Day – 2012 Marks a 100 Years of Scoville Ratings

Hot Juan — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:27:36 +0000

Wilbur Scoville (1865 - 1942)

Today is the birthday of Walter Lincoln Scoville (AKA Wilbur Scoville), the creator of the original Scoville Organoleptic Test, which gave it’s and his name to the unit of measure we use today to rate the heat of Chillies.

100 Years ago in 1912 while working for Parke Davis, Wilbur developed the Scoville Organoleptic Test for measuring the strength or amount of capsaicin in a variety of Chilli Pepper.

“Scoville proposes the following practical method. Macerate 0.1 gm. of ground capsicum overnight in 100 mils of alcohol; shake well and filter. Add this tincture to sweetened water (10% sugar) in such proportion that a distinct but weak pungency is perceptible to the tongue or throat.” – Quote from excellent article by Dave DeWitt

For the rest of the non chilli-head world he is probably best know in for this book “The Art of Compounding” which was a standard work for Pharmaceutical Students and Pharmacists, first published in 1895, it went through 8 editions and was still in common use into the 1960′s

Born at the end of the American Civil War in Bridgeport, Connecticut on January 22 1865, he passed away in 1942 at the age of 77, he achieved many things in his life, but for us he is the man who gave his name to the Scoville Heat Scale. Happy Birthday Wilbur.

If you would like to know more about the life and times of Wilbur Scoville, I recommend you read Dave DeWitt’s excellent article on the Fiery Foods & Barbecure Supersite.

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Trade Stands at The Farther Day Chilli Fiesta 2012 – Book Now

Hot Juan — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:40:06 +0000

Chilli Fiesta 2012

The Mansion House in association with Edible Ornamentals will be hosting The Farther Day Chilli Fiesta on Sunday 17thJune 2012.

Located in the grounds of the magnificent 19th Century Mansion House, former home of the Shuttleworth Family, the Chilli Fiesta promises to be the biggest party around, combining live music, cooking demonstrations and a carnival atmosphere.

The Chilli Fiesta is a great way to meet your customers face to face. The 2011 Fiesta was so popular many suppliers and traders sold out of their products, proving what great value this event is for traders.

The 2012 show promises to be BIGGER, BETTER and MORE COLOURFUL than ever before with an expected audience of 5,000 visitors.

NEW! Live celebrity cooking demonstrations in our Taste Marquee
Cooking Demonstrations by Award-Winning Chefs in our Chilli Kitchen
NEW! Cooking Classes in the Chefs Academy
NEW! World Food Quarter
Chilli Stands selling everything from Chilli Chocolate to Chilli Ice Cream! Don’t forget you can try before you buy
NEW! World Buffet. An opportunity to try food from around the World
Grow Your Own in our Garden quarter
Gardening demonstrations for foodies in our Gardening Academy
NEW! Circus Skills Experience and Funfair for all the Family
Additional Indoor and outdoor trade areas with food, crafts, art exhibitors and other specialists
The Chilli Bar selling everything from Real Local Ales to Chilli Beer
And don’t forget our ‘Chilli Eating Competition’!

If you are interested in booking a trade stand email info@edibleornamentals.co.uk,