The Hobby Polytunnel
The Hobby, our mid-range polytunnel has everything you need to build a secure, strong structure, including 32mm Hoops as standard, timber base rails, door frames and polythene.
Requiring a little more DIY expertise compared to our Hobby Plus Easy Build. The Hobby kit gives the seasoned grower all they need to make their own growing space. This Polytunnel allows for the polythene to be attached by batons to the base rail, quicker and easier to build compared to the trenched in aspect of the Allotment.
U.K. Manufactured from the brackets to the polythene.
Our hoops are between 22% & 75% larger in diameter than some competitor models. - Our Galvanised Steel Hoops are 32mm as standard
Armourguard Coated Steel Framework – Galvanised to last a lifetime
Foundation Tubes - 2.5mm thick (others use 1.5mm)
Unique Polythene tensioning system - Allows the polythene to be tensioned or loosened as needed throughout the year
Lumisol Polythene - A British made, 7 layered polythene that has been specifically engineered for the British weather
Tanalised Timber – As standard, ready cut = No special skills and only limited sawing required.
Base Rails as standard – No digging.
Combination of Doors - One wood frame door kit and one PVC 3-in-1 door with built in ventilation. - This combination allows full access, front and back whilst the PVC 3-in-1 door's Velcro panels can be partially or fully opened to allow as much or as little ventilation
How to build your Hobby Polytunnel
What you should look out for when comparing polytunnels
Found Your Perfect Polytunnel?
Our Hobby Polytunnels are dispatched within three working days, so you can get your crops started almost straight away! If you want to talk to our in-house experts, call today and they will happily help you find a tunnel from our range to suit your needs.
Hoops Construction - Read More
Our steel tubes are coated with Armourguard - our unique high endurance tube which offers up to 20 times the corrosion resistance of pre-galvanised steel tube thanks to its revolutionary combined zinc, aluminium and magnesium coating.
We supply our hobby hoops in 2 pieces for extra strength, whereas some competitors would rather save money on carriage and jeopordise the structure
Unique Polytunnel Cover Tensioning - Read More
The Cover Tensioning System - Using a bespoke turnkey solution, the collar tensioning system enables a quick and easy tensioning of the polytunnel cover throughout the lifespan. Unlike some manufacturers, our system allows easy tightening and slackening throughout the lifespan of the SingleSpan which means you can install the polythene in any season and always have a tight, secure polythene cover.
Foundation Options - Read More
Screw Anchors
By far the best and most popular method. Suitable with most soil types, especially clay soils. Avoid only on ground with a high stone/rubble content, peat soils, or loose ground which has been recently disturbed or deeply cultivated.
Each screw anchor only takes 1-2 minutes to screw in to the ground. Compare this to the time it takes to dig each hole when using either the concreting method or ground anchor plates, and without any of the mess or exertion.
In recent tests, we measured the strengths of different polytunnel foundation options. The tests showed that our screw anchors out- performed all other methods in most types of soil. A close second place was traditional foundation tubes when concreted in position. In third place, trailing a long way behind, was the use of ground anchor plates (sometimes called ground anchors).
To give you some idea of the difference, we compared our screw anchors to one of our competitor’s heavy-duty ground plate kits, and found that it took four times more force to pull our screw anchors out of the ground. A real consideration in windy conditions.
Traditional foundation tubes - Concreting method:
The recognised method when using traditional foundation tubes is to dig a hole (35cm square x 50cm deep) and set the foundation tubes in concrete. Considered to be one of the most secure methods. Generally only used where screw anchors aren’t suitable.
Base Plates (for concrete base)
Base plates are only used when fixing your polytunnel onto a solid concrete base or railway sleepers. Supplied with fixing bolts for securing in place.
Crop bars - Read More
Although often used to hold hanging baskets or to support lateral poles on which to tie up your tomatoes, peas etc, they are more often added to a polytunnel to give it extra strength. Even though we boast that our polytunnels are strongest available, they will give peace of mind during severe, windy storms and also when heavy snow is expected. They increase the structural strength by at least 20%. Can be retrospectively fitted to existing polytunnels.
Polythene options - Read More
- Light transmission: Up to 92%
- Thickness: 720 gauge
- Thermic effect: Over 80%
- Diffusion: Less than 35%
- Light transmission: Up to 90%
- Thickness: 720 gauge
- Thermic effect: Over 80%
- Diffusion: 90%
Lumisol Clear
Lumisol Clear is a UV ’open’ polythene film, allowing UV light to reach your plants. This can have many benefits for both edible and ornamental crops, such as enhancing the fragrance, taste, colour, earlier harvesting and longer post-harvest shelf life. In addition, UV open films promote plant anti-oxidants which are good for plant health and encourage stronger plants.
Due to its clarity, clear polythene allows around 2% more light to enter your polytunnel than with a diffused polythene cover. This extra light brings extra heat which can be a benefit during the early and late months of the growing season. Especially popular in northern and western regions where lower light levels naturally occur.
Lumisol Diffused
Light-diffusing polythene films scatter the light as it passes through the polythene. This enables the light to penetrate deep into the plant canopy, as it hits the plant from all directions, not just from the direction of the sun. This ‘diffused’ light reduces the higher foliage from shading the lower parts of the plant.
Lumisol Diffused is a UV ’open’ polythene film, allowing UV light to reach your plants. This can have many benefits for both edible and ornamental crops. Thanks to its unique anti-condensation additive, Lumisol Diffused is able to control condensation on the underside of the film.
Side Vent - Read More
Although doors allow adequate ventilation on shorter polytunnels throughout most of the growing season, additional ventilation is often required.
This simple to operate, low-cost ventilation system offers a practical solution during the summer months, especially for longer polytunnels where stale, humid air can build up in the centre of your polytunnel. Simply wind up the polythene side screen/s when required, and wind down when you want to retain the heat. Can be fitted to one or both sides of your polytunnel. Kit includes aluminium side rail, external polythene wind-up screen, and netting (to cover the ventilation holes). The holes are cut in to the main cover once the side rail has been attached. This kit can be fitted to existing polytunnels.
Netting
This netting will provide you with 40-45% shade value. The net is a UV stablised (UVI) knitted polythylene monofiliment.
Shade Value: 40-45%
Weight: 90g per m2
Polythene - Superlux 50:50
Light Transmission: Over 90%
Thickness: 600g (150 micron)
Thermic Effect: Over 80%
Diffusion: Optimum for UK
Door Options - Read More
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Single Hinged Timber Door
Our 2 paneled single hinged timber door comes ready to build with timber, brackets and enough netting or polythene to make either a:
Full Polythene Door
Full Netted Door
Half and Half
Top TipIf you choose to put netting on the door, it’s worth keeping the extra polythene that you don’t use for the colder months to act as a wind break.
PVC 3-in-1 DoorA PVC 3in1 door that suits all weathers and gardeners. Made exclusively for Northern Polytunnels, this door comes with 2 heavy-duty zips for ease of access, a Velcroed panel that can be removed partially or entirely to allow as much or as little ventilation as required and two Velcro tabs that secure your door in place out of the way for those long hot summer days. To install, simply baton the PVC panel to a wooden door frame.
A double zipped door that allows easy access whilst also allowing measured ventilation with a Velcro panel
A PVC 3in1 door that suits all weathers and gardeners. Made exclusively for Northern Polytunnels, this door comes with 2 heavy-duty zips for ease of access, a Velcroed panel that can be removed partially or entirely to allow as much or as little ventilation as required and two Velcro tabs that secure your door in place out of the way for those long hot summer days. To install, simply baton the PVC panel to a wooden door frame.
We have created a Polytunnel that has the same heavy-duty steel framework as our popular Hobby Plus Easy-Build Polytunnel, which, due to the base rails can include side vents as optional extras.
Our allotment Polytunnel includes;
32mm Galvanised Steel Hoops as standard
Lumisol Diffused Polythene Cover
Foundation Tubes
Diagonal Brace Bars
Tanalised Timber for Base Rails, Side Rails and Door Frames.
Tanalised Timber kit for front door (with enough polythene and netting for any variation of air flow
Our Unique, PVC 3in1 Door, with double zips, Velcro vent Panel.
Optional Side Vents available
Our Lumisol Diffused Polythene Covers come with a 5-year guarantee against UV degradation.
As this kit has tanalised timber, some manual skills are required to saw and build the base rails, door frames and baton down the polythene.
Image used shows optional extra Side Vent Kit
