Covering Low Tunnel

whoose · May 12, 2018

I have been using 6mil clear plastic (Visqueen) for my covers on my low tunnel beds. Problem is that it last only one season and makes a mess as it comes apart. Better suggestions/sources are welcomed.

clkeiper · May 12, 2018

you need to use uv resistant greenhouse plastic. it lasts for years.

saltmarsh · May 12, 2018

I've been using this for the last seven years and it is still going strong in Mississippi. Claud

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/p...m/plastic-film

Tip: You want the film to be tight enough it doesn't flap in wind. Movement will cause it to fail prematurely.

clkeiper · May 12, 2018

AND... this year we had a "funny" issue occur...my one house quit inflating but the fan was running and I searched all over the outside of the house for a hole... I could not find anything that would account for the loss of air. BUT where the plastic electrical conduit was up against the plastic must have had a chemical reaction to the greenhouse plastic.. it literally disintegrated along the the spots where they touched each other. so, whatever you are stretching it over... watch for deterioration... just a heads up!

whoose · May 21, 2018

Ordered some of the fancy covering today. What kind of tape do I need to keep it from touching the plastic?

saltmarsh · May 21, 2018

The same site that sells the covering also sells rolls of heavy repair tape that works great. I use the rigid foam pipe insulation (cut into 1 foot pieces) on the frame to act as a hold-off for the plastic. Claud

clkeiper · May 21, 2018

I used regular greenhouse repair tape for my patching. it was way cheaper than replacing the plastic. since yours is brand new I would suggest taping the plastic pipe with the tape instead of trying to guess where the plastic will touch it.

4season · July 22, 2018

I used latex paint on my PVC pipe. It seemed to work OK.

Shrinkrap · December 8, 2018

Any updates? I'm probably going to replace my floating row cover with some of the plastic stuff. Here's a picture of my make-shift medium tunnel.

whoose · March 29, 2019

I can get the uv resistant (4-5 year) plastic for 15 cents a square foot, cut to my specs. Is this a good price?

Cole_Robbie · March 29, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoose

I can get the uv resistant (4-5 year) plastic for 15 cents a square foot, cut to my specs. Is this a good price?

I think it is, provided it is new stuff. Some greenhouse operations sell their used plastic.

May 12, 2018	#1
whoose Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bozeman, Montana Zone 6b Posts: 333	Covering Low Tunnel I have been using 6mil clear plastic (Visqueen) for my covers on my low tunnel beds. Problem is that it last only one season and makes a mess as it comes apart. Better suggestions/sources are welcomed.

May 12, 2018	#2
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	you need to use uv resistant greenhouse plastic. it lasts for years. __________________ carolyn k

May 12, 2018	#3
saltmarsh Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: 2 miles south of Yoknapatawpha Zone 7b Posts: 662	I've been using this for the last seven years and it is still going strong in Mississippi. Claud http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/p...m/plastic-film Tip: You want the film to be tight enough it doesn't flap in wind. Movement will cause it to fail prematurely. Last edited by saltmarsh; May 12, 2018 at 05:53 PM.

May 12, 2018	#4
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	AND... this year we had a "funny" issue occur...my one house quit inflating but the fan was running and I searched all over the outside of the house for a hole... I could not find anything that would account for the loss of air. BUT where the plastic electrical conduit was up against the plastic must have had a chemical reaction to the greenhouse plastic.. it literally disintegrated along the the spots where they touched each other. so, whatever you are stretching it over... watch for deterioration... just a heads up! __________________ carolyn k

May 21, 2018	#7
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	I used regular greenhouse repair tape for my patching. it was way cheaper than replacing the plastic. since yours is brand new I would suggest taping the plastic pipe with the tape instead of trying to guess where the plastic will touch it. __________________ carolyn k

July 22, 2018	#8
4season Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: albuquerque Posts: 308	I used latex paint on my PVC pipe. It seemed to work OK.

March 29, 2019	#10
whoose Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bozeman, Montana Zone 6b Posts: 333	Local Nursery Source I can get the uv resistant (4-5 year) plastic for 15 cents a square foot, cut to my specs. Is this a good price?