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Post by roofgardener on Feb 1, 2016 19:12:46 GMT
PolyTrouble !
The Polytunnel is under attack ! We've had STRONGER winds than this before, and there is no way the actual FRAME is going to take off... BUT..... The door - which is quite large - was split down the middle. I bodged a 'patch' on it, which is fine in normal weather. But tonight I discovered the door gaping open - the sticky tape holding the patch on had given way. "So what", you ask ? Well, the split door is acting like a kite in the wind, billowing up... and pulling the rest of the 'tent' with it !! All of the stays on the rear length had been sheared off... the force must be phenomenal. The risk is that the entire Polytunnel is "de-gloved", exposing the innards to the wind. SOME stuff might survive, but say goodbye to all the loose seed packets, propagator lids, and smaller plants. Indeed, with the full polytunnel 'tent skin' blowing in the wind like a giant sail, it could pull the frame over, topple the shelves, and trash all of the seedlings in the seed trays. I've done what I can... I've re-taped the patch and tried to hold it down with bricks and a paving stone... BUT.... I'm not sure it's going to be enough. Oh ... did I mention force ? You might expect a strong wind - acting on a patch of fabric... to rip the tape holding it (because the glue in sticky tape is not THAT sticky). Well this is Duck Tape.... VERY sticky stuff. One section held; the glue held fast. The wind actually ripped the tape itself in half !!!!! And Nottingham is only getting a FRACTION of the wind that the Northern and Western areas are getting. I hope everyone's gardens make it through the night ! Good Luck everyone ! |
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Post by daitheplant on Feb 1, 2016 20:17:18 GMT
A question, Roofus. Is Duck tape similar to Duct tape?   To be serious, though. You have done just about all you can in the circumstances.  |
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Post by roofgardener on Feb 1, 2016 20:52:38 GMT
Believe it or not, the label is "Duck Tape"... I kid you not !
It's actually white Gaffa Tape. (a thicker version of the traditional USA silver "Duct Tape").
And - incredibly - the bodge fix seems to have held. The wind seems to have dropped... perhaps the chrisis is passed ?
How where things in your neck of the woods ?
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Post by grindle on Feb 2, 2016 5:00:12 GMT
 I hope your polytunnel manages to survive it all roofy I did hear it's going to be pretty rough in your neck of the woods
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Post by roofgardener on Feb 2, 2016 8:19:59 GMT
Well, it survived. Even the 'bodge' fix on the door held !
I think (hope, pray) that the worse of it is over.
Apparantly Scotland had it bad, with a gust of 148MPH being recorded on the peaks of the Cairngorms.
Did anybody else have any problems ?
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Post by SueA on Feb 2, 2016 8:45:38 GMT
Glad your tunnel survived Roofy, it was very windy here & next door's wheelie bin took off in the night & scraped it's way along the drive between us, sounded awful but luckily can't see any damage here. I was worrying that this morning you'd be on here upset because all your seedlings had disappeared in a gust of wind! |
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Post by peony on Feb 2, 2016 9:37:22 GMT
Glad your tunnel survived Roofy, it was very windy here & next door's wheelie bin took off in the night & scraped it's way along the drive between us, sounded awful but luckily can't see any damage here. I was worrying that this morning you'd be on here upset because all your seedlings had disappeared in a gust of wind! [/font] So was I, glad your polytunnel survived Roofy, hope all the seedlings are OK  |
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Post by roofgardener on Feb 2, 2016 10:19:05 GMT
I popped in thismorning to drop off some (cleaned) plantpots, and everything seems fine.
My wheeliebin had blown over, and a few other bits and bobs had been blown around, but apart from that everything seemed OK.
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Post by grindle on Feb 2, 2016 16:27:14 GMT
that's good roofy, we were lucky down here and escaped the worst of the wind
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Post by daitheplant on Feb 2, 2016 19:28:01 GMT
Went to the allotments this morning and one of the panels in the little greenhouse had blown out, not damaged though and soon put back. A few cloches and bins blown about on other plots, but again, very little damage.
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Post by dianthus on Feb 4, 2016 0:08:48 GMT
I am pleased to read that your polydolly has survived being blown up |
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Post by roofgardener on Feb 8, 2016 10:54:47 GMT
I've had a thoroughly lazy weekend, and did virtually ZERO gardening. It's all very well having a tidy roofgarden (well, tidier than usual, anyway), and having all my tools etc organised... BUT.... I'm not actually PLANTING anything ! I read daitheplant's allotment blog about planting 300 onion sets, and decided that I REALLY need to get my act together. So I was out of bed by 05:00, and pottering around in the Polytunnel. I tidied lots of things up, and "prepared" some plant pots (e.g. filled them with soil), and re-arranged the insulation bubblewrap, and put my drill batteries on charge, and..... STILL didn't get around to planting anything. I WILL do tonight after work, however. There are no pictures of the Polytunnel, so here is a picture of a present that my Sister gave me over the weekend.  This pleased me GREATLY ! |
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Post by grindle on Feb 8, 2016 12:12:13 GMT
Love the mug roofy |
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Post by peony on Feb 8, 2016 16:15:56 GMT
Great present Roofy |
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Post by dianthus on Feb 8, 2016 16:24:25 GMT
What an ace mug Roofy. I hope you'll drink from it left-handedly, so the owls can see you are busy thinking, if not doing anything whilst drinking and listening to the radio, in the polytunnel  |
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To be serious, though. You have done just about all you can in the circumstances. 
I hope your polytunnel manages to survive it all roofy I did hear it's going to be pretty rough in your neck of the woods
