First Tunnels Polythene covers are made to last. That’s why we guarantee them for a full 5 years. But, if your Polytunnel polythene cover has past its prime, you have inherited a polytunnel frame or maybe bought a second hand structure, a replacement cover will soon get your polytunnel back in business.
We have a number of polytunnel polythene films available, helping you to achieve the most suitable environment for your needs, cut to fit your Polytunnel with no waste and no cutting charge.

So, when is the best time to recover? The answer is…now!

The last thing you need is to cause disruption during spring and summer’s busy growing season. But re-covering your Polytunnel now with better weather and longer daylight hours means it doesn’t have to be a weekend project, and your Polytunnel will be prepared for the growing season and gets you perfectly set-up ready for the busy growing year to come. Just make sure you don’t pick a windy day!!!

With an easy to use online Polythene Calculator, simply enter the details of A –  the length of the Polytunnel, B – the height and C – the distance over the hoop and the nifty online calculater will determine the size of polythene sheet you will need in order to cover your structure. Watch the video to show how to measure for replacement polythene.

If you are still unsure as to what size of cover you require, please ring the First Tunnels customer service team on 01282 601253

See How to cover a Polytunnel – Watch the video.

And don’t forget…your old cover is still perfect for making cloches or mini tunnels to use in the garden, on the patio…or even inside your Polytunnel to help create an ever warmer micro-climate.

We’ll match any price!

 First Tunnels are confident our quality and price are second to none. So if you can find any comparable polytunnel cover at a lower price than ours…we’ll match it! Could it be any better…the lowest possible outlay for turning an area of your garden into all-year-round self-sufficiency? Interested in a Polytunnel? – We’ll also …match it!

WIN £1000 spend with First Tunnels

Kitchen Garden are offering one lucky winner the chance to win First Tunnels vouchers up to the value of £1,000, to spend on a Polytunnel or accessories of their choice!

First Tunnels is a successful and established supplier of Polytunnels, Polytunnel Accessories and Polythene covers. Customers include Bob Flowerdew, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Alan Titchmarsh to name just a few. Other noteworthy customers include the United Nations, Eden Project, the Natural History Museum, ITV, SKY and the BBC.

A Polytunnel gives you the gift of gardening outdoors, indoors. When the rain is pouring down, there are few better places to hide and get on with some digging. Any sunshine on a cold spring day transforms your bubble of polythene into Summer.

First Tunnels Polytunnels offer fantastic value for money and compared to a greenhouse, they are comparatively easy to construct. Many champions of the Organic and Self Sufficiency movement own Polytunnels. So why not join the Quiet Revolution that is sweeping through the UK’s gardens, allotments and smallholdings – buy that polytunnel and enjoy all the extra food it lets you produce and start totting up the environmental savings.

Not only will the winner receive vouchers up to the value of £1,000RRP, every Polytunnel order comes complete with a FREE growing pack! The growing pack consists of a crop wheel, 2 best selling books by Andy Mckee and Mark Gatter and tomato seeds! Even if you don’t win, you are still eligible for the FREE growing pack with every Polytunnel order!

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, simply fill in the ENTRY FORM by 2nd May 2012. GOOD LUCK!

Still winter isn’t it? But Spring is just around the corner, so there’s lots to do in the Polytunnel. If you are planning your First Polytunnel this year, a sunny day in February is a great time to put the cover on in time for early Spring planting as the polythene is more flexible when it’s warm.

February is the perfect time to cover your Polytunnel

You’ll be amazed how quickly it warms up inside the tunnel when the cover is pulled on. After just a few minutes, the cover will be flexible enough to tighten down and you won’t need to re-tighten it later in the year.

If you already have a Polytunnel, February is a great month to clean up in preparation for the growing season in March. There will be spaces here and there from winter harvesting, and you should fork some compost into all these as soon as possible.  Staging and tools, as well as seedlings pots should get washed with a solution of warm water and a non-toxic biodegradable soap such as Citrox.

Clean the Polytunnel's Polythene with Algon

Clean the cover as well inside and out, so everything can benefit from the increasing day length. Algon Organic, available from First Tunnels, is ideal for cleaning your Polythene cover. Simply apply with a garden sprayer, soft broom or paintbrush and leave it to work – there’s no need to scrub or rinse off later. For more cleaning and constructing tips, watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/polytunnels

Sow Now- Start chitting first early seed potatoes (set them out in egg boxes, “eyes” upwards) When the sprouts are about an inch long, plant the spuds in the tunnel. You’ll be rewarded with the earliest of earlies, sometimes in the second half of April. Contunie to sow broad beans, garlic, peas and turnips. Start sowing aubergines, peppers, strawberries, sweet potato and tomatoes and anything else on the “harvesting” list below. In a Polytunnel, you can sow any of these right now.

Harvest- Beetroot, cabbage, carrots, cauliflowerm celeric, celery, chard, coriander, radish, rocket, spinich, spring onions and turnips!

©Mark Gatter

Heading the list of culprits are our feathered friends, most of which are extremely partial to feasting on the fruits of your labour. So keeping them entirely at bay is definitely the order of the day.

Rising to the challenge is the First Tunnels Fruit Cage. Available in a range of sizes to suit everything from low growing bushes to the loftier heights of a cherry tree, these premium fruit cages complete with a door are constructed from the finest galvanised tubular steel, galvanised tube connectors and covered in netting. So, whether you’re protecting from flocks of smaller birds, the unwanted attention of pigeons, foraging by rabbits…even the pest threat of butterflies…the strong (17×17mm) polypropylene side mesh and the super light double knitted roof mesh (18×18mm) are more than up to the job.

Building your cage is quick and easy. And the finished construction will be strong, durable and ready to guard your fruit…year after year

First Tunnels Fruit Cage

First Tunnels is delighted to announce that – along with only 1% of UK companies – we’ve achieved all the requirements for BS EN ISO9001 accreditation. First Tunnels would like to thank all employees for their commitment to achieving this award.

ISO9001 is internationally recognised and sets the standard for quality management systems, leading to enhanced customer confidence and ongoing improvements giving our customers the added reassurance of buying from a company that meets the most exacting quality standards