January 2008

Well it is finally up.

Measures 8 foot by 10 foot.

Managed to get the plastic on between gales and rain, but it has survived.

Am very very pleased, what with waiting for money to buy the polythene, and scrounging stuff to recycle it feels like we have been building it for ages.

Started by levelling the ground, I think this was back in November 2007.
Bought the scaffolding poles, connectors (as suggested by the scaffold bloke, as I couldn't figure how to hammer in 8 foot poles being height challenged) and old scaffold boards for £35.00.

Cut the smaller lengths into 2 foot bits, and hammered them into the ground until they were all level with each other.
Put the baseboards around and screwed and bracketed them on the corners.



Then the connectors went into these tubes, long tubes on the top and the connector tightened.
Blue water pipe pushed into the tops, and bolted into position. (I wanted the thicker water pipe, but could only find the next size down to recycle)



Then old pallets were asked for at the local steel handling place, and they were more than happy to give them to us, and after they were dismantled, they gave us loads of hefty good wood.
So frame up next. OH did a great job on it and it made the whole framework very sturdy




Finally the polythene and anti hotspot tape was ordered after Christmas,for £60.00 and with a one day eye between gales and storms, it went on.

What a pain it was. A bit loose in places, but I think that is because the framework isn't as straight as it should be, but I got there in the end.
Battens on around the baseboard, soil back filled over the polythene in the ground (after stabbing with a fork to aid drainage) and now it is ready to fill.







I can't wait to get it filled with seedlings.
Have already had my seeds out for a looksie, to see what can go in now, and it's final cost was £95.00, plus bolts n screws. Saw one in a budget gardening catalogue, same size for £300.00.

Now to see if I can grow anything in it this year.
Here's hoping it is a better vegetable year than last.

Put my potatoes in the cold spare room to start chitting today.
Have got, Lady Chrystl, Kestrel, a few Rocket and International Kidney to try, and Pink Fir's. Total cost was £5.50 from a local nursery where you buy them for 50p per lb. Looked more like a greengrocers with all the tatties in boxes than a nursery.