So, a bad start to the weekend. Saturday was a mite windy. Not gale force, by any means, but enough for the wind to get inside the cover and blow it up. It was still on when I got to the plot. I don't know if I helped it on its way (I was trying to fix it) but the whole thing blew off the frame, with only the trench on one side clinging on to the cover's apron to stop it blowing away forever.
I gave up. It was a two-man job. So I returned with a plus one - my wife - and together we managed to get it back over the frame and secured. So much easier with two...
While I'd been sure to secure the frame to the ground with some solid looking ground stakes, I'd neglected to fix the cover to the ground - partly because the pegs that came with the polytunnel seemed so thin and flimsy, I didn't see what use they'd be anyway. Clearly, if the wind opens the the zip even slightly, a gust of wind will funnel in and want to take it up into the great allotment in the sky.
It's much more secure now. Having re-filled the trench, treading down the soil inside and out and watering it to make the whole thing more solid and compact. But I still needed to peg down the cover.
So Sunday morning was spent at The Range getting two tie-out stakes (usually used for tying dog's leads to when you're on the beach or camping), some repair tape and some hi-vis guy ropes (very pleased with that find). The tie-out stakes use a corkscrew-style spiral design so they make a pretty solid anchor. I tied the two front guy ropes to these and the rear two to the fence. Hopefully, the fence won't blow off and take the polytnnel with it - or vice versa.
I'm also paying special attention to the front flap and keeping the wind from creeping in and unzipping it. I'm think I'm going to dig down and keep the apron below ground to keep it secure.
Anyway, after all that excitement, I got on with the job I meant to start early on Saturday: getting the artificial grass path down and the decking boards to construct my raised beds within. Made some good progress. It's beginning to look like a 1-hole crazy golf course. Not me intention, but it does look smart.
Will finish the job next weekend. Bonus - got a cucumber and pepper plant in there to see if it makes a difference. It's certainly much warmer in there. I was sweating BUCKETS and it's nearly October!
