Pollytunnel orientation

twenty8

I am about to purchase a Polytunnel and i would appreciate if someone could advise me on orientation.

I have to site it close to a high hedge that runs e-w. the tunnel will be on the S side.
The house is located to the SW of the site - this means that it receives no direct sun after 3/4pm during the summer. P

It also gets quite strong winds blowing from the S due to a channeling of the wind from the neighbouring field.

So, i am trying to decide if i should position the tunnel E-W (running along the hedge and would have the main part facing S so gets max sun) or N-S where it would get the morning sun and have less exposure to the wind.

Any advice that you can give would be greatly appreciated.

redser7

Personally I would go with E-W. Look at getting storm bracing and or crop bars for added strength if you are really worried. But the tunnel should be strong enough to withstand any wind anyway so I wouldn't put too much consideration into that. Having said that, as you are getting south wind channelled at it, E-W works good for you. It will slip over the structure naturally plus you won't have it coming straight at your door, risking damage during a storm. If a door fails and wind gets in but cant get out you could loose the whole tunnel.
So go with E-W to take advantage of the better sun exposure. Most of the tunnels at the allotments where I am are E-W.

slowburner

+1 for E/W
You will have to think about how you plant the tunnel though.
Lowest growing plants to the southern side etc.

redser7

And think about raised beds too to grab a bit extra light. Usually raised beds in a tunnel rob you of a bit of height for stuff like tomatoes but yours is a special case. For tall stuff you could run strings across the tunnel and grow up and across them.

sirpsycho

+1 for E-W also.

twenty8

E-W it is then. Thanks to everyone for the advice. Will keep you updated as i get it up.