Whether keeping plants warm on the ground or completely covering them to protect them from the harsh winter, you need solid plastic for a polytunnel. That is why we put together a list of the 3 best plastic for polytunnel reviews of 2022, highlighting what each one does best and which type of greenhouse it should be used for.
| Image | Product | |
|---|---|---|
Thickest Plastic  | QVS Shop Polythene Sheeting
| Check Price |
Highest Light Transmission  | A&A Green Store Plastic Film
| Check Price |
Best All-Around  | Infrarot-heiztechnologie Greenhouse Polythene Sheet
| Check Price |
QVS Shop Heavy Duty Polythene Sheeting – Thickest Polythene Sheeting for Polytunnels
While the product may be distributed by QVS Shop, this polyethylene sheet is made by Gardner’s Dream which has been around for a little over a decade. Still, there is no getting around the fact that the QVS Shop Plastic is a solid option for a wide variety of uses.
For starters, you can use this plastic both on the ground as well as a general covering thanks to its waterproofing that provides a damp-proof membrane for roofing purposes. Even better, you can use the QVS Shop Plastic as a top layer too thanks to its UV stabilization that prevents degradation under continuous exposure to sunlight.
Compared to some of the competitors, this plastic offers an extremely wide range of different sizes to suit various needs. However, one thing you might notice is that the QVS Shop Plastic does not provide sheets or rolls of exceptionally wide dimensions which may force you to purchase multiple items.
Still, this is the thickest plastic on our list coming in a heft 250 Mu or 1000 g which means that it is a bit more durable than some but also tends to be stiff and creases when folded. While those are not major flaws, the QVS Shop Plastic is not entirely honest when it advertises the plastic as clear and is instead a fogged transparent.
PROS
- Comes in a wide range of sizes
- Is UV stabilized
- Is a thick 250 Mu/1000 g
- Is waterproof plastic
CONS
- Not the widest selection
- Is not transparent
A&A Green Store Greenhouse Polyethylene Cover – Highest Light Transmission Polytunnel Plastic Sheeting
A&A Green Store is the most experienced company we reviewed with more than 15 years under its belt and a focus on greenhouse plastics. That said, this entry focuses far more on providing solutions to large-scale greenhouse projects that require slightly different characteristics than most.
For instance, one thing that might turn people off of the A&A Green Store Plastic is its thickness which is the thinnest reviewed at only 152 Mu or 600 g. However, part of the reason for this comes down to how much light the plants inside require as this option affords better light transmission than most at 90%.
On top of that, the A&A Green Store Plastic is far more flexible than many of its competitors without necessarily giving up too much in the way of durability. Unfortunately, this means that this plastic tends to be a bit on the expensive side when compared to others that are nearly as good.
Keeping this in mind, it is also nice that the A&A Green Store Plastic is UV stabilized to ensure that all of that light does not degrade the plastic over time. That said, you may not like the fact that this plastic advertises itself as being clear but is more of a fogged transparent.
PROS
- Comes in numerous sizes
- Is UV stabilized
- Is more flexible
- Provides higher light transmission
CONS
- Is not the thickest
- Is more expensive
Infrarot-heiztechnologie Greenhouse Polythene Sheet – Best All-Around Polythene for Polytunnels
Of all the brands on our list, Infrarot-heiztechnologie is easily the least experienced and is owned by Termofol Ltd which started just this year. That said, this plastic still has to work out a few kinks if it is going to compete with other options and be more than just a beginner’s greenhouse polyethylene.
One of the best qualities of the Infrarot-heiztechnologie Plastic is its triple-layer construction that employs CoEx-3 technology. This design sees the use of an exterior nylon layer overtop the low-density polyethylene layer for increased durability, though this is where the company needs to work out some kinks.
The exterior layer of nylon inherently suffers more from continuous exposure to sunlight which can lead to degradation of the plastic over time. Thankfully, the Infrarot-heiztechnologie Plastic is UV stabilized, but this seems to only go so far as it tends to breakdown a bit quicker than some of its competitors.
Thankfully, you do not have to worry about general durability as this plastic comes in a solid 200 Mu or 800 g thickness with plenty of different sizes to choose from. On the other hand, the Infrarot-heiztechnologie Plastic does not disclose its light transmission which is important for a fogged transparent plastic.
PROS
- Comes in numerous sizes
- Uses COEX-3 technology
- Is a solid 200 Mu/800 g
- Is UV stabilized
CONS
- Not the most durable
- Unknown light transmission
Conclusion
In the end, the best plastic for polytunnel will depend as much on the type of plants you grow like anything else with a bit of a give and take required to find the right option. If you need a plastic that can handle the roughest conditions, the QVS Shop Plastic is extremely thick and durable.
However, the thickest, most durable plastics tend to block out a bit too much light for some plants which is where the A&A Green Store Plastic’s 90% light transmission comes in handy. Of course, if you want to split the difference, the Infrarot-heiztechnologie Plastic employs CoEx-3 layering.
