Polytunnel Trellis Lines for Strawberries in Wexford

Wexford's soft-fruit growers run some of Ireland's most productive polytunnels, and dependable polytunnel trellis lines for strawberries in Wexford rely on a support cable that shrugs off the county's mild, salt-laden Atlantic air. AGROPET is a high-tenacity PET polyester monofilament that replaces galvanised steel wire and does not rust, even under constant condensation.

Why steel wire struggles in a Wexford polytunnel

Strawberry tunnels along the Wexford coast sit in a humid, maritime climate where drips, condensation and salt carried off the Irish Sea attack galvanised steel from the very first season. Once the zinc coating is scratched during tensioning or knotting, corrosion spreads, staining fruit and weakening the line just as the crop reaches full load across the long March-to-November season.

Repeated overhead irrigation and routine plant-protection products only add to the problem. Wet steel corrodes; the same droplets leave AGROPET polyester untouched. Because the monofilament is dielectric and non-conductive, it also removes the electrical hazard steel carries around tunnel pumps, lighting and fans.

What AGROPET polyester lines bring to strawberry tunnels

AGROPET is roughly five times lighter than steel at a density of 1.36 g/cm³, so long tunnel runs are quicker to string and re-tension by hand. The monofilament is UV-resistant and stable from −40 °C to +90 °C, with a melting point of 250 °C, comfortably covering the temperature swings inside a sealed polytunnel on a bright Wexford day.

It knots by hand, needs no crimps and is tensioned to around 1 % elongation using turnbuckles or Gripple® tensioners. Elongation at break is about 16 %, so the line absorbs gusts and crop load without the sudden failure of a corroded steel wire. It is supplied in white and crystal and is recyclable at end of life.

Choosing the right gauge

Match the gauge to row length and crop weight. AGROPET publishes these measured breaking loads:

• 2.6 mm — 300 kgf
• 3 mm — 365 kgf
• 4 mm — 405 kgf
• 5 mm — 616 kgf

For most strawberry table-top and A-frame systems, the 3 mm and 4 mm gauges cover typical row spans. You can compare gauges and request samples on the AGROPET product page.

AGROPET monofilament is made in Europe by Textil Villa de Pego in Pego, Alicante, under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification audited by Bureau Veritas. For Wexford strawberry growers weighing up a rust-free, lighter alternative to steel trellis wire, it is a straightforward, measured upgrade.

Photo: Mark Stebnicki (Pexels) · Pexels License