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Herndon, VA

For my new patch this year, I got a pump to bring in water from a nearby river (the closest water source). I experimented with it a little yesterday and verified that it does has enough pressure to drive a sprinkler, maybe two. However I am having a hard time deciding the best watering methed to pursue. I have been considering the following options, and am open to any and all suggestions:

1) Using an overhead sprinkler (the tic-tic-tic type). I have heard many growers say that this type of watering will promote fungus in high humidity areas.(mine) This worries me because I have had fungus on some of my plants in the past, and was using overhead watering in those instances.

2) Using a watering wand, watering low along each vine and keeping as much off of the leaves as possible.

3) Pumping the water into a 55 gallon drum, and allowing soaker hoses to do the work. The problem with this approach is with the quality of the water; being from a river it is full of all sorts of particulate matter. Even if I filter the water, I am sure that enough goop will get through to clog the soaker over a short period of time. Water soluable fertilizers will also clog the soaker, which leads me back to option 1 or 2 for water soluable fertilizing. I think the only way a soaker would work is if I made my own soaker hose, either from flex hose or pvc, with larger holes drilled that would be less likely to clog...something I am not willing to consider for this 1st time experiment at this location.

Any ideas, comments, or criticisms will be much appreciated!!

4/27/2001 11:59:44 AM

Connecticut, USA

One option might be to use drip emitters instead of soaker hoses. The reason being, when they clog it is easy to find and change the exact emitter that is clogged. Sounds like you want to stay away from overhead watering.

4/27/2001 12:46:32 PM

Glenn Springs S.C.

I wanted to bury soaker hoses gravity fed by warming tanks . The farm and garden center where I get most supplys said dirt would crust over the buried hose,and water soluble fertilizer will crystalize when it cools. I've been trying to figure out how to build a inground Earthbox like they sell to grow tomatos to wick water as needed no more no less. Sounds good .
Jeff

4/27/2001 9:22:35 PM

Sloughhouse, CA

Our trans-evaporation septic system has 100 ft. 1in. predrilled holes. When it clogged up we ran the smaller black hose inside and blew it out. You might experiment and see how that works.

4/27/2001 11:32:05 PM

Herndon, VA

Jeff- I have clay soil and have used soaker hoses in my backyard patch, where I have municipal water. My experience has been that they clog up when burried in the soil, but I have gotten several years out of hoses that were only covered by mulch. I never ran soluble fertilizer through tham, as I too have read that they will clog. I think the crystalizing thing is correct, I have seen Miracle Grow crystalize in the feeder.

Ken- I had not considered drip systems, I guess it never dawned on me that the emitters culd be swapped out when clogged. Good idea. Thanks.

Suzy- Were you using water or air in the black hose?

4/28/2001 1:44:24 PM

Sloughhouse, CA

Bruiser- We were using water in the hose. We have a 2in. pipe we use for fire protection. Mike used a series of pipes and reducers to regular hose size. When I get my new digital camera to work on the imac I'll sent some pictures.

4/28/2001 5:13:59 PM

walton n.y.

if you can have a pressureized system the emmiter system would be great otherwise i personally lean twords a drip system above ground so you can poke a few holes in it when it starts to clog up

4/28/2001 8:38:53 PM

Glenn Springs S.C.

I think I'll just lay my soakers on the top ' is their a need to warm /age city water before watering?
jeff

4/29/2001 2:40:09 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Hi this is my first year growing Ag. Has anyone out there used PVC to make a drip water system? I can get lots of PVC through my husbands job, and was trying to find some kind of method to building one. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks

6/9/2001 5:38:00 PM

Western Pa.

Polka Dot,

I use a high pressure pump to bring water from the pond, and utilize pvc piping to feed my overhead "whiz-head" irrigators. I use a 3" main (volume is the key) to my main patch, and run 2" lines to secondary patch. With this system I can feed and water my plants and also use it to "cool down" the plants in the heat of the day. I have 1/2" valves on all my irrigators, so I can choose which ones I want to run. PVC should work as well as anything else for drip pipe,just make sure to drain down before winter.

kilr

6/10/2001 10:08:31 AM