Polytunnel Irrigation

PhotogTom

Hi, got a new Polytunnel late last season. Now I'd like to add an irrigation system. It's hobby size 17 x 25.
Are the Hozelock drip systems any good or do I need something more "robust"? What Hozelock one would you suggest?

kerryted

PhotogTom wrote: »

Hi, got a new Polytunnel late last season. Now I'd like to add an irrigation system. It's hobby size 17 x 25.
Are the Hozelock drip systems any good or do I need something more "robust"? What Hozelock one would you suggest?

hi tom have polytunnel my self now for the past 3 years it takes a while to figure out what to grow in it great for starting off veg in. also try peppers and chilles as for irrigation i have an ould pump in a barrel on to the downpipe on the shed and the mains water conected half way down the barrel so if the weather is dry it fills up. the pump is conected to a sprinkler i picked up in lidle .its on a timmer comes on in the evening for a few min gives every thing a good soke even when your on holidays.it works for me

PhotogTom

Hi, might be able to adapt your idea here. I'm on a well in country so I'm not too worried about rainwater, etc. I do have mains water plumbed into the tunnel. Maybe I should just see if a sprinkler will cover the whole tunnel and connect it to a timer. Sure would be simpler than a "system"! I'll have to check that out.

Cardinal Richelieu

PhotogTom wrote: »

Hi, might be able to adapt your idea here. I'm on a well in country so I'm not too worried about rainwater, etc. I do have mains water plumbed into the tunnel. Maybe I should just see if a sprinkler will cover the whole tunnel and connect it to a timer. Sure would be simpler than a "system"! I'll have to check that out.

I have a spinkler system and a trickle system in my glasshouse. If your growing toms/peppers the trickle system works better especially if you can adapt it to carry tomato feed.

PhotogTom

What trickle system are you using. TBH, I'm just concerned about the cost. And, whether it will trickle enough! The soil I have in the raised beds is quite sandy and free draining. I'm not sure if the trickly will spread out enough. No way to test it until i've bought the system.
What system are you using? Hozelock or some other?
Thanks.

Cardinal Richelieu

PhotogTom wrote: »

What trickle system are you using. TBH, I'm just concerned about the cost. And, whether it will trickle enough! The soil I have in the raised beds is quite sandy and free draining. I'm not sure if the trickly will spread out enough. No way to test it until i've bought the system.
What system are you using? Hozelock or some other?
Thanks.

Someother, the system I have is way older than Hozelock.:D My soil is sandy, you can still see the sea shells when you dig deep enough in parts. For toms peppers, chillies etc you don't need for water to spread out. The system I use, originally was used to grow commercial toms so its pretty failsafe. You might be able to make your own. Its pretty much like the photo below. Its basically pumped or mains fed water fed into a plastic tube which every foot has a lace(smaller flexible tube) branching out from the mainline. If you drill a hole in one of those plastic plant name tags that gardeners use you can use that to hold the lace in place about 6 ins from the plant stem base. The mainline has a stopper in the end which can be removed to flush dirt out of the system every so often and if the lace becomes clogged with dirt I use one of these hand sprayers with an attachment that locks on to the end of the lace and pushes water into the lace to clear the line. As the mains water pressure can slow at times I use a milkbottle with a spare lace rather than a timer to track how much water/feed my plants get.

Oldtree

I buried a hose in the garden to take mains water to the (big) hobby tunnel. Then there is a 1 micron agricultural water filter just inside the door. Black plastic hose drip feed from there. I stopped using a timer as when the battery ran out it flooded the place. I grow in pots with trays. The trays are good for a few things, they show the reserve of water available to each plant, they ensure that water is always avialable to the plant (esp tomatoes)on hot days, they keep the pot at field capacity and they keep slugs and snails at bay (wont use slug tox).

I water by turning the tap on and as the flow rate is very specific I know when the trays will be full. if only a few need water i use an attached hose to fill them up as and when.

I have a a black mypex floor. I use liquid orgainc feed with seaweed liquid, handful of chicken manure in pots to start with.