View Single Post
  #16   Report Post  
Old 17-08-2009, 05:08 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
jeff jeff is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jun 2009
Posts: 62
Default micro irrigation

jeff wrote:



I'm thinking about micro irrigation (drip irrigation) for my micro
garden. I've noticed that leaving the garden alone for a few days during
the dog days of summer is not beneficial.

Any pointers om either equipment or technique?


Thanks to all. I bought a rain drip Landscape Kit. I didn't see the
Vegetable Kit which has 1/2 gallon (inline) drippers instead of 1 gallon
PC end type and more 1/4" tubing and no 1/2".

Since my garden is compact (runs of 6' to 10' max) I'm thinking the
1/4" line will be easier to manipulate. Should I be thinking 1/4" for
everything using Ts on the 1/4" line instead of piercing the 1/2"?

What's the 10 gallon pressure compensating flow control for? I have
more than 10 1 gallon pressure compensating drippers in the kit.

Is there any info on how much typical vegetables actually need? It is
hard for me to tell when tomatoes, carrots and the blueberries need
water. The cucurbits (particularly the cukes) seem like they always do.

How do I water carrot rows? I didn't see 1/4" soaker hose. Mister, or
just keep hand watering? Or the 1/2 gallon inline every 6"?

Since I have different vegetables I wonder if I should put valves
inline for the different sections and set this up for the water
frequency of those neediest (cukes at the moment) and shut off the water
to the sections that don't need more. That seems easier than changing
the flow rate. The adjustables seem to be 1 to 10 gallon/hour. So
keeping everything in my clayish to normal soil at 1 gph and having
several sequential watering periods and turning off the sections that
don't need more water in the later sequences...

The "bad" news is that I won't be able to put in my irrigation system
because it is raining all week!

Jeff

Jeff