Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: Shaun and dawn on May 11, 2015, 21:05

Title: Self watering system
Post by: Shaun and dawn on May 11, 2015, 21:05

Hi has any one got a self watering system in there greenhouse.
Thinking about putting one in polytunne on allotment  running of a waterbutt
But don't know if I would get the pressure to get it to work

Title: Re: Self watering system
Post by: mumofstig on May 11, 2015, 21:22

My system runs from a water butt, but ( :D ) I had to raise it up on blocks, about 18ins, in order to get enough pressure.

Title: Re: Self watering system
Post by: ghost61 on May 12, 2015, 06:16

We run a soaker hose from a water butt into one tunnel.  For the other we are trying a solar powered system that only waters intermittently rather than all the time - also from a water butt.  Our peas and beans are watered by my old drip irrigation system.  Getting the water butt raised up is the main trick.

Title: Re: Self watering system
Post by: Shaun and dawn on May 12, 2015, 06:18

Thanks for reply that's what I was thinking I will have to do if I take the supply from two will it bee more pressure

Title: Re: Self watering system
Post by: ghost61 on May 12, 2015, 06:59

Do you mean that the water butts are linked?  If so, I don't think you need to raise them any higher than you do for one on its own.  We raise ours by about two pallets thicknesses and it works for us. 

Title: Re: Self watering system
Post by: Goosegirl on May 13, 2015, 10:29

Ghost - what is the make of your solar-powered watering system as I might just consider getting one.

Title: Re: Self watering system
Post by: ghost61 on May 13, 2015, 16:34

The make is Irrigatia.  Can recommend it.  We have the control panel inside the greenhouse (for security as the system is down the allotment) and the solar panel works fine even through the glass.

Title: Re: Self watering system
Post by: Goosegirl on May 16, 2015, 10:42

Thanks Ghost - will have a look.

Title: Re: Self watering system
Post by: Steve_LF on May 18, 2015, 12:55

I use a kingfisher battery powered water timer which feeds from my blue water barrel into some poly piping via some hosepipe.

Works well, but you do have to remember to move the timer inside and remove the batteries during the winter.

Steve L-F