Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: technobob on March 21, 2007, 19:58

Title: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: technobob on March 21, 2007, 19:58

Anyone got any recommendations for a home made hose pipe irrigation system.

I have the opportunity to lay out quite a large area of vegetable beds, and have a pretty much unlimited supply of 220l plastic barrels which I will be incorporating in a rain water harvesting system.

My veg beds are going to be raised, 5ft wide by 20ft long and for the first two months (due to the climate up here) will be covered with clouche's. The whole plot is on a slope with a good gradient (about 1 in 3), so the water butts are going to be at the top of the garden. Basically, I want a watering system that will mean I can peg down the clouches and not have to lift them every day to water.

Question, does anyone know anything about making a seep type hose pipe system? ie a hose buried in the bed with small holes to allow water to seep out. Can anyone advise as to the number of holes per meter / size and seperation of holes and distance between runs of pipe ie 2ft, 5ft etc...

Also, is this a sensible idea even?

Title: Re: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: WG. on March 21, 2007, 20:12

Quote from: "technobob"

Also, is this a sensible idea even?

Shetland has an annual rainfall of 1200mm.  Much of this will arrive in Spring during your "cloche" time.  Do you also have a peaty soil?

I think you'll get plenty of water without irrigation.

Title: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: technobob on March 21, 2007, 21:20

Yes we get lots of rain and the soil is peaty. However, am concerned as these are going to be raised beds with what is best described as semi permanent mini greenhouses over the top. Veg growing up here is an interesting challange as we have prevailing westerlies most of the summer and we are less than 200m from the sea. I want to protect the plants as much as possible, while growing the widest range possible, and can collect rainwater from the house roof.

If I use mini built in green house type arrangement (I called them clouches as they would be removable)... for the majority of the growing season, am concerned about not having to spend a lot of time watering. Plus the plot is in a fairly dry spot half way up the hill...

Title: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: muntjac on March 21, 2007, 21:50

use a 1/32 drill with a battery powered drill .mains go to fast and are heavy .........  put  abung in the end of the hose or trun it back on its self and tape downsecurly to prevent leakage ,you can use  2 x 1/2 inch wide by 1/8th by 2inch long with 2 bolts put through 2 holes to clamp down the hose to close it drill a hole every 18 inches with the 1/32nd drill this wil allow sufficient water to drip out  by adjusting the water pressure on the tap  :)

Title: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: Aidy on April 06, 2007, 19:05

sorry munty but most people are now using metric drills, would you please convert to metric sizes  :wink:   :lol:

Title: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: Aunt Sally on April 06, 2007, 19:30

:shock:  :shock: NO CHANCE  :!:  :!:  :roll:  :lol:  :lol:

Title: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: agapanthus on April 06, 2007, 19:48

Poor Munt :(....he can't help it if he's extra old!!!! :lol:  :lol:

Title: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: Aidy on April 06, 2007, 21:53

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:  aaahhhhhhhhh bless

Title: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: GrannieAnnie on April 06, 2007, 21:56

Quote from: "agapanthus"

Poor Munt :(....he can't help it if he's extra old!!!! :lol:  :lol:

hang on a minute aggypants, munty ain't as old as me!!!!! :D

Title: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: Aunt Sally on April 06, 2007, 22:04

:shock: Me neither  :(

Title: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: GrannieAnnie on April 06, 2007, 22:09

Quote from: "Aunt Sally"

:shock: Me neither  :(

What?  Munty's not as old as you, or you aren't as old as me????

Title: Home made hose pipe irrigation system
Post by: Aunt Sally on April 06, 2007, 22:36

I'm 17th century grannie  :roll: