[paintedlady]

Or you can make you own out of a plastic pop bottle.. this is how I do mine cut the bottom off, make a small hole in the top. Shove it top end first into the grow bag and fill with water, if it empty's too fast I drop a bit of mud in it soon blocks the hole up and slows down the flow.  

I'm sorry ... I still found it too much of an effort.  I tried bottle ideas - still had to walk to and from the house in the sun umpteen times ......

I am pathetic when the weather gets too warm - there's only so much time in a morning to do things before going to work, get boiled alive (ie hotter in the building than outside syndrome by about 8oC), get stuck in a sweltering traffic jam on the way home (oh by the way, you were unable to park in the shade so the car is already like an oven to start off with), and by the time I've lurched into my "cool" house, all I can face is an ice cold beer (or two).  Anything out there in the blazing heat just have to fend for themselves! :shock:

Then somebody suggested the automatic water system for pots, planters & hanging baskets and I have so not looked back since.  Things actually survive and bloom now

[wellingtons]

... watering systems are relatively inexpensive and can be a godsend, but they use a lot of water that can be wasted if you're not using plant saucers and the like ... AND if there's a hosepipe ban, which is when you really really need one, they're off limits!!

[paintedlady]

... watering systems are relatively inexpensive and can be a godsend, but they use a lot of water that can be wasted if you're not using plant saucers and the like ... AND if there's a hosepipe ban, which is when you really really need one, they're off limits!!

... I seem to be getting into a long drawn discussion which was totally unintended for what seemed like a suggestion.  I'm not sure if people actually know what automatic watering systems I am talking about, because they only become wasteful if you don't have use a timer to shut the water off after a specific time :roll: .

I probably wasted more water trying to water bone dry soil & compost(which does happen in a heatwave if you cannot water the pots frequently) with a watering can and it would just drain straight out immediately.  Luckily, Nottingham has rarely had water restrictions (I've lived here 18 years and never had one), but I appreciate Norwich may be a whole different kettle of fish.  But, that just means watering of any nature will become difficult.  I would therefore recommend not to grow ANYTHING in pots if this could be the case!