Watering tomatoes while on Hols

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JohnB47

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Watering tomatoes while on Hols
« on: June 24, 2011, 17:03 »
I'm planning to go away for a week and have six tom plants in two growbags (at home).

I don't want to bother anyone with the task of watering them, so does anyone have any good ideas for an automatic (and cheap - perhaps self made) watering system?

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Yorkie

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Re: Watering tomatoes while on Hols
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2011, 17:35 »
Do you have an outside tap?  If so you can set up automatic irrigation system for whatever you want to pay, starting very cheaply e.g. here

Otherwise you could try slicing the bottom off a big pop bottle, turning it upside down and inserting the neck into the compost, before filling it with water.

I'd try to move them into the shade and shelter to prevent them drying out too much.
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JohnB47

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Re: Watering tomatoes while on Hols
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2011, 17:46 »
Thanks Yorkie.

Yes, I do have a tap nearby, although I also have three large waterbutts nearby too and I'd hoped to not leave a tap turned on for a week (we're on a meter and a problem that resulted in the tap running for days would be expensive). Your suggestions looks good (and cheap) though.

Any other thoughts folks. I've read about fittings for upturned plastic bottles that drip feed the water - anyone tried those?

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Kleftiwallah

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Re: Watering tomatoes while on Hols
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2011, 17:51 »

'Aquire' a solenoid powered gate valve and an electrical on/off timer,  easy peasy.  If you need a photo of what I'm on about, let me know.    Cheers,   Tony.
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JohnB47

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Re: Watering tomatoes while on Hols
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2011, 18:14 »
Yes, thought about that sort of thing too.

But electricity, water, outdoors, unattended for days .... hmmm.

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Bing

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Re: Watering tomatoes while on Hols
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2011, 18:19 »
use the Siphon principle, you can easily use a soft plastic straw to drip water to growing bag, run a test of how much water it drips, then use a paper clip on the straw to control the dripping speed, I did this to my peanut plant in house, effective

« Last Edit: June 24, 2011, 19:30 by Bing »
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Kleftiwallah

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Re: Watering tomatoes while on Hols
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2011, 19:13 »

It has worked for me for years.   Timer on a plug inside the shed, lead to the valve on the outside, valve all isolated.  No worries.    :D  Cheers,   Tony.

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sunshineband

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Re: Watering tomatoes while on Hols
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2011, 19:32 »
use the Siphon principle, you can easily use a soft plastic straw to drip water to growing bag, run a test of how much water it drips, then use a paper clip on the straw to control the dripping speed, I did this to my peanut plant in house, effective




Thanks for that clear diagram Bing. I like this idea a lot, too  :D :D
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JohnB47

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Re: Watering tomatoes while on Hols
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2011, 20:42 »
use the Siphon principle, you can easily use a soft plastic straw to drip water to growing bag, run a test of how much water it drips, then use a paper clip on the straw to control the dripping speed, I did this to my peanut plant in house, effective



Thanks. I sense a project coming on.


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