RalphVa
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2003
- Messages
- 7,902
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Tractor
- JD 2025R, previously Gravely 5650 & JD 4010 & JD 1025R
I've polypropylene line down to my garden from rain tanks here at the house. Then I go to a PVC distribution line along the end of the rows. Then soaker hoses are laid down each row. As an alternative to the rain tanks, I can pump from a tiny stream over to the garden. I've turn-off valves on the soaker hoses. Right now, I only have 5 rows: 1 of carrots and 4 of potatoes. The rest are cut off.
When winter comes, I just cut the PVC distribution pipe into pieces short enough to carry over to stack up and remove and coil the soaker hoses. In spring, I bring down some PVC collars and splice the PVC line back in place. Once I get too many splices, I'll replace the line. Been fine for 5 years now.
My pump is just one of those 1-2 gpm 12v pumps like TSC uses for its spray rigs. They sell the pumps separately. The rain tanks will provide a bit more flow through the 3/4" line.
If the soaker hoses get plugged (and they will) just poke a tiny hole where you have a plant or seed as you put the plant or seed in or when the plant is up.
For trees and grape vines, I just use old hoses and drill a 1/8" hole where the plant is to water it. Got this tip from a master gardener who used to grow blueberries.
Ralph
When winter comes, I just cut the PVC distribution pipe into pieces short enough to carry over to stack up and remove and coil the soaker hoses. In spring, I bring down some PVC collars and splice the PVC line back in place. Once I get too many splices, I'll replace the line. Been fine for 5 years now.
My pump is just one of those 1-2 gpm 12v pumps like TSC uses for its spray rigs. They sell the pumps separately. The rain tanks will provide a bit more flow through the 3/4" line.
If the soaker hoses get plugged (and they will) just poke a tiny hole where you have a plant or seed as you put the plant or seed in or when the plant is up.
For trees and grape vines, I just use old hoses and drill a 1/8" hole where the plant is to water it. Got this tip from a master gardener who used to grow blueberries.
Ralph
