Time to Put Down Plastic

[charlz]

That plastic price is downright reasonable. I am going to have to do some research and see if I can get a roll that size for about that price. Where are you buying the plastic and drip tape at? A regular Ag supply type place?

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Eddie,

I agree with what Moss and Charlz stated. You can also see advantages and disadvantages on this link:
Using Plastic Mulches and Drip Irrigationfor Vegetable Production

You can reuse the drip line but need to make sure it is clean. The drip line I use is sometimes called T-tape. It has small slits every 8" or you can buy it with the slits at 12" - 24" depending on what you are growing. If bured the slit need to be facing up. The tape does best with 12-15psi.

If you have a small garden you can buy the silt fence woven material without the stakes and reuse it. I can get a 100' x 3' roll for $12.00. You could actually over lap it and use rock or something to hold it down. Put your drip lines down first. Then take a small torch and burn the hole where you wanted to put the plant or seeds. You can also order wider rolls 6'-10' or more that is used at large nursery and greenhouses.

I do know people who plant on plastic for two years before pulling it up but that does not work too good on large scale.

Most of the people I talk to who grow on plastic increase their yields 3-4 times verses growing the conventional way.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Reyer,

My layer was sold through Berry Hill Irrigation. I had looked at Rain-Flo but found this that was used one year to lay 10 rows of strawberries. The couple I bought it from grows blueberries and blackberries. They tried strawberries but was too much work for them. I save $500 on the layer and got close to a full roll of drip tape and plastic about $300.00 worth, so basically saved $800.00:thumbsup:

I did lay all rows in one direction so I could deadhead all on the same end at which I started.

I did get a little better on the last 10 rows or so by not looking back:laughing:

I just looked at a picture of the Nolts and mine looks just like it. IT may be made by Nolts. New from Berry Hill mine cost around $1950 + shipping for the 48 inch 4" bed.

 

[Reyer Farms]

You got a great deal my friend! I'm really fixing to shop plastic I think the last roll I got was around 200! I have found pepper do not need to be on same row as tomatoes. They require a lot more water. I hope weather is good for you , I have lost about 3000 ' of row to heavy rains and wind in the past two weeks.

 

[MossRoad]

"Use a torch to burn a hole"..... :banghead: GOOD GRIEF!!! I've been crawling around on my hands and knees with a knife all these years!!!

 

[Western]

If you weren't so far, it would be a hoot to come see it. That is a heap 'O' plants:thumbsup: If I had the land, I always wanted to grow a specialty, or hard to come by crop. Something like a berry or other high dollar product.

Whats your thoughts on the soaker hose like from lowes, as compared to the drip tape? This is our 1st year to try soaker hose in any scale and it seams to be working well.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

You got a great deal my friend! I'm really fixing to shop plastic I think the last roll I got was around 200! I have found pepper do not need to be on same row as tomatoes. They require a lot more water. I hope weather is good for you , I have lost about 3000 ' of row to heavy rains and wind in the past two weeks.

I am not sure what shipping cost would be but check the prices at http://www.rainfloirrigation.com/downloads/2014RainFloCatalogNew.pdf

and Berry Hill Drip Irrigation

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Yep Moss...one of those hand held torches works great on the woven material.

Dennis, I have no experience with the soaker hose, I have heard they work good but may only last one year...don't know. I think Jim Inman had used them in his garden.

I am looking into some specialty crops but need to do a little more research on marketing them. One thing that looks promising is garlic. We also have a good climate for hops with all the breweries popping up. I thought about trying a row but need tall pole with wire stretched across the top and wire dropped for them to climb. Then rig a ratchet system to lower the cable for harvest. Too much work at this time.

My wife keeps asking me how I am going to harvest all I am planting this year I ma also doing about a 1/4 to 1/2 acre of cut flowers

 

[charlz]

Dennis, I have no experience with the soaker hose, I have heard they work good but may only last one year...don't know. I think Jim Inman had used them in his garden.

Hard water here, they clog after a few years.

I am looking into some specialty crops but need to do a little more research on marketing them. One thing that looks promising is garlic.

One thing I like about garlic is the beds are summer fallow so good for rotating a green manure crop etc.

We also have a good climate for hops with all the breweries popping up. I thought about trying a row but need tall pole with wire stretched across the top and wire dropped for them to climb. Then rig a ratchet system to lower the cable for harvest. Too much work at this time.

They grow hops not too far from here. Definitely a lot of initial investment with all the poles, wires etc.

 

[Western]

Gensing!! supposed to be good $. Doesn't grow here, but I believe it does there. You would need "security" :laughing:

You're right about Jim, he doesn't just have soaker hoses, he has a "hose array"