Gardening For Freepers – PVC Drip Irrigation For The Home Garden

Self ^ | 3-9-09 | Red Devil 232

[Red_Devil 232]

I have been researching drip irrigation systems for use in my garden this year and came across this system using PVC pipe and I thought that this might be of interest to those Freepers into gardening or planning a garden.

This will be my third year of vegetable gardening and I decided that I would go with a drip irrigation system and this PVC system caught my eye and interested me because I can go to the local hardware store and get everything I need. You can see my garden from last year by going to my Home/About page.

There are plenty of commercial drip irrigation systems that are available in kits and individual parts to build your own but they are not available in my local garden centers. I would have to order over the Internet if I wanted one. If I cared about aesthetics around landscaping I would consider ordering over the Internet. I was on the verge of hitting an order button when I came across this homemade PVC system.

The thing that attracted me to using a drip irrigation system was that I would not have to furrow my rows. My garden is on a slope and the furrows have to be planned to keep water from pooling in the low ends of the furrows. Also furrowing is physical work and if I can innovate around it I will. My garden will be flat this year. Here is hoping my beer is not!

I would like any input from y’all with (or without) experience using a drip irrigation system for your gardens.

Here are a couple of links to information with pictures and a video showing how the PVC system works.

This is a pdf file from Utah State University

Designing a Basic PVC Home Garden Drip Irrigation System - pdf with pictures

This is a video (not the best quality) of how to make a PVC drip system. It is about 14 min. long.

Video - How To Make A PVC Irrigation System

[Red_Devil 232]

Weekly Gardening Ping

[MattinNJ]

Thanks-Im printing our and keeping for reference in case of a total economic collapse

[elpinta]

Good info indeed.

I have used drip irrigation on a raised garden for a few seasons; I find it very efficient as it wastes practically no water.

My set-up uses flexible hoses instead of PVC because I wanted to have the ability to move the lines any-place any-time, but otherwise is the same concept.

I have 4 controlled zones that I have automated, and are programmable depending on what I want to grow.

Looking forward to nice tomatoes in a few months!

[yazoo]

Not sure about the drip system, but I used a porous hose you can buy at any Home Depot or Lowes. The water sweats out of the hose and provides coverage where ever you put it no mater how long the hose. Plus, in the fall you can coil it up and save it for next year. You can also run plant food through it.

[WellyP]

This works and it saves water!

[Claud]

ping for later reference

[Red_Devil 232]

Thanks, I have seen the flex hoses and have considered them.

[cripplecreek]

Saving water isn’t an issue for most of us here in Michigan. I am considering tomato plants over the drainfield though.

[jagusafr]

“Looking forward to nice tomatoes”

[me biting my cheek to keep from typing the first thing that came to mind - SORRY!!!]

Colonel, USAFR

[GatorGirl]

I am considering doing this, unfortunately my builder only placed one faucet on each side of the house and I would need to install one closest to my garden plot. Does anyone have any idea how costly this would be? It would be near a bathroom if that matters!

Thanks in advance—GG

[Tijeras_Slim]

I’ve used these both above and below ground. If you have hard water they can be a nightmare, the emitters or lazerline clogs up. If you don’t drain everything well before a freeze, all manner of stuff can break. Pocket gophers find the line tasty on occasion.

Don’t think for a second they are worry free.

[elpinta]

I did ask for it, I know... my bad... oh well..
:-))

[GatorGirl]

OK Red Devil—pls. put me on your ping list. My gardening challenges here in Florida will be different than most but I’d like to learn from y’all.

Also, Loved the dog and garden photos but you lost me with the electronics! ;-)

[AuntB]

Thanks for the post, I will look at it. A couple years ago I bought one of the kits....very flimsy, and I made a big mess of it!

[Red_Devil 232]

Saving water is not my main concern either. I am concerned about my garden being on a slope and not drowning the plants on the down side of the slop when using furrows. The drip system seems to help with this.

I don't know if it will prevent more water dripping on the down slope side of the system but it sure will be less than the flooding they would normally get.

[elpinta]

Cheapest way is to buy a “Y” from your local hardware story and run a secondary hose to the garden ($10 tops).
And you can add a battery operated timer to that line if you want ($ 20 and up).
Or you can do it more permanently by splitting the line before the faucet; most folks are not inclined to tackle that, but would be $$$ calling a plumber I am sure (materials under $50).
YMMV

[elpinta]

story = store
Gee, keep forgetting spell check only checks spelling...

[GatorGirl]

That is a fabulous suggestion! I can run a hose along the house. So simple.... Thanks! GG

[Red_Devil 232]

Sorry about the electronics - I posted them on my home page to show another FReeper the radio gear I was wanting to sell.