Re: [tomato] Doing everything wrong/right!
Richard Yarnell (Tomato@GlobalGarden.com)
Sun, 7 Mar 1999 12:05:29 -0800 (PST)
Invest in a drip irrigation system for your garden. Apply water
frequently, preferably under, a layer of mulch. (Even if you don't mulch
though, the water, applied directly to each plant, will soak in and form a
tear drop shaped moist area which will define the root ball.)
I would suggest keeping your grey water applications to your flowering and
ornamental plants. And since you need to have 15-25# pressure, it will
not (and shouldn't be) in your drip system.
A timer and six electric valves will cost you less than $100. Bowsmith
emitters come as a gang of six from which 1/4" tubing can be led to as
many plants. They are a very flexible way to install a system. For
densely planted rows, your soaker hose (definitely placed under mulch or
plastic) and run at low pressure so there is no "fountain" is a good solution.
Our water use, using an automated drip system over a well managed overhead
sprinkler system run only at night, dropped 80%. In addition, most
harvest time fruit loss disappeared.
>Our biggest problem with the heat is watering......not being able to
>keep enough water on the plants because of the heat (it evaporates very
>very quickly).....In addition, our water district imposes large fines if
>you go over the minimum amounts (they double your bill...)...So! Year
>before last hubby ran the lines from my washer dump water (blue water)
>to the garden.....All of that goes into the garden and we are
>considering venting other 'blue water' to the garden. We also bought
>soaker hoses just in case we need to water extra.
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Richard Yarnell, SHAMBLES WORKSHOPS | No gimmick we try, no "scientific"
Beavercreek, OR. Makers of fine | fix we attempt, will save our planet
Wooden Canoes, The Stack(R) urban | until we reduce the population. Let's
composter, fly tying benches | leave our kids a decent place to live.
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