From

Location

Message

Date Posted

San Antonio, Texas

Just want some ideas on what ya'll use for your irrigation system. I currently have a drip irrigation with 180 degree misters spaced every 42" and a bubbler over the stump on my patch which is the shape of a rectangle.

I have a timer that goes off 5 times a day for 3-5 minutes depending upon the time of the day. I was thinking of using a soaker hose down the middle in an "S" shape and using the misters only 2 times per day to cool the plant during the hot times of the day.

I've seen some complicated designs that other growers use that must have been designed at NASA in conjunction with MIT and give me a headache when I look at them.

I want an effective yet simple design/solution, so any ideas or thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated as I plan for next year.

Thanks Texas Boga

7/29/2006 9:37:42 AM

Lexington, Ky

If you don't mind hearing from an overhead watering grower....here's my simple/effective design.

A 5hp gas pump (Pacer), with a gazillion feet of 2 inch PVC pipe. T stops are installed every 30 feet so that I can control how much water I throw out because early in the grow I only need to water 10 feet from the stump. Not to mention, when the stops are "closed" the pressure increases so the water "projection" is much greater, covering more area. Holes are drilled in the pipe every 8 inches, alternating with 3/32 and 7/64 drill bits. Early in the season when the plants aren't very long, I have found that I can also direct the water better by closing up the holes in the PVC (the holes beyond the plant) with Plumbers Goop. As the plants grow beyond the closed up holes, I simply drill out the Goop. I installed a removeable cap on the ends of the PVC so that I can blow out the Goop so that it doesn't end up in the patch.

Since my water supply is a few hundred yards from my patch, I use a second 5 hp pump to fill up a 500 gallon tank. If one was on a budget, one pump would work.

Oh yeah, guess I should mention that I'm watering a half acre. A smaller patch could get by with a 3 hp pump and 1.5 inch PVC.....2 hp pump and 1 inch PVC...etc.

The key to throwing large volumes of water is to have all the flow possible. Pressure is important too but pressure is easy to control....volume isn't. My set up has over 500 feet of PVC and with the 5 hp pump, I can empty the 500 gallon tank in less than three mintues if I need a hurricane! I prefer to control the output by merely throttling down the pump, allowing he water ease out.

Simple, effective and CHEAP.

Hope this helps...may help you decide what not to do!

Jamie

7/30/2006 12:18:32 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Nice set up Jamie. Hope I have a patch big enough for that system someday!!

Glenn

7/30/2006 12:49:22 AM

Chico, Ca

look at our growers diary....

7/30/2006 2:58:25 AM