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Pembroke, New Hampshire

I have a 40 by 65 foot garden for 4 pumpkin plants and am thinking about installing a gravity fed drip irrigation system fed from barrels. Last year I watered with an overhead sprinkler system and overwatered, causing the main vine on both my plants to rot off. I want to avoid that this year.
How difficult is it to install and manage such a system, and how costly would it be? Would it be reasonable to use a combination of drip irrigation and overhead spkinklers, or should I stick with just one system? Does a drip irrigation system lead to better plant output, or can the same results be acheived with any watering system as long as it's carefully managed?
I'd appreciate any and all opinions.

3/16/2006 1:33:04 PM

milford, CT,

I'm doing the same this year. I am going to use Drip Works
T-Tape, and also an overhead sprinkler. The kit for the T-Tape is about $50 for my 25 x 40 patch. I'm using the row crop kit. Hope this helps. Mark

3/16/2006 9:19:29 PM

Benton Ky

I used drip tape for the first time last year. Its very easy to install and works great. I got my system from irrigation works.com . They have small kits also.

3/17/2006 10:48:31 AM

Although this is my first year with AG's I have been using gravity drip for a few years on a nursery area as well as veggie garden, I am totally positive in using it. I have used dripworks for product and they will help with design needs.
One thing I have learned,,it's important to flush the system with clean water with low hose pressure if possible to remove left overs from any ferts you run through.
Also the resevoir tank needs to be either made of or painted dark (black/green) to cut the algae or that too will plug tapes or emitters.
I also feel that some type of overhead needs to used as well. Various reasons listed in other threads.

3/17/2006 11:57:09 AM

Pembroke, New Hampshire

I've seen the various web sites advertising their systems, but I'm not sure of their quality and exactly what sort of set up I'd need. I think I'm going to make the rounds of the various greenhouses and landscapers in the area to see the systems that are possible and available. I also have to get a feel for the correct design set-up. I know Bill Rodonis in Litchfield has a drip irrigation system, and I may have to take a drive by to check it out before the season gets into gear.
As far as flushing the system goes, I thought that most systems suggest filters that would prevent emitters from getting plugged.
How easy is a drip sytem to expand on a weekly basis as the pumpkin plant is growing, and vines are bing burried? I can see this as being a big problem, creating alot of work and potentially leading to a higher risk of plant damage as I'm working aound the vines. Has anyone used drip systems, and abandoned them in favor of overhead sprinklers because of the hassle factor?

3/17/2006 12:40:41 PM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

Ron, I hope to see you at the seed swap at Beauchemin's this spring. You can get all you need at Brookdales in Hollis.
Bill

3/17/2006 12:46:29 PM

Pembroke, New Hampshire

I'll be there, Bill. I'd love to come by and see your set up before I commit to this type of system.
Have you heard the date for the swap yet?

3/17/2006 1:13:13 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Is there any advantage to using gravity if there is an easily accessible faucet? I already have a timer and valves. It worked great last year, even if I did leave it on for too long :-) I used a series of soaker hoses last year. But, this year I think that I may set up some overhead misting to cool the plant.

3/17/2006 3:58:24 PM

Pembroke, New Hampshire

I want to use a gravity system so that I can mix my fertilizer and slow drip it to the plants without wetting the leaves. You are right, though. A combination of drip irrigation and overhead misting may be best, since drip irrigation by itself wouldn't have a cooling effect on hot summer days.

3/17/2006 4:14:07 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

cndadoc

it is very easy to add to drip system, at least normal pressure systems, you just punch a little hole, with the tool you buy, takes 10 seconds, then add, any number of things to it, like soaker hose, 1/4 inch line, T's, any number of drips, from 1/2gph to 6gph, it is limitless really, very versitile

Good luck

Gary

3/17/2006 7:47:47 PM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

Rod, April 15 is the seed swap, see the news letter. I talked to Chip Hardy of Brookdale, they will be there with a demo. Bill

3/20/2006 6:00:07 AM