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Greene County, Pa.

I was wondering if anyone uses their system , and if they would recomend it. I am thinking on buying one for this season. Here is a list of things the guy said i needed. Any input would be greatly appreciated
Ordered By Warehouse

1 PRSG30 30 PSI Sen Hose Reg (FHxMH) pg 42 6.9000 -- 6.90
1 FYHLSS200 Hose Filter (Long)-200m SS w/V pg 39 17.0000 -- 17.00
1 TORC2V Orbit Timer w/2 Valves pg 9 65.0000 -- 65.00
1 ELFH34 3/4" Easy Loc x FHT Swiv pg 33 2.0500 -- 2.05
1 ELFH 1/2" Easy Loc x FHT Swiv pg 30 1.0000 -- 1.00
1 34100 3/4" x 100' Blank Tube pg 36 23.0000 -- 23.00
1 12500 1/2" x 500' Blank Tube pg 36 42.0000 -- 42.00
25 DSD6F Soaker Drip 6" per Ft pg 13 0.3500 -- 8.75
1 PUY Yellow Handle Punch pg 36 5.4000 -- 5.40
15 EL14B 1/2" Easy Loc x 1/4" Barb pg 30 0.9000 -- 13.50
1 ELRL 3/4" x 1/2" Easy Loc Elbow pg 33 2.2000 -- 2.20
17 CF8 Figure 8 End for 1/2" Tube pg 32 0.2500 -- 4.25
1 ELL34 3/4" Easy Loc Elbow pg 33 2.4500 -- 2.45
1 ELL 1/2" Easy Loc Elbow pg 30 1.3000 -- 1.30
1 ELC34 3/4" Easy Loc Coupler pg 33 1.6000 -- 1.60
5 ELC 1/2" Easy Loc Coupler pg 30 0.6500 -- 3.25
48 MTFB Tornado Fogger--Black pg 22 0.4500 -- 21.60
40 SBHD 8" 'J' Stake (Galvanized) pg 36 0.1400 -- 5.60
10 SS5 5" 'J' Stake--1/4" Tube (galv) p29 0.1100 -- 1.10
MERCHANDISE INVOICE TOTAL $ 227.95
INVOICE TOTAL $ 227.95atly appreciated.

2/2/2004 6:40:38 PM

Massillon, Ohio

The timer you have says on the website: "Minimum flow: 2.7 GPM or 160 GPH. Not recommended for misting or small drip systems". Njh thinks you should upgrade to a timer that is good for misting like the a Dig 6 Station misting. We have it and it works good.

2/2/2004 7:12:05 PM

Wisconsin

I tried a drip hose system once with a water permeable tubing that would drip or ooze water from around the hose. I followed the directions and put tubing down every 12" or so. After watering it appeared to me that the soil would be wet in an inverted "V" shaped pattern below each section of tubing. In other words the water seemed to spread downwards and at a 45 degree angle but not laterally very well. When I examined the soil exactly between 2 sections of tubing, there wasn't any water in the top 6-12". It was very clear that a significant percentage of the upper soil roots weren't being watered properly.

For what I had spent on the damn tubing, I wasn't getting good soil coverage. I eventually threw it away and went back to overhead watering. I have articles showing that the most important roots are in the upper soil zones (where they can get oxygen readily). A watering system that doesn't get thorough coverage in the upper soil zones doesn't seem to me to be very useful.

I would appreciate any thoughts. The idea of keeping the leaves dry does appeal to me though.

2/2/2004 7:46:57 PM

Montoursville, PA

One of the important factors is knowing what the humus content a give soil is in relation the wicking from water no matter how it is added to the soil.

I had a rip snorting success with Dripworks T-Tape four inches under ground placed eighteen inches apart. I could deliver 110 gallons of water by gravety in an hour and twenty minutes. My humus content was 17.6%. Degree of dampness was equal from two inches to eight inches through out the patch with gravety fed water.

....I had a misting system too. The only improvement I will make this year is to have lower volume misters. Don't know which way I will end up so I bought a few of all three sizes DRIPWORK'S offer and some opps plugs.

....I was able to feed AGRO-K liquids, dehydrated kelp from Hollands and molasses through both systems as determined best. There was no evidence of build up at season's end.

2/2/2004 10:33:48 PM

San Diego

I used dripworks for my misting system and timer. It worked great. I would highly recommend their timer that has as many start and stops as you want in a day for misting, battery run, was around 120 dollars, can't beat the price for what you get. I set up 1/2 inch tubing down the middle of my patch, 3 micro sprinklers set up on 3 foot high stakes, the system covered approximately 500 to 600 sq ft of area with the sprinklers. It was very simple, cheap, and very effective. I like it much better than underground tubing, Jim

2/3/2004 12:34:54 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

I ordered over $500 of products from dripworks last year. Mostly for my acre patch but also for the giants. T-Tape worked well but only used the system just a couple times since we received so much rain last summer. Will install it again this year with some additional modifications.

2/3/2004 2:03:49 PM

Montoursville, PA

Hey Jim........We work to keep the two top inches dry because of heavy rain water and frequent naturally wet soils. We do not need surface moisture or anything that reduces circulation or increases humidity. We work to get away from overhead sprinkling and to get misting evaporated before it hits the leaf surface. Pennsylvania only sees ten ninety degree days in a year.

Our Grower Buddy, in Graysville, Pennsylvania may be dealing with a clay soil that even when nicely buffered with high humus will hold or retain water longer than soil types the rest of us have.

Once loaded up with humus that is nicely ballenced that clay will grow a whopper and make him the king pumpkin man in Graysville for sure.

2/3/2004 2:04:00 PM

Greene County, Pa.

Docgipe you are right my soil has a lot of clay in it but I am trying to make it better,between the leaves ,grass clippings and horse manure I have added I hope it makes a difference. 1/2 my patch was never tilled before till this past fall, I added as much manure into it as i thought wouldnt kill my plants.
I think that the soil will be ok for this year. I have huge pile of manure in three spots, where the plants will be planted. I plan on mixing that up real good before planting with an equal amount of topsoil, and some promix, maybe 2 bales per planting hole. I was told by other growers not to dig deep planting holes on account of my heavy clay soil as it may collect water and drown my plants.
Do you think I should concentrate on watering my stumps rather then going with an entire overhead misting system?
Thanks for the replies,I really appreciate it
BuddyG

2/3/2004 4:10:13 PM

Montoursville, PA

Buddy...If you are away and no-one else can watch the temperature for you I would consider misting. However that being said I could hardly use mine last summer because my major issue was trying not to be to wet and humid.
...My coach Tony has fine texture sprinklers around the edges to get whole patch sprinkling/misting through which he also feeds or foliar sprays some fertilizers.
...This is not a win win decision. Your whole patch should be watered evenly and much more than many of we newer growers realize. For sure a drip system saves water and helps keep down overall humidity. I went underground four inches with Dripworks T-Tape. I just hoe it in. I am gravity fed from two elevated barrels. Works good. Keeps top dry as possible and the zone from two to eight-10 inches just about perfect. In theory the dry surface will not germinate seed...as much while the feeding zone is still getting proper watering.
....I did not take a strong stand on misting but then we had a lot of rain last summer. If we were hot and dry the misting would have been more valued. If you need to talk some more send me an E. Be sure to key me in. I lose names and userids from my memory quickly.

2/3/2004 4:39:57 PM