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Soaker Hose Advice

YorkshireLassieYorkshireLassie Posts: 7
in Problem solving
I am going to lay a soaker hose in my vegetable patch this year.  My question is do you plant right up to the hose or run the hose in the middle of 2 rows?  I have looked on the internet and you tube and people seem to do it both ways.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    My seep hoses are all longer than the beds so I wind them back and forth.  I have 4 now after just using 2 last year in the tomato beds in the polytunnel.   It was such a success I have now wound one back and forth round the double row of black and redcurrants and a blackberry and a purple gooseberry in the soft fruit bed and it's worked so well in the dry April that we have decent fruit clusters forming for the first time since we moved here.   As it's permanent, I have covered it with chipped bark to protect the hose and reduce evaporation.

    If you just run it thru the middle you'll risk watering only the roots on the middle side of the bed and not the whole root ball. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • YorkshireLassieYorkshireLassie Posts: 7
    Thank you Obelixx, that was my thinking but nice to know my thinking was on track.  I will post how I get on.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    I wound mine between rows on the assumption that it might encourage root growth if they had to get to the water.  I don't know if it made any difference but the plants grew well.
  • ElferElfer Posts: 329
    Is soaker hose just used for veg & fruit or can you use it for other plants such as hydrangeas, zantedeschia aethiopica, bulbs etc?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Anything you like that needs easy watering but do be careful about how yo place and hide it in beds you will later dig.  Could prove fatal/holey for the hose.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Elfer said:
    Is soaker hose just used for veg & fruit or can you use it for other plants such as hydrangeas, zantedeschia aethiopica, bulbs etc?

    We used them when we completely replanted the borders.  Much easier way to ensure everything got regular watering.  I just ran the hose over the surface as it was only intended for short term use.
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