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DIY Veg Irrigation

I'm going to be trying my hand at veg for the first time this year and will be using containers. I'm slightly worried about water evaporation during the hot weather as my patio is a south facing excruciating sun trap. I want to go with the empty bottle irrigation hack, i.e. making holes in the bottle, cutting the bottom off of it and burying it in the soil/compost so the water will get to where it's needed with no loss. The only thing is, I don't know whether or not this is suitable for what I'm going to be growing.

The things I'm going to be growing are:

Potatoes Swift/Orla
Broccoli Green Sprouting
Dwarf French beans Caledonia
Sugar Snap Peas Delikett
Carrots Flyaway
Strawberries Just Add Cream
Tomato Tumbling Tom (to be grown in hanging basket)
Cucumber Mini Munch (to be grown in hanging basket)

Would the bottle irrigation method work with these veg?

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I would just water those as needed with a watering can (with the rose removed). Much less hassle 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    The bottle irrigation method will work once the plants have deep roots but you will need to use a watering can while they are small. I used the bottle method on shrubs last summer when the ground was baked hard but one of the problems with sun traps is damage to leaves which get burnt in relentless sunshine. I had to rig up sunshades in the greenhouse, made from old duvet covers, and that saved the young plants and tomatoes. You may need to think of something similar for your veg plants if we get another very hot summer.
  • Previously it never would have crossed my mind but after those sweltering days last July, I'm wanting to minimise any water loss. I'd be gutted if my first attempt was marred due to insufficient water. It shouldn't much of a hassle, stab an empty bottle, bury it in the compost when filling the container and then fill it with water as needed. Water gets exactly where it needs to go with no evaporation. I know I've definitely seen it done with tomatoes, I'm just not sure whether it would be suitable for everything.
  • @Ceres I've only got a cold frame (and a couple of pop up greenhouses for the winter) and last summer I had a few young plants in it. Lifted the lid one hot morning, they were dead only hours later. I know people love south facing gardens but they can be really destructive.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited April 2023
    You shouldn't have a cold frame lid closed in the summer … but it would’ve been helpful to put something over it to provide shade. We all live and learn 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • @Dovefromabove It was my first one so completely clueless! Fortunately the casualties weren't anything too important!
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    On very hot days you will probably have to water your veg several times during the day (but be sure to keep the water off the leaves). This is especially true of anything growing in a hanging basket as they dry out really quickly.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Thank goodness for that 👍 😊 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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