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irrigation question

christinepichristinepi Posts: 2
in Fruit & veg

With the California drought in full swing, I'm wondering whether I could cut back on irrigating my orchard by doing things slightly differently. We're on a well and it's started dropping precipitously. Currently I'm watering 60 minutes once a week. Would it be ok to water every other week, but water 90 minutes instead? That way I would save 25% of water, and it would be a deeper watering. But, of course, also only every other week. Opinions?

Posts

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    Are you in the USA? If you are using the well for human irrigation, that must be your first priority. We are in the UK, we rarely run out of water.
  • christinepichristinepi Posts: 2

    Well... that doesn't really address my question. Do you have any thoughts on the question?

  • snowathletesnowathlete Posts: 138
    No experience I'm afraid but another option would be to cut back five minutes each time you water until you start to see the beginning of negative impact, then increase five minutes and then keep watering at that level. Might need to go up or down every now and then but you'd be using a bit less probably.

    Watering at the right time of day is probably very important too.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 29
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  • FleurisaFleurisa Posts: 779

    How long have the plants in your orchard been planted? And what are they?

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    Christine, it is difficult to address your question fully.

    a We are mostly in the UK not California

    b I do not have an extensive orchard

    c I do not rely on well water

    d We do not have a drought at the moment in the UK

    e I am not conversant with the volume of water you expect to apply to each tree

    f I do not know the volume of water each tree would require.
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