Good morning everyone,
I grow my tomatoes in grow bags (to which I add extra compost) in an unheated greenhouse.
I have cut 4" lengths of 6" diam. plastic pipe, which I plant in, on top of the growbags.
I am fitting an automatic watering drip system.
Can anyone advise if I should place the drippers through the growbag or into the compost within the plastic pipes. Also do you think that two drippers per growbag will suffice if the consensus is that they should go through the plastic bag...I grow 3 plants per bag.
Looking forward to any replies and thanks.
Regards to all, Gerry.
Automatic watering
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oldherbaceous
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Evening Gerry, i don't use an irrigation system, but i would have thought it best if you put them in the top of the grow bag, and i should think two should be enough for each bag.
You will get an answer from someone that uses this system, i'm sure.
You will get an answer from someone that uses this system, i'm sure.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
Dear OH,
Thanks for the reply. You are real!!! Obviously no one else is prepaired to reply. The whole system is going to be a case of trial and error. I just thought that if any advice was forthcomming it would help this process.
I think I will go with placing the drippers through the plastic bag...using two per bag, as you suggest and occassionaly add liquid fertiliser to the rings.
Best regards, Gerry.
Thanks for the reply. You are real!!! Obviously no one else is prepaired to reply. The whole system is going to be a case of trial and error. I just thought that if any advice was forthcomming it would help this process.
I think I will go with placing the drippers through the plastic bag...using two per bag, as you suggest and occassionaly add liquid fertiliser to the rings.
Best regards, Gerry.
I use a drip watering system myself.
I not definite sure which is best option. there were some posts on the subject last year regarding watering and feeding. i think the concensus was that watering down low and feeding from the top was the best way. search for such posts?.
I successfully used 2 drippers per 3 plants last year, though (don't think this matters) i planted my plants in long plastic crates. filled with compost. had my drippers just between plants at surface.
I am going to change something though this year. I am going to plant only 2 plants of beef tomatoes (havn't tried before) and italian plum tomatoes per crate.
My reasoning two fold.
1)The plum tomaoes (San Marzano) need more water than other types. i am guessing that beef tomatoes could be the same?
2)The San Marzano varity is potato leafed, thus it has alot of foliage. I find 3 plants restricts ventilation of these plants. i have to costantly remove foliage anyhow. but also, since they are slow maturing , i need to ensure ventilation and sunlight in the Autumn.
note: drippers can come with various different water rate calibrations. I not sure what dripper system you using?. but i have 2 different calibration drippers.
2 litres per hour and 4 litres per hour.
If you do not know the calibration, or even if you do, it is worth measuring the rate of flow. since all dripper calculations are done based on time!
But 2 drippers for say 3 'gardeners delight' tomatoes, certainly is fine in my experience.
The extra watering needs of 'San Marzano' is rather well known!
Do beefs require more than mormal? anyone?
I not definite sure which is best option. there were some posts on the subject last year regarding watering and feeding. i think the concensus was that watering down low and feeding from the top was the best way. search for such posts?.
I successfully used 2 drippers per 3 plants last year, though (don't think this matters) i planted my plants in long plastic crates. filled with compost. had my drippers just between plants at surface.
I am going to change something though this year. I am going to plant only 2 plants of beef tomatoes (havn't tried before) and italian plum tomatoes per crate.
My reasoning two fold.
1)The plum tomaoes (San Marzano) need more water than other types. i am guessing that beef tomatoes could be the same?
2)The San Marzano varity is potato leafed, thus it has alot of foliage. I find 3 plants restricts ventilation of these plants. i have to costantly remove foliage anyhow. but also, since they are slow maturing , i need to ensure ventilation and sunlight in the Autumn.
note: drippers can come with various different water rate calibrations. I not sure what dripper system you using?. but i have 2 different calibration drippers.
2 litres per hour and 4 litres per hour.
If you do not know the calibration, or even if you do, it is worth measuring the rate of flow. since all dripper calculations are done based on time!
But 2 drippers for say 3 'gardeners delight' tomatoes, certainly is fine in my experience.
The extra watering needs of 'San Marzano' is rather well known!
Do beefs require more than mormal? anyone?
Dewwex thanks for the info. My drippers are adjustable and I have installed them today. I turned them all back to the anti-clockwise stop then advanced them 10 clicks and will monitor this.I have also used 2 drippers per growbag. Thanks for putting my mind at rest.
Regards, Gerry.
Regards, Gerry.