Drip irrigation in containers

Sherry_AK · March 29, 2006

About a year ago (I think!) someone posted a picture at GW of their watering setup. The picture included a very tidy row of tomatoes in white 5-gallon plastic buckets with a rigid pvc pipe (I'd guess 1") running parallel and tubes from the white pvc pipe running into each bucket (through holes near the top). There was a wood mulch on the ground under the plants. Is the owner of that setup here? If so, I have a couple questions. If not, maybe someone else can help. Is there a threaded coupler that is glued to the end of the pvc pipe to attach the hose? Is that readily available? How do you affix the watering tubes securely into the pvc? Just drill holes? Glue also?

Thanks for any help!

Sherry

Rena · March 29, 2006

Tony in Orlando. I will email him.

tony_k_orlando · March 29, 2006

Rena, thanks for waking me up!

yup that was me, I will look for the pics in a bit BUT to answer your questions, YES, you can buy a 3/4 inch threaded male fitting that slides onto the pvc piping and your hose connects to that.

The tubing was bought at lowes and a hole was drilled one size smaller into the long pvc pipe and the tubing simply inserted into the holes. No glue no nothign was required. Never had a failure in yrs and this is how I do my hydro setup.

I have not used buckets in a couple seasons now as I really want to grow in the dirt as growing was meant to be done. I just have to over come the nematode problems and my growing of matos should be a breeze except for the insects and weather above ground.

Hope this helps with your questions. If I can find the pics, I will post them.

Tony

Sherry_AK · March 29, 2006

Many thanks to both of you (and for such a quick response, too)!

I hope I can get this all set up for my greenhouse this year. I've had intentions of setting up some sort of drip system in there for several years, but I just get busy, blah, blah, blah!

Thanks again!

Sherry

tony_k_orlando · March 29, 2006

Sherry,

I cant find the pics, sorry.

A tip though is to either take the fittings to the hose section of the store to be sure they fit or bring the hose to the fitting section.

I also drilled a hole in the side of the bucket for the hose to enter it as well.

Because the water pressure isnt that great, I didnt even glue the pieces of pvc together. IF you need glue, you can always add it later.

good luck.

Tony

Sherry_AK · March 29, 2006

Excellent! Now ... one more question. Do you use any kind of flow regulator? If so (or, if not, for that matter), do you think I could configure this in a U-shape and still get enough water at the far end? I need two 20' lengths so as to serve both sides of the greenhouse. I'd need about a 9' solid pipe between the two. I guess my other option would be to have two separate 20' lengths, each connected to a hose.

By the way, I have your picture from last year. I saved it so I could refer to it this year. Hope you don't mind!

Regards,

Sherry

MsCowpea · March 29, 2006

You might want to check something like this out--found it at Lowes. Not all that much money. I heard a talk about it at a garden club. There are two types of kits.
And they also sell the regulators that go with these kits. I can't remember what the criteria was to know if you need a regulator or not.

I actually bought the kit and extra accessories--hurricane blew my shed to pieces--I salvaged all the pieces from the box that went flying all over the place but did not use it this season.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...brandpage=mila

Sherry_AK · March 29, 2006

Thanks, MsCowpea. I'll have to check at Lowes next time I'm there (which is pretty often!).

fnsdo · April 9, 2006

Here's an easy alternative:
Hose Bib (always ON)>In line (Melnor $23.00) timer>pressure reducer ($1.00 at Home Depot)>Rubber hose to container garden>Swedge fitting ($1.00 at HD)>Flexible Black plastic hose ($8.00 for 75 feet) > attach 1/4" spaghetti hose ( with a 1/4" punch and 1/4" fittings that connect each piece of spaghetti hose to the emitter in each container>Swedge end cap (also a buck at HD)
. The advantage of this setup is that the emitters can be either 1 ,2, or 4 gallon per hour, ($5.00 per hundred) or for more money, settable for different GPH flow rates. You can change the configuration and inseert a "goof plug" (looks like the connector but siolid) into any spot that you no lnger want to drip. Have run this setup for a couple months now with 45 drip lines, no leaks, and the same moisture meter reading at the beginning and end of the line.
Am working on ways to infuse the seaweed and klep via the drip system as a periodic root drench. Cheap, easy, adjustable, consistent.
Here in AZ I water ny growbags and containers twice daily ( heat, no humidity, and lotsof surface area).
Fred

Sherry_AK · April 9, 2006

Hi, Fred. Thanks so much for the suggestion. It looks like your method basically substitutes a garden hose for the rigid plastic PVC ... right? I'm sure I'll slap myself on the forehead when you tell me, but what's a swedge fitting? I did pick up some drip emitters at Lowes, but I paid way more than $5 for 100 of them! I'll have to check HD.

Thanks again!

Sherry

fnsdo · April 9, 2006

The plastic Hose" or pipe I use is like a hose, but designed for the purpose of irrigation. It is easy to punch holes in, and flexible to bend around containers
Swedge=friction fit

Sherry_AK · April 9, 2006

Ahhh, thanks!

wertzsteve · March 27, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony_k_orlando

Rena, thanks for waking me up!

yup that was me, I will look for the pics in a bit BUT to answer your questions, YES, you can buy a 3/4 inch threaded male fitting that slides onto the pvc piping and your hose connects to that.

The tubing was bought at lowes and a hole was drilled one size smaller into the long pvc pipe and the tubing simply inserted into the holes. No glue no nothign was required. Never had a failure in yrs and this is how I do my hydro setup.

I have not used buckets in a couple seasons now as I really want to grow in the dirt as growing was meant to be done. I just have to over come the nematode problems and my growing of matos should be a breeze except for the insects and weather above ground.

Hope this helps with your questions. If I can find the pics, I will post them.

Tony

wertzsteve · March 27, 2016

I know this is an old thread. but on tonys pvc pipe with 1/4 tubing, how many buckets in a row. I was thinking of a row (60 ft) with 80 buckets. think it will work ?

March 29, 2006	#1
Sherry_AK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alaska Zone 3/4 Posts: 1,857	Drip irrigation in containers About a year ago (I think!) someone posted a picture at GW of their watering setup. The picture included a very tidy row of tomatoes in white 5-gallon plastic buckets with a rigid pvc pipe (I'd guess 1") running parallel and tubes from the white pvc pipe running into each bucket (through holes near the top). There was a wood mulch on the ground under the plants. Is the owner of that setup here? If so, I have a couple questions. If not, maybe someone else can help. Is there a threaded coupler that is glued to the end of the pvc pipe to attach the hose? Is that readily available? How do you affix the watering tubes securely into the pvc? Just drill holes? Glue also? Thanks for any help! Sherry

March 29, 2006	#7
MsCowpea Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S. FLorida / Zone 10 Posts: 369	You might want to check something like this out--found it at Lowes. Not all that much money. I heard a talk about it at a garden club. There are two types of kits. And they also sell the regulators that go with these kits. I can't remember what the criteria was to know if you need a regulator or not. I actually bought the kit and extra accessories--hurricane blew my shed to pieces--I salvaged all the pieces from the box that went flying all over the place but did not use it this season. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...brandpage=mila __________________ "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work." Carl Huffaker

April 9, 2006	#9
fnsdo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Paradise Valley, AZ Posts: 24	Here's an easy alternative: Here's an easy alternative: Hose Bib (always ON)>In line (Melnor $23.00) timer>pressure reducer ($1.00 at Home Depot)>Rubber hose to container garden>Swedge fitting ($1.00 at HD)>Flexible Black plastic hose ($8.00 for 75 feet) > attach 1/4" spaghetti hose ( with a 1/4" punch and 1/4" fittings that connect each piece of spaghetti hose to the emitter in each container>Swedge end cap (also a buck at HD) . The advantage of this setup is that the emitters can be either 1 ,2, or 4 gallon per hour, ($5.00 per hundred) or for more money, settable for different GPH flow rates. You can change the configuration and inseert a "goof plug" (looks like the connector but siolid) into any spot that you no lnger want to drip. Have run this setup for a couple months now with 45 drip lines, no leaks, and the same moisture meter reading at the beginning and end of the line. Am working on ways to infuse the seaweed and klep via the drip system as a periodic root drench. Cheap, easy, adjustable, consistent. Here in AZ I water ny growbags and containers twice daily ( heat, no humidity, and lotsof surface area). Fred __________________ 99 % of everything is BS. Most of the rest is Heirloom Tomatoes

April 9, 2006	#11
fnsdo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Paradise Valley, AZ Posts: 24	hose/swedge The plastic Hose" or pipe I use is like a hose, but designed for the purpose of irrigation. It is easy to punch holes in, and flexible to bend around containers Swedge=friction fit __________________ 99 % of everything is BS. Most of the rest is Heirloom Tomatoes

March 29, 2006	#2
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	Tony in Orlando. I will email him.

March 29, 2006	#3
tony_k_orlando Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 17	Rena, thanks for waking me up! yup that was me, I will look for the pics in a bit BUT to answer your questions, YES, you can buy a 3/4 inch threaded male fitting that slides onto the pvc piping and your hose connects to that. The tubing was bought at lowes and a hole was drilled one size smaller into the long pvc pipe and the tubing simply inserted into the holes. No glue no nothign was required. Never had a failure in yrs and this is how I do my hydro setup. I have not used buckets in a couple seasons now as I really want to grow in the dirt as growing was meant to be done. I just have to over come the nematode problems and my growing of matos should be a breeze except for the insects and weather above ground. Hope this helps with your questions. If I can find the pics, I will post them. Tony

March 27, 2016	#14
wertzsteve Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: virginia Posts: 3	I know this is an old thread. but on tonys pvc pipe with 1/4 tubing, how many buckets in a row. I was thinking of a row (60 ft) with 80 buckets. think it will work ?