Drip Irrigation for a newbie.

[Tropicalgrower]

Right forum?Feel free to move,just leave me a redirect maybe?

Ok.I'd like to try drip irrigation maybe.Are there tutorials somewhere that a 5yr old could understand? Maybe I should have tried a search on youboob first.

I understand that there are emitters (see I DO know something lol) that can be cleaned,so I would want those.Are there decent kits available online maybe that could be expanded later?I've seen kits on Ebay,but I have no experience to draw upon to make a wise purchase.I'd hate to buy a kit that had lots of useless pieces included,so if anyone would care to share some experience,feel free.

Some kits are probably (maybe) better than others (value wise)? I read in another thread that 1/2" line from one manufacturer might not be the same 1/2" as another manufacturer uses? (sounds like the Philippines)Lol

I am on a well.The water is pretty hard,and builds up a lot of mineral deposits,don't know that there is much I can do about that tho.I am guessing that with a kit,it won't have a pressure regulator or screen included,so that would be extra?


Thx.

Trop

[Nematode]

Can't go wrong with Netafim.
If you use parts from 1 manufacturer odds are better they will fit together. There are different size pipes that look like 1/2"


Use a filter.

The rest sort of depends on what you are trying to do.
More info will get you better help.

[Tropicalgrower]

I was trying to decide whether to install a system to irrigate all my landscape plants to begin with.Most plants are still on the smallish size.Problem is that I have probably 250' to lay tubing..and probably 50-60 plants to water.As I get older,it takes longer and longer to water due to the heat.I thought that a drip system might make the watering easier.I am on a well as I mentioned earlier.That might be problematic,as the pressure does drop significantly before the pressure drops to the point that the pump cycles again.

I should maybe look locally for tubing,as I have things shipped here,and that tubing would take a lot of space I am thinking.Trouble is,anything like drip irrigation is going to be really expensive here.

I probably should investigate costs here before I proceed further.

Thx.

Trop

[beeman]

Originally Posted by Tropicalgrower

I am on a well.The water is pretty hard,and builds up a lot of mineral deposits,don't know that there is much I can do about that tho.I am guessing that with a kit,it won't have a pressure regulator or screen included,so that would be extra?Trop

You should visit http://www.leevalley.com/en/Garden/p...2,2280&p=49657 and have a good look around, lots of ideas and information. Also available in the USA.

[Tropicalgrower]

Originally Posted by beeman

You should visit http://www.leevalley.com/en/Garden/p...2,2280&p=49657 and have a good look around, lots of ideas and information. Also available in the USA.

I'll do that.Thanks for the link.

Trop

[Cole_Robbie]

dripworks has a nice site: http://www.dripworks.com/category/resources

[BigVanVader]

Just throwing this out there, and I don't know what is available to you in Asia but maybe soaker hoses would be a option until you figure out the drip? I find it very useful in certain applications.

[luigiwu]

Where are you in southeast asia and what are you growing? I ask because I grew up in Indonesia.
I was just trying to find the DIG emitters that once upon a time could be taken apart to clean out. Alas, they current design does not seem to allow that anymore - not sure though but it does look like the same design as all the other manufacturers.

[Tropicalgrower]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

dripworks has a nice site: http://www.dripworks.com/category/resources

Thanks for that link Cole.I happen to have a friend in that area of Cal...although right now he in in Cancun.He might be able to help me there too,as he is an avid gardener,and I know that he uses some drip irrigation.

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

Just throwing this out there, and I don't know what is available to you in Asia but maybe soaker hoses would be a option until you figure out the drip? I find it very useful in certain applications.

I have actually thought of soaker hose.I also thought about doing garden hose cut and spliced into 5 or 6 hoses.that way I could run 5 or 6 hoses to water landscape plants.I have thought about that just to get me by till I figure something more permanent.

Originally Posted by luigiwu

Where are you in southeast asia and what are you growing? I ask because I grew up in Indonesia.
I was just trying to find the DIG emitters that once upon a time could be taken apart to clean out. Alas, they current design does not seem to allow that anymore - not sure though but it does look like the same design as all the other manufacturers.

I'm in the Philippines.I am trying some container growing this year,but it will be a variation of the bio bucket.Tomatoes..peppers..etc.I really want to make my landscape watering easier tho.I have quite a few Guayabano trees...a pomegranate..and lots of basic landscape plants to keep watered.I am also along a good sized river that does flood occasionally during Typhoons.That water runs pretty fast,and I would sure hate to lose my irrigation that way.

Thanks everybody for the help.

Trop

[Worth1]

This guy will cover everything you need to know about irrigation.

It is a great sight that goes on forever the best part no popups or adds.

I know a wee bit about irrigation and will be happy to help you when you decide what you want and how you want to do it.

The deciding factor as in everything is money.

Worth

http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/

[Tropicalgrower]

My golly.That is a LOT of information,Worth.

I'll have my Doctorate in Irrigation if I studied all of that information.I once put in a sprinkler system at my hose in Southern Oregon.I was surprised at how easy it was once I understood.I was lucky that I had a friend at the suppliers store,and that made life a lot easier...as well as cheaper.

Thanks for that link.I'll be spending some time there...No doubt about it.

Trop

[elight]

The company that I have been using for a few years is Drip Depot. They have a really niec "Education" section on their website that explains the basics of setting up a drip system: https://www.dripdepot.com/education

There are lots of other online vendors that others have mentioned that offer very similar products. The important thing, in my opinion, is to find one with a good selection of products (and hopefully low shipping cost, good customer service, etc.), and stick with them, since as others mentioned not all fittings fit all tubing from one manufacturer to the next.

I also highly recommend splurging on the expensive fittings - the ones that screw tight and can be re-used (like Drip Depot's Perma-Loc system). They make much better, water-tight connections and you'll save money in the long run being able to re-use them.

[Worth1]

Here is the people I use.
Much to chose from.

Worth

http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/

[4season]

One thing to be aware of if you cut a soaker hose is that it has variable porosity. I cut a 75 foot one in thirds for a 25 foot bed. One 25 foot length barely watered and one flowed freely, the middle length was just fine.

[Tropicalgrower]

Originally Posted by elight

The company that I have been using for a few years is Drip Depot. They have a really niec "Education" section on their website that explains the basics of setting up a drip system: https://www.dripdepot.com/education

There are lots of other online vendors that others have mentioned that offer very similar products. The important thing, in my opinion, is to find one with a good selection of products (and hopefully low shipping cost, good customer service, etc.), and stick with them, since as others mentioned not all fittings fit all tubing from one manufacturer to the next.

I also highly recommend splurging on the expensive fittings - the ones that screw tight and can be re-used (like Drip Depot's Perma-Loc system). They make much better, water-tight connections and you'll save money in the long run being able to re-use them.

That is good information elight.I never really considered that manufacturers would be allowed to design fittings and/or tubing that wasn't a standard size.That is just wrong in my opinion.

Originally Posted by 4season

One thing to be aware of if you cut a soaker hose is that it has variable porosity. I cut a 75 foot one in thirds for a 25 foot bed. One 25 foot length barely watered and one flowed freely, the middle length was just fine.

4season: I actually really considered soaker hose.I don't know why I didn't go ahead and buy 1 or 2.I wonder if this stuff is still on the shelves?I should maybe have the Sis pick me up a roll.It would fit a couple of areas I have really well if I could find a 25' roll.