Raised bed mix - Page 2

greenthumbomaha · January 5, 2017

I'm becomming interested in auto feeding at a raised garden that I have to travel to. What size tank are we talking for those two beds?

I'm not comfortable to leave a hose on a timer when I'm not there full time. A tank as you described would be a solution in a drought year. How often would they need to be filled, say with a hose spigot about 50 feet from the garden.

Thanks for any help!

- Lisa

Ricky Shaw · January 6, 2017

Hiya Lisa, I'm not planning an irrigation system myself, so I'm definitely not the person for specifics. However, when growers refer to a two-tank system, I think you'll still need pressurized clear water as a third line to make the meters work. Or maybe not, someone will chime in probably.

My understanding is calcium has a caking problem when mixed in solution. In a two-tank system, one is ferts/magnesium the other calcium.

AKmark · January 6, 2017

Hi Lisa. You would need an inline pump, or a shallow well pump to get pressure if you use tanks. I use shallow well jet pumps with a pressure tank. I know others who simply use a continuous duty jet pump that is inline, no pressure tank, but instead a pressure regulator that is inline.

There are some small inline pumps that work well, and put out about 5 gpm, I think they are Flo tech, and have tiny pressure tanks connected to the pumps.

I imagine a 50-100 gallon tank would be more than efficient for a couple small raised beds, you may have to fill it once a week depending on the crop, weather, and other variables.

greenthumbomaha · January 6, 2017

This may have some promise. I actually have a 1/2 hp shallow well pump and small tank sitting useless in my garage. I bought the system for my cabin but a supply line was broken so I later had a proper pump installed that now supplies a geothermal system. I spent the first year without plumbing, going to the gas station or fast food for ladies room and using neighbors hose for plants. The new system was the best investment I ever made.

I'll investigate the garage when the arctic freeze is over,

- Lisa

January 5, 2017	#16
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	I'm becomming interested in auto feeding at a raised garden that I have to travel to. What size tank are we talking for those two beds? I'm not comfortable to leave a hose on a timer when I'm not there full time. A tank as you described would be a solution in a drought year. How often would they need to be filled, say with a hose spigot about 50 feet from the garden. Thanks for any help! - Lisa

January 6, 2017	#17
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	Hiya Lisa, I'm not planning an irrigation system myself, so I'm definitely not the person for specifics. However, when growers refer to a two-tank system, I think you'll still need pressurized clear water as a third line to make the meters work. Or maybe not, someone will chime in probably. My understanding is calcium has a caking problem when mixed in solution. In a two-tank system, one is ferts/magnesium the other calcium.

January 6, 2017	#18
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	Hi Lisa. You would need an inline pump, or a shallow well pump to get pressure if you use tanks. I use shallow well jet pumps with a pressure tank. I know others who simply use a continuous duty jet pump that is inline, no pressure tank, but instead a pressure regulator that is inline. There are some small inline pumps that work well, and put out about 5 gpm, I think they are Flo tech, and have tiny pressure tanks connected to the pumps. I imagine a 50-100 gallon tank would be more than efficient for a couple small raised beds, you may have to fill it once a week depending on the crop, weather, and other variables.