Big Drippa

[fossil]

Hi All,
I am new to growing veg and have no experience, my view is try and see what happens. With any lick I will grow some veg.
I have bought 2 x big drippas from the internet for my new greenhouse, has anyone used these if so are they any good? and how long does it water the plants for if using all 6 drippers?

[andrewo]

Depends on the flow rate from the sacks (if they come with plastic sacks or bottles, it will effect them in different ways). Also, whether or not the greenhouse is very warm - have noted this with the sack variety that they expand due to the heat, forcing the water out faster, this can be controlled on some by a tap which prohibits them from flowing too fast. Need more information first before I could answer, but I would certainly think a big drippa would last for 5-7 days dependent on what you were watering.

[fossil]

Hi Andrew
I am intending to water toms and peppers whilst away on holiday later in the year. The instructions say 1 drip per second but it has no tap on the sack just an adapter

[andrewo]

Then it will drip at ratio of one drip a second, as it has an adapter, it won't drip any faster. It should keep your toms fed for a while but to be on the safe side, sink a litre pot by each and fill up with water before you go on your hols. I'd be more worried about the heat building up in your greenhouse, just ask someone to pop in once a week and check.

[JennieAtkinson]

I bought one last year for the polytunnel and spent ages trying to get it hung up and the pipework in the right place. Filled up the sack and six hours later it was all gone. Now that you mention it Andrew it must have been the heat expanding the sack and forcing the water out. I gave up with it in the end, but perhaps I'd better get it out and try again.

[fossil]

Thanks for the advice.
I will need to put some kind of flow control on the bag because when i tested the system I also ran out of water in a few hours.
It was a pain to set up

[Lesley Jay]

Fossil do you have a nice neighbour who could water your plants whilst you are away?

[fossil]

No not realy we are quite new to the area, this is my first go at gardening as i have just moved to Gloucestershire from the City.

[andrewo]

I would just use pop bottles as drippers, fill up the big water bottles or better still attach a drip pipe to an existing water butt(s) that are full. That way the rain may replenish the butt and you have plenty of water.

[nick the grief]

I thought you could adjust the flow by turning the actual drip nozzle Or I may be thinking of a different system.

Are your Toms in pots Fossil? cos if they are in the ground they will have access to the moisture there & this will act as a buffer for them.

[fossil]

It is very difficult to set the flow control on the drippers, I may try to find a flow system of sorts that fits on to the water bags.

They are going into grow bags on the greenhouse floor.

I need a watering system as I travel with my work quite alot abroad, and my wife works away as well, kids all left home.

[andrewo]

I would definately think of setting one up to a water butt then and user drip pipes to give your plants a good water. You can even set them up now attached to mains on a time - I suspect you could do this on a water butt too with a little bodging. That way, you are using a renwable resource (when it rains) and not having to refill the bags every five seconds.