Any advice re soaker hoses?

[Kevin Wright]

Hello folks,

I bought some soaker hose at the weekend with the idea of setting it up in the polytunnel in order to reduce the watering burden for garden sitters while we're on holiday. I connected it a 100L waterbutt and left it for 24 hours but it's only watered about a few millimetres either side of the hose, instead of the 18" or so I was led to expect.

So, is it down to poor quality hose (bought from B&Q and considerably cheaper than Hozelock, Gardena, et al), or is it just insufficient water pressure? Maybe I need to connect it to the mains? (there were no instructions at all with the hose).

Any advice greatfully received!

Kevin Wright

[Alison]

You'll get the best distribution of flow if connected to the mains but you'd need to put a pressure reducer on the restrict the water pressure. However, you'll probably be getting more water than you think as the water coming out of the hose will sink into the ground and spread wider. I've used them off water butts but have noted that you need to leave them on for a long time to get a decent watering and to limit your length of hose. Wouldn't worry too much about the type of hose you've bought, just play around with it for a bit - this would include perhaps raising the level of your butt to get better pressure.

[nick the grief]

I would guess it's the water pressure from the Butt. I would use it one the Mains ( assuming there is no hosepipeban) & connect it via a battery powered timer then you coulsd get it to come on early evening or early morning ( which would be better) and give a good soaking before it gets too hot.

[JennieAtkinson]

I've jsut bought a leaky hose system for the greenhouse (Gardenena) but it was terribly expensive, so thought I would make my own for teh polytunnel. I've got overhead watering but it is not really what you need. Has anybody made their own leaky pipe? No B&Q unfortunately, so can't just go and buy a cheap one.

[Hazel at the Hill]

The leaky pipe doesn't sound too tricky on the face of it, JA - a pipe, bradawl or small bore drill bit?

[JennieAtkinson]

Yes, I was thinking of just using a bradawl and some old bits of pipe that are laying around. I'll have to buy a few link bits, but that shouldn't be too expensive.

[Two_Sheds]

Perhaps we water a bit too much? Some crops positively benefit from less water (tomatoes, onions) and its been said that the more you give them, the more they want (like kids). Apart from seedlings, I water my crops as little as I can get away with...I don't own a hose...and I always have lots of lovely veggies for my dinner.

[pigletwillie]

I bought some low pressure leaky pipe especially made for use with waterbutts last year. I put 40' of pipe to a 1000l ibc and left it turned on. It let out about 100l a day into a 20' x4' raised bed in the tunnel meaning that it didnt require any input from me for up to 10 days. Its a quite narrow bore pipe but worked very well.

[sewer rat]

This is all very interesting peeps, as I am currently looking at the alternative means of watering my wee veg plot. I will be connected to the mains via a 20mm MDPE pipe which will have a total run of 400m. This will feed between 8 - 10 take off points (taps that is !!), as well as supplying my growing tunnel and my workshop. I also intend to use the rainwater from the roof of my workshop (288 sq ft) to fill IBC tanks.
At the moment T-Tape is the front runner over soaker hoses. Anyone any working experience of T-Tape, or have any other suggestions for me to consider.

[madderbat]

Perhaps we water a bit too much? Some crops positively benefit from less water (tomatoes, onions) and its been said that the more you give them, the more they want (like kids). Apart from seedlings, I water my crops as little as I can get away with...I don't own a hose...and I always have lots of lovely veggies for my dinner.

I agree, but tried not watering too much last year and got a rotten crop of tomatoes - 2 to be exact! Will be a little more generous this year.