water...

[Nicos]

Right, now the snowy season is coming to an end I thought I'd mention about planning ahead for collecting water for this coming growing season.

Anything collected from now on will be fresher than that you've already stored.
We never have enough collected water for the garden, even though we have 2x1,000 litre containers.


So, why not think about collecting rainwater now...what have you already got, and your thoughts on what you could do to have even more????

I'd like to buy a diverter for the downspout for the other side of the house

Who knows if we'll have a drought this summer- by the way the weather has been so far, goodness only knows- lets be prepared folks!!!!

[Bigmallly]

I have 2 diverters from drainpipes into 2 butts, 2 downpies from conservatory roof going to 3 butts, downpipe from garage to 2 butts, linked pipes from greenhouse to 1 butt. Total 8 butts full at the moment but that still will not be enough.

[jayjay giant]

I have a water meter fitted but the chap who backs on to us doesn't.
Water for veg and eggs is a fair exchange.
It works for us !

[solway cropper]

I always empty and clean out my butts in late winter so that I know the stuff going into them in spring is fresh. I wish I had more but it's a compromise between water storage and growing space. Thankfully in this country if it isn't raining it soon will be!!

[Jeanied]

I've got one of these on my house wall, fed by the rainwater downpipe. Good tip to get it emptied while there is plenty of replacement rainwater!

[binley100]

There's nothing quite like a clean butt

Butt I know what you mean.

[Snadger]

I have about a dozen barrels and a 1000 litre container full of rainwater for my watering needs.
Last summer the only thing I needed to use the piped water we have on site at the allotments for was filling my kettle!

My chooks have never tasted mains water and are supplied by water run off from the chicken coop, fed into a barrel within the run!

I am an advocate of the 'grow em ard' school of thought and only water plants if absolutely necessary. Plants usually only get water until they are established and can fend for themselves, then they have to put roots down and find there own ground water! They are assisted by copious mulches of organic material whenever its available though!

[Nicos]

There's nothing quite like a clean butt

Butt I know what you mean.

Noooo!!!! ...

[binley100]

pmsl ................love it

[Jeanied]

Trust you, Nicos! I had to google images as well...

[Florence Fennel]

Nicos your butt is famous on the Chat thread.

[stella]

last year we dug a well near the river that runs down past the back of our hut. It always floods there so we thought we might as well save the water. No idea how we are going to get it out or if it will work. Have to wait and see.

[Bigmallly]

last year we dug a well near the river that runs down past the back of our hut. It always floods there so we thought we might as well save the water. No idea how we are going to get it out or if it will work. Have to wait and see.

If you have power nearby Stella, buy a submersable waterbutt pump. They are very good & the one I got can pump water 11mts high.

[marmalade]

where would one acquire the blue water barrels for using on an allotment?

[Snadger]

where would one acquire the blue water barrels for using on an allotment?

We used to be able to get them for £2 each from the local council! Not sure about now though?