which is worse, tap water or no water at all?

[jencrow]

Wonder just how bad using tap water really is for watering my veggies. I live in a flat with a patio and am growing everything in containers.. (just to mention a few things I am growing: potatoes, peas, courgettes, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, onions). So I am a bit limited on equipment and have no water butt. So I try to fill up my watering can morning and night and let stand as long as possible to get rid of the chlorine, but I know there isn't enough time for it all to dissipate. I know this isn't ideal. My 'plot' is very sunny and so my containers dry out very quickly and it makes me nervous to let them get too dry. Which is worse, tap water, or no water at all? Thanks for any opinions..

Jen C

[rustylady]

No water at all is far worse. By the way, where are you? If you go to your profile and add your location it will help with answering queries. Is your tap water hard or soft?

[Bigmallly]

What would you give them in place of no water?............and don't anyone dare say coca cola.....

[jencrow]

Thanks for that Rustylady. Funny you should say that, because I just now this minute edited my profile. Anyhoo I live in Tiverton, I guess you would say that is Northeast Devon, close to Somerset. I think the tap water is pretty soft because I have no limescale on my kettle! Is softer water better than hard? (I hope!)

[jencrow]

Funny Bigmally! When I say 'no water' I guess I meant 'postponing the watering of the dessicated compost until tomorrow, when the chlorine can clear' !

[taff]

I can't see a problem. We're always advised/advising watering seedlings with tap water in case of nasties in rain/waterbutt that they may not be able to cope with until they're big and strong, so um....unless you're having abnormal problems with them, carry on

[Comfreyfan]

I'm just down the road from Tivvy and it's definitely soft water, when I've run out of water butt water the veggies have never complained of the tap water! Welcome to the Vine by the way!

[jencrow]

Ok, cool.. I feel a lot more better now! Thank you everyone for the advice and welcome! I could spend hours on here.

Jen C

[Pies]

What would you give them in place of no water?............and don't anyone dare say coca cola.....

Pepsi ..

[rustylady]

Thanks for that Rustylady. Funny you should say that, because I just now this minute edited my profile. Anyhoo I live in Tiverton, I guess you would say that is Northeast Devon, close to Somerset. I think the tap water is pretty soft because I have no limescale on my kettle! Is softer water better than hard? (I hope!)

I was born and grew up near Plymouth and you definitely have soft water down there. It's much better for lime hating plants (and I think plants in general). Can you rig up a water butt or two to collect water from your roof downpipes?

[jencrow]

Thanks, good to know about the soft water. I will ask my landlord if he will allow installation of a water butt. It is very hectic around here with haylage season in full swing, so I doubt anything can be done until after August!! Even then it is a struggle getting him to do things, but I will try my best!

[rustylady]

Thanks, good to know about the soft water. I will ask my landlord if he will allow installation of a water butt. It is very hectic around here with haylage season in full swing, so I doubt anything can be done until after August!! Even then it is a struggle getting him to do things, but I will try my best!

You could always buy or acquire your own - try Freecycle, and provided you have plastic downpipes you can buy a diverter kit from cheap shops. Easy to fit.

[jencrow]

Are they really? Easy? It all seems very mysterious to me.. I did have a brief look at my downpipe and couldn't make out any bits that could obviously be detached. I will have to take a closer look. I will bend my landlord's ear, as first step is getting permission anyway. He pays the water bill so there is no downside for him really as long as it doesn't look butt ugly!

[maypril]

Which is worse, tap water, or no water at all

In the past, the crazy people used to think that the government was controlling their minds with chemicals put into the water supply. Nowadays the crazies seem to be complaining about mind control rays from power lines and wireless networks. Just wear a tinfoil hat while watering and you'll be fine

You can buy tests kits to find out exactly how much chlorine is in your water both before and after leaving it to evaporate out.

Most people don't bother waiting for the chlorine to evaporate and they get wonderful plants from it. It's definitely worse to not water at all! In fact tap water can sometimes be better than rainwater because rainwater tends to be acidic (because of dissolved sulphur) and tap water tends to be alkaline (because of dissolved calcium)

Have you tried Perrier? If it's good enough for stupid rich people to drink, maybe it'll be good for your plants too?

[kingkano]

Are they really? Easy? It all seems very mysterious to me.. I did have a brief look at my downpipe and couldn't make out any bits that could obviously be detached. I will have to take a closer look. I will bend my landlord's ear, as first step is getting permission anyway. He pays the water bill so there is no downside for him really as long as it doesn't look butt ugly!

Bits dont detach. You use a hacksaw to cut straight thru the pipe and remove a small 2" section, where you insert the diverter in its place. Very easy to install.