Planning for the drought?

[Sanjo]

I don't like paying for water, (on a meter) so I always behave like we have a ban anyway. Not smug, just tight

Snap! Amazing how careful a meter makes you.
We bought two new dustbins yesterday to use as water storage. Already have a large water but. Been in the habit of saving veg washing water and the cold before the hot comes through water. Will also be mulching after watering/rain to conserve as much as I can

[xxamukxx]

Greetings all,

I am getting worried about this too? I've just contacted the council to see what will be happening with our water supply, as I am lucky to have one on the plot. I am planning to mulch as much as possible. But what would people recommend to use that is as cheap as possible? (I am doing this on a budget) I saw cheap bark at a local ASDA, but ive heard its not the best to use around crops. What else is available?

Thanks

Alan

[petal]

well rotted bags of compost from local council? in some places you can collect them?
i have well rotted straw chicken manure I intend to mulch around crops with to retain moisture and I will try to plant through cardboard where possible. I have put loads of newspaper in my runner bean trench too.

[lottie dolly]

Greetings all,

I am getting worried about this too? I've just contacted the council to see what will be happening with our water supply, as I am lucky to have one on the plot. I am planning to mulch as much as possible. But what would people recommend to use that is as cheap as possible? (I am doing this on a budget) I saw cheap bark at a local ASDA, but ive heard its not the best to use around crops. What else is available?

Thanks

Alan

welcome alan,news paper,grass clippings,ask anyone you know,ring some lawn cutting servises see if they will give you some,but only if it not been treated with killer ext,as it will have an effect on your plants,card board,again ask around places such as factories,supermarkets,as long as its free

[Two_Sheds]

I am planning to mulch as much as possible.

Alan, a few older threads for your perusal:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ment_5573.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_63101.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...veg_61516.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ure_61163.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...lch_28207.html

[Chocolate8me]

quick question....although there is a "hosepipe" ban - on our allotment there are the taps and tanks (to catch/store excess or overflow)...the allotment rules say "no hose pipes" can be used at anytime from these to water the plots, but you can use them to fill water butts...

I am guessing that with the ban, that the taps will be in use, but only for watering cans rather than hosepipes of any kind?...

Does that sound about right - or do you think all the water would be off?!

S!

A ban on hosepipes means they cannot be used on gardens, plants, cars or boats for 'recreational use', to fill or maintain ponds, pools or fountains and to clean paths, walls, windows or other artificial surfaces.

Watering cans & buckets are still allowed

Even though I'm up north & our water is ok for the time being, I shall still be using the 'rinsing water' from the dishes to water the lawn. I'm not taking a chance with the washing up liquid remenants on my plants, fruit & veg.

I'm getting a water butt soon too

[Potstubsdustbins]

Rain forecast for Nottm today. So yesterday new guttering and down pipe from shed roof to water butt, result not a single drop of rain in Nottm. Maybe I should sell my services to peeps going on holiday.

Colin

[Potstubsdustbins]

Today it did rain not for long and not very hard. I was therefore surprised to find my 100ltr butt overflowing. Now trying to figure out where I can put another.

Colin

[super trowel]

How can you tell if you are in a drought area?

[veggiechicken]

Look here
Environment Agency - Current water use restrictions

[Leeds_lad]

Drought, what drought? =p. We are fine up north!

[plymouthred]

Got two 100ltr water butts ready to be installed on the guttering of my new greenhouse BUT can I for the life of me find a rainwater diverter kit that fits the 40mm downpipe! Any pointers?

Also love some of the ideas on here for saving water and will most deffo be saving my plastic water bottles

[Bexy]

I have got a water butt comeing tomorrow but im not sure if the adaptor will fit our down pipe as its square. if it does not fit do you know where i could get one that will ?

[plymouthred]

I have got a water butt comeing tomorrow but im not sure if the adaptor will fit our down pipe as its square. if it does not fit do you know where i could get one that will ?

Hopefully you have the standard 65mm or 68mm down pipe which shouldnt pose a problem for you.

Just type in 'standard water butt connection' into your search engine and you will get lots of purchase options.

Unfortunately mine are 40mm down pipes so struggling to find a solution

[Sanjo]

I spent yesterday sorting out my tomato pots (Morrison's buckets). I've been fairly successful in the past placing these on top of a gravel tray filled with sand/pebbles, and then black plastic over that to stop it evaporating. However, the trays are not that deep and I wanted to sort something out for when I am away from home for a week or so.
All of the planting pots are open ended, with either an X shape or the outer rim left on.
These have had a layer of newspaper and a 2" layer of gravel added.
I took a tall flower pot (the sort you get a mini rose in from the garden centre. It's about 7 1/2" high. Fill with gravel or pebbles to the very top
Stand this next to the unpunctured Morrison's bucket and put a mark on this bucket about an inch lower than the top of the flower pot.
Make a hole in this bucket where the mark is.
Place the flower pot inside the bucket and fill with water so that it comes to the level of the puncture mark. That's where any excess water will overflow, you don't want soggy plants.
I measured the first one I did and it took just over 7 pints of water.
The planted up Morrisons bucket goes inside the first one and is supported on the gravel filled flower pot.
Tomatoes send down a water seeking root and I am hoping that there will be enough water in here to support the plant in hot weather if I am not around to water it.
I am also going to twist a black rubbish sack into a strip and tuck it around the top so nothing evaporates.
I ran out of the tall pots and have had to use TWO flower pots, one on top of the other, both filled with gravel to bring them up to the 71/2" level. If you haven't got pot to do that then make the hole lower down. The flower pot displaces the water but you should still get the 7 pints in.
My first thought was to fill the lower Morrisons bucket with gravel nearly to the top and then fill with water. I would have had to go and buy the gravel though so I have just used what I have hanging around.
As long as the planted up bucket is not sitting in water to constantly saturate it it should work.
I hope so anyway as I have just made 12 of them!!