Automatic irrigation

[mrbadexample]

Evening all.

I need to sort out some sort of automatic irrigation system to take care of my plants whilst I'm on holiday. My mate used to walk round the corner from his house and do it for me, but I've moved now so it's no longer an option. I don't mind asking someone to check every 2-3 days or so, but daily watering needs to be automatic.

I have read some of the previous threads but haven't quite found what I wanted. I've been looking at something like this.

Are they any good? My requirements are as follows:

1. I need to connect to a tap.
2. I need to water tomatoes inside and outside the greenhouse.
3. I need to water chillies and peppers that require less water than tomatoes.
4. I'm on a water meter so don't want something on all the time.
5. It must be reliable so I don't get cross.

Some advice would be lovely, thank you.
MBE

[Martin H]

MBE, I installed something similar earlier this year to water all my veggies in pots. I got mine from easygardenirrigation dot co dot uk, and the timer from screwfix. I'm very happy with it so far. I chose this supplier over others because it promised that all the drippers let out water at the same speed regardless of height and distance from the tap, and indeed that's what happens. That might be something for you to check with your chosen supplier.

I have a mixture of 4 litres/hour and 2 litres/hour drippers, for large and small pots respectively. Just now I've got it turning on for 10 minutes once a day. PM me if you want more details.

Good luck!

[Jimmy]

I have all the drippers and when I get time will implement a system.
I didn't want it off a tap because I always have fears about leaks over a week hundreds of gallons of water washing away my foundations.
So I think a water butt topped up off my greenhouse.
I have an old dustbin and to get the "head" planed to mount it on a raised plinth 3 or 4 bricks height.
Not had time yet , retirement project I think.
Jimmy

[nickdub]

A friend of mine has a system run off the mains, but he's added a pressure valve to it so that the water on the irrigation side can be at no more than atmospheric pressure - obviously this means that even if something on the watering side does go wrong, the water that will leak out will only be a relatively small volume. ( he also has a timer on it, which I think he said he sets for 10 mins morning and evening when he's away)