Allotments 4 All

HI ALL,

OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS I HAVE LUGGED GALLONS OF WATER UP AND DOWN MY ALLOTMENT AND BEINGS ITS A GOOD 40M FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER IM BECOMING RATHER LAZY.....

JUST A POST TO SEE IF ANYONE EMPLOYS A PUMPING TYPE SYSTEM THAT RUNS ON A NETWORK OF HOSES TO FEED THE BEDS....? IF SO HOW HAVE YOU DONE IT AND DO YOU THINK IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE A SYSTEM WITH NO ELECTRICITY SUPPLY?

ALSO HOW DO PEOPLE COPE WHEN YOUR WATER BUTTS RUN OUT? I HAD 4 FULL TO THE BRIM WHEN I TOOK OVER MY PLOT AND NOW IM DOWN TO AROUND HALF A BARREL....HELP!!!

ANY HELP ON THIS TOPIC WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.....AND SORRY IF I COVERING OLD GROUND....

You might be able to rig somthing up using a syphon (ie but your butts up on bricks) You would need some kind of power supply to run a timer and open up and shut a valve when you want to water - but a car battery would probably last ages as you would'nt need much current. You might get a few funny looks rigging it all up though...

If you have a hosepipe ban, you can still  fill water butts with a "short" length of hose from a tap... but how long "short" is, is up to you...

I'm about 100m from the tap - and just make do with lugging water about.

I wonder whether all this watering is really necessary? I don't water, and what I find is that the only things that suffer in a drought are young roots that haven't gone deep yet, seedlings and shallow-rooted stuff like lettuces and spinach. Everything else thrives despite it. If I wasn't so bogged down with GCSE marking I'd probably be doing some selective watering, but I don't think I'd ever water more than a few beds.

I'm convinced i would have lost my runners if i had'nt been watering them, they've been really struggling to get going this year. It has been very very dry in my area - no rain for at least 6-7 weeks. I dont water everything - just things that look like they need it, young plants, my tomatos and gourgettes.

keef - 'short' in the Thames area is 2m. I didn't know that there was a restriction on length till I checked today. And they then had to check.

Someone please tell me what difference length (hose) makes??

Oh, & repeat - if you don't put at least 2l on each plant, you're wasting your time!!

HEY, ONLY TROUBLE IS OUR SITE DOESNT HAVE A TAP...OR ELECTRIC..OR ANYTHING MUCH TO BE HONEST HEHE....

SOME THINGS CAN DO WITHOUT WATER I AGREE BUT MY PEAS ARE STRUGGLING BIG TIME...

THANKS GUYS....

Our big test of chauffeur driving was taking a domestic water storage tank of water the 1/2 mile up the cart-track to the allotments in a Mk1 Landrover - without flooding the back of it. But I eventually got water laid on.

Keef  You might be able to rig somthing up using a syphon (ie but your butts up on bricks) You would need some kind of power supply to run a timer and open up and shut a valve when you want to water -



Our local Lidl's had timers last week - no power/battery needed so I suspect they're probably clockwork

has anyone used or seen a hozelock auto watering kit? ive had a look and imagine that most of the water would escape in the first few holes......?

I use a auto watering kit with time at home, not at the allotment. I don’t think the standard kit will work from a water butt as it requires a certain level of water pressure which when combined with the bespoke drippers gives even water along the whole line.

There are also water butt dripper kits on the market, I am about to install a 10m kit in the greenhouse at the allotment in preparation for a 2 week holiday.

http://www.twowests.co.uk/TwoWestsSite/product/WBDK.htm

I will be setting it up soon to make sure it works and with plenty of time so I can adjust it prior to leaving in August.

HTH

Jerry

I was going to say buy the water butt pipe direct but they've sold out!

http://www.gardensystems.co.uk/products.asp?type=Water%20Butt%20Pipe

for reference... also here is where you get the accessories like filters or extra connectors.

moonbells

thanks...really helpful.....sandersj89 you'll have to let me know how your kit goes once installed..thanks again for the information..

out of interest is it fairly normal for allotments to have a communal tap?

and does anyone have any experience of trying to get a tap installed?

regards,
aj

Firstly, it may be of interest that Wilko have 7M drip hoses at 2 for £1.50.

Secondly, I'd hate to think how much it costs to have mains water installed these days if you haven't already got a supply.