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Posted by Chris (U7536226) on Saturday, 17th March 2012
I have a nice, full rainwater butt.
In the light of the impending drought I have a wizard wheeze of somehow running a tube from the Butts tap to some nearby raspberries.
Its all very well in theory but has anybody got any ideas how to achieve this ?
I have a few foxes around which I expect will dig / fiddle with the tube.
Thanks
Chris
Link to this forum: Rainwater Butt ... Irrigating nearby raspberreis
I have a nice, full rainwater butt.
In the light of the impending drought I have a wizard wheeze of somehow running a tube from the Butts tap to some nearby raspberries.
Its all very well in theory but has anybody got any ideas how to achieve this ?
I have a few foxes around which I expect will dig / fiddle with the tube.
Thanks
Chris Â
Chris, the question in my head is why? raspberries can get by with a minimum rainfall and if they get a bit dry then take a bucket full from the tub and pour it on them.
If you are in a drought area then collect large containers with caps and fill them from your tub and put them somewhere out of light using the water when needed.
Stored water from rain butts can get a bit muggy but it is still wet, you could even run it through a filter into watering cans then water your plants.
We in the North East do not have a problem, if we had I would store water when available and use it when needed. Remember plants do not need as much water as we think they do.
Frank.
Link to this forum: Rainwater Butt ... Irrigating nearby raspberreis
Make sure you cover the butt or the water will become manky.
Link to this forum: Rainwater Butt ... Irrigating nearby raspberreis
Make sure you cover the butt or the water will become manky. I have a couple of dustbins which I have cleaned out and I was intending to put them down the back of the garden next to my veggie plot, fill them with water before the end of March to use when I am unable to use the hosepipe. If I cover them with netting/mesh to keep out the leaves, will that be enough to stop the water becoming manky and at the same time be a receptacle for more water if it rains?
Link to this forum: Rainwater Butt ... Irrigating nearby raspberreis
If you don't cover your bins they will attract mosquitos, the water will be swarming with larvae in no time!
Link to this forum: Rainwater Butt ... Irrigating nearby raspberreis
Chris
Nice idea-
but it seems to me a lot of faffing around just to get the water to the raspberries-a watering can will be sufficient surely unless you have a plantation?
Link to this forum: Rainwater Butt ... Irrigating nearby raspberreis
I had a gravity fed system attached to my water butt. More often than not I just resorted to filling the watering can instead. Eventually I just took it all out as the piping got in the way of planting, sowing and more importantly effective weeding
You can purchase the relevant 'micro irrigation' kits in most garden centres or places like wilkos. DIY option is possible I suppose, with some narrow tubing and well placed holes.
Link to this forum: Rainwater Butt ... Irrigating nearby raspberreis
I was asked to trial one of those irrigation kits last year when we were testing water saving devices. It was incredibly fiddly and very annoying so in the end I gave up and just handed it all back.
I've got four water butts and am about to get anohter one to put on the shed. I also have an old covered dustbin which I will be filling up when all the butts are full. Saving every drop of rainwater that you can will be the name of the game this summer in the south.
Link to this forum: Rainwater Butt ... Irrigating nearby raspberreis
I wonder, would it be easier to fill a container and hang it on a post near the crops you want to water, with its pipes; then you wouldn't have to run pipes a distance from the butt.
In fact, the only plants that really need watering are newly planted ones before they get their roots down.
Link to this forum: Rainwater Butt ... Irrigating nearby raspberreis
Thanks for all your help ... sounds as if its more trouble than its worth ... I'll just use a watering can.
Chris
PS I also live in the South and am collecting all rainwater.
Mind you I thought that's what I paid water rates for ... but that's for another discussion !
Link to this forum: Rainwater Butt ... Irrigating nearby raspberreis
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