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Gardening Tips - Watering Plants
With vegetables containing up to 98% water, it's not surprising that the provision of adequate water during growth is of paramount importance. It is especially important for protected crops without natural rainfall in polytunnels and greenhouses and also for crops grown outside. Despite our wet climate here in Kerry, experience has shown that there will be at least one if not two periods every season when irrigation will be essential for the successful culture of quality organic vegetables. It is vital in early summer in a field of newly transplanted seedlings where regular cultivations are taking place. If the top few inches of soil and the compost that holds the young transplants dry out, plant growth will be severely checked, with disappointing results at harvest time. Salad plants and herbs are especially vulnerable but so are most crops at a young age.
Sprinklers
I would be slow to invest in or recommend spending a lot of money on irrigation equipment for use outdoors, given the vagaries of our climate. At the moment I use cheap spike sprinklers with enough hose length to get to where it's needed. I have a few outside taps at different locations for easy connection. These little plastic sprinklers have to be moved regularly but are quite effective. I used to have a flat hose that had tiny holes along its length and sent a fine shower out at both sides. This would water about twenty average rows at once. These hoses came in fifty and one hundred-foot lengths, but unfortunately age has overtaken ours and I have been unable to source another.
Secure connections
One important point is that all connections should be secure, otherwise sprinklers will not operate to full capacity, water will be wasted and you will end up with a mess around tap areas. I now use the push-fit plastic connectors which have male and female parts that push together - these are quick to assemble and leakproof under pressure. There are several companies making these. 'Hozelock' is the top of the range, 'Pro Tec' is a cheaper version but the fittings are interchangeable. All produce a complete range of fittings from tap connectors through to sprinklers.
Tunnels
For polytunnels, irrigation is even more important. During warm sunny spells watering may be necessary every few days depending on the crop. If you're not properly organised, the watering of several tunnels will occupy a great deal of time during the busiest part of the season. The first priority would be to have a tap outside your polytunnels to service their needs. In a propagating tunnel, it pays to have water on hand at all times for compost mixing and watering seedlings. We have a plastic barrel with a ball cock fitted and this saves a lot of time and is invaluable.
There are several irrigation options for use in tunnels. Basically, they break down into two types - the overhead fixed sprinkler systems (I favour these) and lay-flat and dripline ground level irrigation hoses. The reasons I prefer the overhead system are that the whole tunnel gets water at once, saving time, and I believe that it can also help with pest control. This system replicates natural rainfall more closely than others and Mother Nature knows best. Pests such as aphids can be a real problem in hot dry conditions and a good soaking will often flush them out making it more difficult for them to become established. There is a fear among organic growers that these overhead systems encourage the spread of diseases such as botrytis but we have had few such problems.
Timing
Water early in the day, so that the leaves get a chance to dry out. During hot spells, when leafy plants start to wilt, a cooling shower works wonders. I bought some drip hoses for tomatoes and cucumbers but I don't use them anymore - choose whatever suits you best. The trouble with drip hoses is that they only water a circle around the plant, allowing the ground in between to dry out - this I don't like.
It should go without saying that adding plenty of organic matter - compost and FYM - will help the soil to retain moisture. Mulching is also useful and will keep weeds down.
Water pressure will be a key factor in your choice of irrigation equipment. The 'Dutch pin' types require more pressure that those that hang below the feeder pipe. The spike sprinklers mentioned earlier are also good in tunnels.
Be ready for a long hot summer!
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