[Arid_gardener] Re: Watering a square foot garden

[Olin Miller]

I believe it is best not to use overhead sprinklers.  There is a lot of
evaporation, the overspray encourages weed growth outside the bed, it
spreads diseases, and wastes water.  But controlled foliage spraying by hand
in the cool morning is helpful.

Many gardeners use the inexpensive soaker hoses made from recycled tires to
water at the plants' roots. They tend to squirt out at the supply end and
barely ooze water at the downstream end.  Pressure regulator at the supply
end and discs placed strategically placed along the run can fix this
problem.  They also ten to plug up due the calcium deposits from our
irrigation  water.  There are also laser -drilled quarter-inch drip soaker
line that have a similar problem with calcium deposits.

There is also a 1/4" Soaker Dripline, described at
http://www.dripworksusa.com/store/soakdrp.php#tiptop
that has small 1/2 GPH emitters are extruded into 1/4" tubing at 6, 12 or 24
inch intervals. It can be run down rows in vegetable beds and wound around
bushy plants like tomatoes.  Very easy to use.  Something they don't always
tell you is that to get even distribution a low pressure regulator (about 15
psi) is required and there are limitations on the length of the line which
depend on the emitter spacing.  You can also buy this locally at the Home
Depots, Star Nursery, Sprinkler World , Ewing, et. al.

My personal favorite for row watering is the T-Tape described at
http://www.dripworksusa.com/store/ttape.php#tiptop
It has to be laid out in a straight and terminated by just bending it over
and taping it or placing short piece 3/4" PVC pipe over it.  It also
requires a 10-12 psi regulator as well as special fittings.  I don't know if
it is available locally.  I get mine from Dripworks and use only the 15 mil
.  Ten mil is too flimsy and subject to kinking, and developing small holes,
or severing with a misdirected shovel.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
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----- Original Message ----- From: <samyusko at yahoo.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 11:21 AM
> sam yusko,  85217
> I will be moving to a more rural area with a potential garden area of
> about 30 feet by 100 feet.  I am considering square foot, raised bed
> gardening eight to 12 feet long and three feet wide sections.  How do I
> water the sections effectively?  Is there a more effective way to garden
> the large area?
> Thank-you
> Sam