Drip Irrigation at Starlight Cascade Gardens and Observatories
Background
Decades ago we started out first raised bed at our new home. We watered by hand from a hose from our well. Over the years we learned that overhead watering of plants is not the best for conservation of water, the amount of water actually making it into the soil and for the health of the plants (water on leaves, cold temperature of water, etc).
We now have 10 raised beds and two large veg garden beds. A 3/4” water hose runs to spot near each one. Drip irrigation is what we settled on as the best solution and we started with a kit from https://www.irrigationdirect.ca/ in Burlington Ontario
Benefits
Water goes directly to each plants roots, at a much slower rate giving the soil time to absorb it, the slower flow rate gives the water much more time to warm up on its journey from the well (above ground and in the sun), far less water use than otherwise and lastly, the ability to turn it on in the morning for less evaporation, with a timer for up to one hour and walking away in the morning not given a chance to forget to turn it off. We have 4 systems at present.
Each system consists of: a mechanical timer (purchased separately), a backflow preventer, a particle filter, and a pressure reducer. That feeds into the 1/2” supply line which runs perpendicular to the vegbed rows. From their the drip tape runs down each row.
In 2020 we started with this kit: https://www.irrigationdirect.ca/Drip-Irrigation-Watering-Kit-For-Row-Crops-XL.html for approx $205 (now approx $235) and have purchased expansion accessories as well.
Results
The system has been used for 4 seasons now, with most of the original parts still working. Some drip tape did not survive contact with the lawn mower or grass trimmer.
We measure our 1000-1500 garlic bulbs after harvest in both size and weight. The number suggest that this watering system has improved the quality and size/weight of the garlic.
We also use this system with our heirloom tomatoes. Before this our tomatoes routinely cracked with uneven watering, had blight caused by wet leaves from overhead watering and smaller sizes in general.
We highly recommend drip irrigation!
The Future
We are rebuilding/renovating some of our raised beds to minimize the tripping hazard of some of the main lines and to expand into some of the raised beds that do not have an irrigation system.
We are also now looking to expand this into the flower beds as well.
