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DaveH
Striker
Does anyone use any irrigation systems linked to a water butt for watering veg?
When I'm away, I usually use a couple of sprinklers attached to a mains water hose. Due to the low pressure, I have it switched to do one section and then the other. It then does the greenhouse where I have one of these going to each pot, and that works pretty well:
The sprinklers are pretty inefficient as they water the paths, but sometimes don't quite reach the plants.
Last year, a hosepipe ban came in force while I was away, but luckily it started the day I got back. This year we have a hosepipe ban earlier than ever. I've got 6 beds in a row that need watering, plus a thin border around them and slab paths between. My garden is on a bit of a slope and I have a couple of water butts coming off the shed at the highest point, giving a head of water of at least 1m, probably dropping to between 1.5-2m once you reach the bottom end.
I've got a couple of choices, use one (or more) water butt pumps and either have them run the sprinklers as before or a drip system. Or I could just have a valve open on the water butts and let gravity do it's thing. There are things like this soaker hose I could snake around:
When I'm away, I usually use a couple of sprinklers attached to a mains water hose. Due to the low pressure, I have it switched to do one section and then the other. It then does the greenhouse where I have one of these going to each pot, and that works pretty well:
The sprinklers are pretty inefficient as they water the paths, but sometimes don't quite reach the plants.
Last year, a hosepipe ban came in force while I was away, but luckily it started the day I got back. This year we have a hosepipe ban earlier than ever. I've got 6 beds in a row that need watering, plus a thin border around them and slab paths between. My garden is on a bit of a slope and I have a couple of water butts coming off the shed at the highest point, giving a head of water of at least 1m, probably dropping to between 1.5-2m once you reach the bottom end.
I've got a couple of choices, use one (or more) water butt pumps and either have them run the sprinklers as before or a drip system. Or I could just have a valve open on the water butts and let gravity do it's thing. There are things like this soaker hose I could snake around:
Guitar Man
Midfield
Went to pick a few tomatoes that were ripe and gutted to see they all have blossom end rot...what have i done wrong ? do i just bin the plants or is their anything i can feed them with to rescue them ? i must spend a fortune every year and i get a crap crop , my Dad god bless him used to let them grow wild sometimes ,hardly's ever fed them and he used to get massive crops,guess i didn't get his green fingers passed down in the gene's 
PTR
Striker
I have a watering timer. Basically a battery operated valve that's shut until the specified time, then fully open. So you have to leave your tap open.
Used it to water a new lawn when I'd seeded, but went on holiday before it had all germinated.
Did a good job - about £15 from Lidl/Aldi
IIRC, hosepipe bans don't apply if you are watering food - or a newly seeded/turfed lawn.
Harry Gates
Winger
Acidic water iircWent to pick a few tomatoes that were ripe and gutted to see they all have blossom end rot...what have i done wrong ? do i just bin the plants or is their anything i can feed them with to rescue them ? i must spend a fortune every year and i get a crap crop , my Dad god bless him used to let them grow wild sometimes ,hardly's ever fed them and he used to get massive crops,guess i didn't get his green fingers passed down in the gene's
Georgewhitt
Winger
In the greenhouse or outdoors mate?Went to pick a few tomatoes that were ripe and gutted to see they all have blossom end rot...what have i done wrong ? do i just bin the plants or is their anything i can feed them with to rescue them ? i must spend a fortune every year and i get a crap crop , my Dad god bless him used to let them grow wild sometimes ,hardly's ever fed them and he used to get massive crops,guess i didn't get his green fingers passed down in the gene's
Guitar Man
Midfield
Greenhouse
Being using my water supply but now have a big water butt, so every time i have a glass of water i'm drinking Acidic water ?
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Harry Gates
Winger
It'll be a marginal ph difference to alkali, phone dr.google.Greenhouse
Being using my water supply but now have a big water butt, so every time i have a glass of water i'm drinking Acidic water ?
Just followed my own advice, Calcium not being taken up and irregular watering seem to be a common conclusion.
All the best, can't beat a tomato straight off the plant
PTR
Striker
Quick google says drip irrigation systems might be exempt too.
DaveH
Striker
Georgewhitt
Winger
Could be humidity in there mate. I always have vents and roof open, and only water the roots. I never spray the whole plant. Also knock the dying flowers off after the fruit has set.
Don't know if that helps mate, but I have been lucky not to have had your problem so far.
socrates
Striker
It'll be a marginal ph difference to alkali, phone dr.google.
Just followed my own advice, Calcium not being taken up and irregular watering seem to be a common conclusion.
All the best, can't beat a tomato straight off the plant
your conclusion is correct, in the greenhouse I water every day, but not too much. Fed weekly with tomorite. I had blossom end rot frequently and doubt that was irregular watering. After researching the disease I started feeding with Chempac Calcium (half strength) and at the same time Tomorite (half strength) 1 litre per plant weekly. Result - no more blossom end rot!!
Georgewhitt
Winger
Was told by a gardener who has forgotten more than I will ever know, water greenhouse every day. Tomorite every other day after the first truss has set.
Never had an issue.
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High Entropy
Midfield
You can't rescue the tomatoes but future tomatoes from the plant can be saved.
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safcforever
Striker
Tomatoes are starting to come through.
cucumbers are fat but not very long.
Peppers, the flowers are starting to fall off so anytime soon i'll see them
Weed, about to start budding, made a mistake and left them in the light for a few days without realizing, as my timer bust, it went back into vegetation, but its grown another foot and about to go back into flowering
Strawberries, 2 big ones, loads of little ones and still lots left to go.
Snap peas, flowering, not much longer until i see them
Herbs, everything is ready
cucumbers are fat but not very long.
Peppers, the flowers are starting to fall off so anytime soon i'll see them
Weed, about to start budding, made a mistake and left them in the light for a few days without realizing, as my timer bust, it went back into vegetation, but its grown another foot and about to go back into flowering
Strawberries, 2 big ones, loads of little ones and still lots left to go.
Snap peas, flowering, not much longer until i see them
Herbs, everything is ready
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Planted some pumpkins from seed in a trough type box in my greenhouse. The leaves on them are massive! Going to have to move them outside somewhere in my raised beds as I can see flowers coming. Anyone have any experience with growing pumpkins? I'm only growing them for the bairn for Halloween.
My strawberries are finally flowering and my cucumbers I planted from seed are flying so far.
Leeks, onions and toms all going canny
My strawberries are finally flowering and my cucumbers I planted from seed are flying so far.
Leeks, onions and toms all going canny
socrates
Striker
Georgewhitt
Winger
Hope you've got a big garden marra.
They go f***ing mental, and need a lot of space.
You will need to harden them off for a week or so before completely moving them outdoors too.
They really should have been outside before now though. Pushing it a bit to get fruit by the time you want it mate.
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Will need to make space in my raised beds, ah well very much trial and error with them
