Drought and the polytunnel

[Louise]

Hi Charles
We have a hosepipe ban coming on the 5th April and I wondered if you have any tips for clever watering in the tunnel? During previous bans I have had 3 strapping sons at home to help carry watering cans but not this time.
I grow mainly tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, french beans,sweetcorn, and salads, with a few flowers and other veg.Prior to putting in tomatoes etc I dig a deep planting hole and fill it with water a couple of times, and tend to water either early morning or in the evenings.
Many thanks

[kate robinson]

Hi Louise,
Apparently under a hose pipe ban we are allowed to use a pipe with holes in it on a timer (Gardener’s question time….) What exactly this entails I’m not quite sure – perhaps someone else was listening more attentively. K

[charles]

 Few of these rules make sense but yes, drip irrigation (Kate this is a hose with holes in, timer is extra accessory for more money and VAT so Gov’t like it) is probably going to be allowed in areas with hosepipe bans. I don’t like drip irrigation as it is a fiddle to install, and remove, and store, also each outlet (drip) gives (in theory) the same amount of water, even though some plants need more and some less.

So I think watering with a hosepipe, by hand not a sprinkler, is the most efficient use of water, as the gardener can send it exactly where most needed.

Sorry this does not exactly answer your question but I hope that holding a hose might be allowed!

[Louise]

I just had a look at Southern Water’s FAQ’s and it seems drip irrigation is permitted but it has to be with a pressure reducing valve and a timer, and no use of a hosepipe is permitted at all Charles!

I have got an irrigation system for the tunnel which i have never used (passed on to me) but it is a spray type and those are not allowed.

A hosepipe can not be used even to fill a water butt or a can so I will have to resort to putting a trough under the tap and using it to dip my cans in.

[Author]

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