Misters
>Marv in Altoona
>
>Chris:
>Before you leave us again would you comment on your watering system? Where
>you purchased your misters and if you have any new thoughts?
>Marv
===============================================================
Marv,
I am not leaving, just stepping down at the end of the week so someone else
can take over the podium. I like Duncan' idea of inviting a different Heavy
Hitter to speak each week and look forward to hearing viewpoints other than
my own. My misting system is used to cool the leaf surface of my plants
during high temps, above 85-90F. It has worked quite well in keeping the
plants cool and eliminating leaf burning in high temps up to 111F. Many of
the Napa Valley Growers now use such a system with great satisfaction. The
idea is to wet the leaf surface area just enough to cool the leaf by
evaporation of the water. It consists of a Irritrol microprocessor
controller (water timer) and micro emitters (sprinklers). A standard rain
bird type water timer does not support the functions required to make the
system work. You need a water timer or controller that provides for "Loop
Cycling"and "Loop Delay". This feature allows you to program a "Start
Time", "Stop Time" and "Programming of each Valve" for a specified run time
in seconds or minutes in a cycle. Example: At 10 a.m. the first valve
starts, runs for 60 seconds, shuts off, valve two starts runs for 60 seconds
shuts off. The system then shuts off for 8 minutes, then valve one starts
and runs for 60 seconds and so on until 4 PM or programmed shut off time
when the entire system shuts down. There is a difference between misters and
micro-emitters. Misters provide exactly that, a fine mist almost like a fog.
Micro-emitters on the other hand are actually micro-sprinklers that
broadcast a very fine broken up water pattern. I prefer the micro-emitters
as I find they cover a larger area and provide for better wetting of the
leaf surface area. Misters on the other hand provide such a fine mist or fog
that it tends to swirl around in a un-even pattern missing much of the leaf
area. The micro-emitters I use are available in 49gph,21gph and 8gph sizes.
I have found for a large to medium size patch 3,000 sqf plus the 21gph work
great, for smaller patches the 8 gph work great. These are available from
Ewing Irrigation products Main Office 3441 East Harbour Drive Phoenix AZ
85034 PH: 602-437-9530. Part # for the 21 gph is 12002030. As a side note
some of the Napa Growers may want to further comment on this subject as I
believe they are using different micro-emitter heads which do not put out as
much water.
Chris
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