Re: Watering Systems
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Watering Systems
- From: P* <P*@aol.com>
- Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 18:52:13 EST
In a message dated 98-02-28 08:42:53 EST, you write:
<< Subj: Watering Systems
Date: 98-02-28 08:42:53 EST
From: Lubadub@aol.com (Lubadub)
Sender: owner-pumpkins@mallorn.com
Reply-to: pumpkins@mallorn.com
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
I have looked around for a good book on how to build a watering system using
above the ground systems as my choice. There isn't a lot written that I can
find that tells you about sprinkler heads, areas they cover, how to put the
pipes together, what kind of pumps to use etc. Only one book by the Storey
Publishers written by an ex-plumber and it isn't theat great. Any thoughts? I
want to pump out of a tank sitting by my garden. The water will be warm and
loaded with nutrients. Any suggestions (be specific) regarding pumps, pipe
size etc or a good place to look? (Drip watering systems need not apply.)
Marv in Altoona PA
----------------- >>
Marv,
If you give me more info on how many gallons the tank is and how big an
area you are spraying, I can make some recommendations. I use different
methods for different patches. On a 4 acre patch of Prizewinners I use a 2,000
gallon manure tank on wheels for my storage tank. A 3 gallon per minute supply
fills it and it has a cow tank shut off valve when it is full. A Goulds
Aqualawn pump 240 volt 1.5 h.p. electric puts out about 50 gallons per minute
and drip irrigates 4 acres all at once. On my big pumpkins , I use a 55 gallon
plastic drum filled with concentrated Peters. I use a Dosamatic fertilizer
injector and a digital water timer. I only have 3 gals per minute in the big
patch so I use .33 gpm sprayers on 4 foot plastic vertical risers. I can spray
4,000 square feet at a time, but it must be left on longer becuse of the low
flow. Both systems are simple and totally automated . They turn on and off up
to 4 times a day and I'm not there. A visit to a local greenhouse supply place
will really enlighten you to the state of the art, low flow systems that cover
a large area. You don,t need to get expensive sprayers unless you are doing a
big area. My sprayers are plastic, simple, reliable and cost about 1 buck a
piece. A Goulds Aqualawn pump could cost 3 or 4 hundred dollars but you may
not need one that big. If you only need to spray at 5 or 10 gallons per
minute, I'll come up with something else. Do not use a gas pump unless there
is no electric available. Electric can be controlled much better. Generally,
these little sprayers work well on 20 or 30 psi so a sump pump may not develop
enough pressure to work well. Goulds are high pressure-high volume. You may
need med. or high pressure with lower volume.....they are available.
Warning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to all people considering combining
fertilizers into watering systems. You must put a check valve/ backflow
preventer on your incoming water supply to insure that fertilizer does not get
back into your drinking water. These are cheap and any greenhouse supply has
them.
pumkinguy@aol.com
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