Holiday

I bought a verve water timer which looks identical to that Titan one from screwfix it has worked a treat, i have had three holidays and all has been well in fact i just leave it on all the time and check around pots etc once in a while and all good only runs on two small batteries and readout still says batteries are 100% charged after three months,
Only took a week to fine tune on timings

 

This plus a timer should cover the issue of watering. 2100hrs and 0500hrs should be ok in my opinion. Thanks for the advice and tips which helps to make up my mind.

 

@landimad Way to go, you can have a great holiday AND come back to healthy plants.

 

Well, that has topped it off for my plants. We have just been told a local hosepipe ban will be in force from Friday for the next fortnight. They are trying to conserve water and feel this is the only way it can be done. There seems to be a trend of this going on with spies and snowflakes trying to get people fined for using them. Have asked a neighbour but again if they get caught then they are fined and I get fined upon return. Talk about making money out of nothing.

 

Instead of using a spray head like your photo showed, you could use a soaker hose wound over the top of your grouped pot plants, connected to a timer set to come on at night, who would know or even see such use ?
As they say going to be hot, errect some kind of screen to keep the pots well shaded.

If all else fails, its still possible for someone to use a watering can, takes a little longer but often more effective.

 

Do not despair, @landimad , it's not a full orchard but just some pots. You don't need a sophisticated system for your holiday, just a helping hand will see at least 80% of your plants surviving.

Get plenty of buckets (10 of these will hold 140l water for a tenner) and a person to water the pots by hand twice or more often. Local charities may find people who would be delighted to do the task, and a donation towards the charity would really maximise the good your holiday is doing- not just for your wellbeing but also to a good cause.

 

Oh how I wish folk round here were like that. Lovely idea and would jump at the chance. Shame all they think about is themselves and how much grief they can cause new folk with there holier than thou attitude here. Of course they would not do well as they get paid help to do their tasks. Its at times like this I wish I had moved where I intended, YORKSHIRE. God's own countryside and full of friendly folk too.

 

Well holiday over, and I think all bar one plant have survived.
Thanks for all the tips and advice you kindly offered up, as you can see the idea was to use the dribble hose on a skeletal frame over the alley to work off a timer. The neighbour came through and has been over everyday to water while away. I did state every other but she was persistent.
No fish were caught during the time away and I think it maybe time to hang up the tackle as casting any distance over 50 feet just cannot do.
Strawberries have had their season, and the tomatoes are ripening lovely. Peppers are now filling out in hope that I get at least one bell and plenty of Apache.

 

In Yorkshire there is a saying.

If er tha does ought for nought, alas do it for tha sen.

Or in modern English, if ever you do anything for nothing, always do it for yourself.