Greenhouse Automatic Watering

not quite the right season, but wanted to share this very simple way of automatically watering a Greenhouse while on holiday etc.

My system of using a neighbour last season wasn't very successful and I've no money, so I've spent a tenner on a 'timer' type thing to switch the water supply on & off [from a well known auction site] and the rest you can see in the photos here.

The sprinkler's tied down with cable ties and its fed from my garden tap using a regular hose line.

For those with cash to splash, its a bit basic; for Paupers like me, perfect !!

 

Looks Like a man made disaster

This has to be a windup, the daftest thing I have seen in years, I do not know why I am bothering to reply. Please tell me this is a wind up
Alex

 

No, its not a wind up Alex.
My intention is to encourage others, whom perhaps like me have plenty of time, but precious little cash; to involve themselves in Greenhouse gardening.

Its not necessary for a solution to a situation to be ‘elegant’, it merely has to ‘work’.

I hope that somebody reads and instead of thinking …
“I can’t get a Greenhouse coz I like to go on holiday in the summer and all of the plants will die. There’s nobody to water the plants I’ve spent lots of time nurturing and I can’t afford a fancy irrigation system”

…they think, yeah; I can do something like that too. I’ve got a hosepipe, a sprinkler and some basic tools.

Lets encourage people to post here, and to enjoy a hobby (any hobby) that requires little investment of money; but lots of time.

Everybody’s opinion is their right, just as yours and mine appear to be quite different from one another, its what makes the world interesting; but lets not use our opinions to the detriment of others. That’s not the purpose of a friendly Forum.


Some facts, for those of you, like me whom are time rich, money poor. What you can do.
Cost of my Greenhouse, derelict : £20 (I've seen better ones sell for less since on a well known auction site]

Cost of numerous replacement panes of glass £2 diesel to collect them from a Freegler

My most expensive possession: a 1995, 230,000mile estate car, approx value £300

Value of learning to cut glass, maintain the car, enjoy all sorts of DIY, grow plants; enjoy home grown fruits and produce… priceless!!

We also go on holiday for the cost of the diesel alone, 47mpg average = 97miles to £10, sleeping comfortably in the car: others laugh at that too, but my partner and I enjoy it and I recently calculated that in the 5 years and 45,000 miles I've owned it, its purchase, maintenance and depreciation has cost me £825. I recommend that, too !

NB: I could've done a prettier job with the sprinkler system, but 'prettiness' simply isn't necessary in this application.

 

Hello @MostlyVegsSouthCotswolds
How were your crops? Did the water system keep everything alive whilst you were on holiday?

 

a bit disappointing Beckie. A combination of my fledgling gardening skills, doing other things; and a full 10 day stint while we were away in summer when a neighbour entrusted to doing the watering chose not to bother.

The watering system was set up as a 'test' for the coming season, before I decided whether to continue with the Greenhouse or turn it into a shed / sell it

However, its not all doom & gloom: we've had varying sizes of crops of Carrots, Spuds, Strawberries, Gooseberries, Cucumbers, Butternut Squash, Sunflowers, Marigolds and Cucumber. ...from pleasing to "well at least there's one!"

I'm going to see if I can find a post from you about your own successes now

 

Yes it's tricky when you have to ask others for help, somehow they don't always do as you would do! I have lots of experience with asking people to water & them not doing a good job!
Sounds to me like you are the same as me some food crops & some not so good. I think the weather has been most to blame, it was very cold early season & we've had some quite chilly nights.....but all is not lost there's always next year, I say keep that greenhouse & try again! My tomatoes are slowly turning from green to red in the kitchen!!!
Perhaps next year we need to help each other a bit more & see if we can get some better crops.

 

I cant understand why you think this would be a man made disaster?
I love to see how people 'rig' up ideas for pennies! I myself am a self confessed "if its free I'll find a use & if its cheap I'll find a use"

I have a 10 pole allotment & I am turning it around from using recycled stuff - think I've spent about £20 & thats on bits like canes & pellets.

I dont have any money either & love being creative. So from me - well done @MostlyVegsSouthCotswolds keep posting your ideas

 

I see lots of mildew in your future. A timer is a lovely idea but you might best wait until you've saved enough to buy a low flow watering system to go with it. Something like this, or perhaps a drip system that you just leave on while away.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=49688&cat=2,44663,71829

or as John says, those soaker hoses work well too.

I have a couple of small hobby greenhouses and lots of accessories and toys to go with them. You'd probably be horrified if you knew how much I've spent on my toys - but each to their own!

 

The worst way of watering in a greenhouse is spraying water indiscriminately which would lead to sunscald at best, but far more importantly would be the fungal disease it would promote. A leaky hose at plant base is cheaper and far better. not to mention the shock of cold tap water.
Alex

 

Right, so instead of just shaking your head in disbelief at the original post, why didn't you say that to the poster?

Alot more helpful in the long run & informative for those of us that don't know!

 

Was just thinking about your set up.

I use dollar store boot trays around my greenhouse floor and sit my pots in them to catch runoff. If you were to do the reverse, using trays or a trough for your plants perhaps you could use yor hose and timer to feed the trays and bottom water?

I have used solar panels to operate pumps. Sun comes out, ou p starts up and if there was a valve on a timer, voila. Plants get watered when the sun shines too.

 

I have a very expensive lean to green house bought for peanuts of flea bay, an extra is a hose connection that has a mister and that waters the whole thing.

http://www.garden-products.co.uk/ca...deluxe-upgrade-kit-for-4-growhouse-wall-frame

 

because it was so heath robinson I honestly thought it was a wind up
alex

 

You should see some of my set ups.
If you want to move a 6x4 shed then consult the Egyptians, I used their methods wet wood runners and a good lever to drop off a 2 ft ledge and 2 90deg bends.