Veg plot irregation

There isn't too much to say about this one at the moment, but here is the start of what will ultimately be an irrigation system for the veg plot that I am creating.

I've managed to get hold of six used IBC tanks which will hold 1000litres of water each. So ultimately we should have a capacity of 6000litres or 219gallons.

This is the very attractive tanks!



Fearing a break in the weather, I opted to lay the concrete base this morning, which will be used to site the containers onto.






This shot shows the inlet pipe from the guttering and also what will be the overflow pipe. I'm also going to install a sump before the water reaches the tanks, to help prevent sediment and rubbish from entering the first tank.



My next job at the weekend is get the tanks put into position, and at least get one tank fed and working. The aim is to link all of the tanks together, and whilst an electric pump would be handy, getting power to the plot isn't easy or practical to do. I'll shall be sinking an additional old water tank fitted with a float valve, which can be used as a sump in which to fill watering cans from, or use a gravity hose from. By using a float valve, I won't have to worry about turning taps on or off.
I also intend to make a trellis to hide the tanks and grow climbers over them.

 

Eddie, definitely needed at the moment and probably in the future.

Are they UV resistant?

 

Thanks for some good advice there JWK.

has bean counter, I doubt very much that they are UV resistant, but because of their location I intend to screen them off and grow something over them. Hopefully that will all help.

I dragged them across the garden and into location this morning. The next job is get along to a plumbers merchant and buy some fittings etc to join them up.

 

I've now done a bit more and also made a mistake. I decided to use 43mm waste pipe to link the tanks together by means of installing a tank coupling to the bottom outlet. In my haste to cut the first blank, I stupidly hadn't realised that the rear nut on the fitting would foul the outlet thread. Its annoying as it now means that I need to get hold of another threaded blank plate.
Because I could'nt do the above, I just opted for plan B and fitted the link pipe as high up as possible.
At the bottom of the tanks, I'm going to retain one with a tap on, and link the rest via normal water pipe. I have also bought a galvanised animal water trough which I shall use to take the water from the remaining five tank, with a ball cock fitted to automatically shut off or fill. Sadly I can't get to the merchant until next weekend, so that aspect will now have to wait.

The inlet is only temporary.



Note roding point which is fitted to both ends just in case.



Tap and cap cost £4.00



Tap removed from this one to show the 'male' water fitting.

 

Great job there mate, very impressive. What do you have in mind for covering them?

 

I was wondering how this is going now? Any updates?

 

Sadly no updates.:(

I have been too busy with work to be able to buy the fittings that I need to finish it. I'm taking next Friday off work, so hopefully I should be able to finish it then.

 

Just a thought, but if you use an overflow system if the water coming in the first tank is greater than the transfer pipe the extra water will be lost.
if you connect all the tanks at the bottom all the tanks will be evenly full and there will be a greater space in tank 1 to take the extra water, only problem if you had a leak you would loss all your water

By the way, I love your beds and the layout, doing five of my own at the moment all set out with a laser level so the moisture soaks in evenly

 

Blacksmith, I had forgotten all about this thread.

Here is the finished system.

 

Hi Eddie, didn't notice the date on your post, but nice to see you have finished, are you using any automated irrigation systems?

Would be nice to see your whole plot if it is finished.

 

Here you go, these were taken a few weeks ago. The onions are now lifted, the broad beans and peas have finished, the runner beans are now at the top of the fold up frames.







Horseradish.



An older shot.



Another older photo showing my homemade veg plot work bench.





The watering system still needs work, as I would like to install an in line pump and drip feeders.

The veg plot has been badly neglected this year as I have so many more pressing projects on the go, and haven't had the time to look after it properly. The dry spell in April/May was also a disaster as we had to use what water we had stored (which wasn't much), on the newly bought shrubs that are dotted around the garden.