Jeff H said:
Last year I bought a programmable water timer from HD. Cost $30 ish and is battery powered and hooks right to a hose bib. Can you incorperate something like that so you don't have to monitor the watering everyday? Just let it run for 15 minutes once a day or whatever you need?
I have 3 of those, they work fine and then stop. It has to be the high mineral content. A sediment filter didn't help either. I have nine rows of pepper and tom's with 5 different sets of bubblers, so I would need 5.
My hope is the heavy soil will help this season.
HillBilly Jeff said:
According to the news you're in a very bad way for rain. Hope you stay wet enough this year.
Thanks Jeff,
The lakes and aquifers are hurting. They say the drought is 4 years old, but it really started in the winter of 2005.
This lake is pretty close, with 45 minutes. It was used for ditch irrigation, even all the way out here.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/slideshow/Medina-Lake-vanishing-31321.php
Wife just made a point, the manmade lakes are drying up.
TrentL said:
Hopefully this year has a *little* more rain in it than the last couple. Two years of drought was enough, thankyouverymuch.
I got so sick of watering last year. I took shortcuts I should NOT have taken - like hooking the sprinkler w/ a timer up.
When I lost all my tomatoes from late blight, I learned the error of my ways. Don't top water 'maters.
I sacrificed an old 100' hose, tied the end in a knot, and with a cordless drill now have a good bottom watering system in place.
That's why (drought) I added the heavy soil and the plants are in the ditches. My 2011 garden never got a single drop of rain until after 9-15. In addition to flooding, which is more efficient than sprinklers, I have the wobblers. I can run two at a time and they water 2,500 square feet. They're great for getting the cover crops going in the fall. I also use them in the spring if the soil is dry.
Once in a while I use them to water, but they promote weeds, good for a too lazy day
I never had issues top watering tomatoes. Did you grow them from seeds or buy plants?
Several seasons ago I bought plants and they had some mold ontop of the potting soil, 3 or 4 weeks later they started dropping like flies. It was Southern Blight, no cure. That's what got me growing from seeds, and it's much more rewarding too
HillBilly Jeff said:
I think you can topwater tomatoes, just don't do it right before night. Before I built my watering system, I always topwatered maters. What I can't stand are cold springs that always tend to go right into hot dry summers.
You just described my springs here, very short, that's why I push the early planting. But I learned this year the Chinense flat won't be pushed, glad they were at flowering stage when they hit the dirt.
gnslngr said:
Damn it Scott, did your garden have to be so far along too?
The wind has been fierce at my end as well, and I drove into Houston right as that crap blew through-pretty fearsome for this time of year.In fact, every single Houston trip I've made this year for work has been just a wicked front blows through- they are gonna be getting scared to call me now....
The double dose of molasses will take the tang right outta that cowshit in the tea...ahh, sweet tea without processed sugar!
....and every pack rat knows...if you throw it out, you will need it really bad about a week later
!
Okay-I've waited long enough, whisky time...then zzzzzzzzz
Have a good one -
DJ
Well? I plant as soon as Ma Nature allows
I remember when I moved to Houston in 1978, it rained everyday at 4PM, everyday!
Not anymore, I'm really hoping for the El Nino to come back around.
Thanks for stopping by!
I'm headed outside!
.
