Watering fields

[random]

I figure there might be people here who grow large fields of crops, so I'll throw this out there:

Mine isnt' all that large, but I have two fields, one will be about 50'x120', the other about 50x50. I'm trying to work out the easiest and/or simplest (may not be the same) way to water them. I see the really big rigs the farms around me use, but that's WAY overkill. I've been using multiple oscillating sprinkers on timers that's been working mostly ok so far, but I'm expanding for 2021 and I'm interested in looking into other options.

What's worked for you?

 

[random]

I should probably add, water is supplied via the household well, run via hose (currently) out to the fields. Pressure at well is (IIRC) ~40-50psi, not quite sure about flow, more than 5gpm, I think it's 10.

I'm planning to trench and put in a pipe but that won't change pressure or flow much. I'm considering setting up a pool/cistern and pump, but not sure where to start. I don't want to get into several thousands for this, not just yet.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Soaker hoses. My veggie patch is about 50’ by 50’. I plant double rows with a hose embedded in the middle and then walkways between. Dimensions depend on crop. To water I hook up garden hose from nearest hydrant and use Y splitters and assorted valves to reach several soakers at the same time. I haven‘t bothered with a timer since patch is near the house, easier to check and see what rows need watering. The hoses will last several seasons if they are rolled up and put away when not needed. Some brands seem to last better than others; many seem to crack easily.

 

[BigG]

What are you trying to grow? This info will help to get a better answer. Row crop vs cover crop for example. Are there any water restrictions in your area?

 

[random]

Growing LOTS of peppers, and some other things like tomatoes, cucumber, bush beans, etc. in the bigger field. That one is all row crops. The smaller field is patches like melons and such. Some potatoes.

No idea about water restrictions. Nothing I've ever heard of, nothing in any of the literature I got from the Extension, so I don't think there are any.

I had thought about soaker hoses, wasn't too sure about them. I would need about 1500 feet - the cheapest ones on Amazon would be about $540, so that's within reason, but that's not accounting for quality. I'm not really sure where to start with that.

I was also wondering about cultivating (I think I posted about that here?) - I have a 3-point cultivator I use in the early phases of growing - I'm guessing it's safe to drive over the feeder hoses, as long as I'm sure to lift it in time?

 

[SidecarFlip]

Rain via 'Mother Nature' supplemented by the hose sprinkler rarely. The Garden is 60 x 200.

 

[sheepfarmer]

I have surrounded my patch with anti rabbit fence, and so I am stuck with the dimensions and layout I have, but if I were to do it over, I would plan the layout more carefully. The soaker hoses are especially good for saving water and not sprinkling leaves that are prone to get mildew from being wet. A single hose will efficiently water plants about a foot or so on either side of it. For things like broccoli, which recommend about 18” spacing, I stagger plants diagonally on either side of the soaker. Something like carrots or swiss chard I plant two rows one on each side of hose. I use weed mat to control the weeds between the rows, and mulch heavily around the plants in the rows once they are up. So the weed mat width and the row spacing has to be planned out for optimal efficiency in the spring. By planning I mean I stand out there and think ok I want two rows of potatoes here...and lay down a mat and a hose...corn needs to be in a block....etc. It all works out and I always have a year’s worth of veggies and plenty to give away, but if you are thinking of that much garden do what you can to make life easier.

The soaker hoses and mats are labor intensive to lay out and take up, and if you are thinking to drive a tractor down the rows you need to think about wheel spacing as well. The most efficient use of water and hose would be to lay out say 50 foot hoses in 50 foot rows. I ended up with making U turns and going part way down the next row. You can hook them together but they often don’t water evenly to the end.

In the picture which I just took, the green is where something was growing, the bare dirt is where I had mats. I grow stuff like cucumbers and pole beans vertically on leftover fencing pieces piled up now.

 

[BigG]

I never liked the soaker hoses as they waste a lot of water. For example there ia a lot of space between melon plants.

Instead I would look at drip irrigation. Lay the small tube down the row and use bent wire to staple it to the ground where you need it. The you can place the sprayers so that they water your plants and not the space between the plants. Much lower water usage and you are not watering the weeds. Depending upon the quality of the water you might need to add a filter to the main supply line. One filter should cover the whole garden.

Check out your local HD or Lowes or local farm store.

If you lay the main line along the outside edge of the space and place runners down each row you could cultivate or till without hitting the water supply. Hope this make sense.

 

[bucktail]

The old style soaker hoses that spray a fine mist into the air waste a lot of water. The ones that just leak water from the hose lose very little to evaporation.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I had 9 rows of soaker hoses about 120-130' long each,connected to 1.5" manifold(ABS) fed from 'convertable well pump', that's gravity fed from 2000G water tank refilled with rainwater. As long as it rains once per month, lots of water,even for 2-3 giant(1500#) pumpkins.50-80 toms, 30-50 peps,+ lots of beans ,cukes, etc. Mulch( grass clippings,etc) in the rows around plants ontop of the hoses. 'fun' rototilling, have to bump up the tiller to getover the ABS manifold...8 times.though I should just make a plywood ramp...one day...maybe...

 

[SidecarFlip]

I have surrounded my patch with anti rabbit fence, and so I am stuck with the dimensions and layout I have, but if I were to do it over, I would plan the layout more carefully. The soaker hoses are especially good for saving water and not sprinkling leaves that are prone to get mildew from being wet. A single hose will efficiently water plants about a foot or so on either side of it. For things like broccoli, which recommend about 18” spacing, I stagger plants diagonally on either side of the soaker. Something like carrots or swiss chard I plant two rows one on each side of hose. I use weed mat to control the weeds between the rows, and mulch heavily around the plants in the rows once they are up. So the weed mat width and the row spacing has to be planned out for optimal efficiency in the spring. By planning I mean I stand out there and think ok I want two rows of potatoes here...and lay down a mat and a hose...corn needs to be in a block....etc. It all works out and I always have a year’s worth of veggies and plenty to give away, but if you are thinking of that much garden do what you can to make life easier.

The soaker hoses and mats are labor intensive to lay out and take up, and if you are thinking to drive a tractor down the rows you need to think about wheel spacing as well. The most efficient use of water and hose would be to lay out say 50 foot hoses in 50 foot rows. I ended up with making U turns and going part way down the next row. You can hook them together but they often don’t water evenly to the end.

In the picture which I just took, the green is where something was growing, the bare dirt is where I had mats. I grow stuff like cucumbers and pole beans vertically on leftover fencing pieces piled up now.

View attachment 52037

You have those 'eat every green leafed vegetables' critters roaming around your patch so fence is mandatory or no grow.

 

[random]

I never liked the soaker hoses as they waste a lot of water. For example there ia a lot of space between melon plants.

Instead I would look at drip irrigation. Lay the small tube down the row and use bent wire to staple it to the ground where you need it.

I've used drip irrigation in the past for flower beds and smaller planters.

Seems like a lot of work for over 1000 plants though

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re: Seems like a lot of work for over 1000 plants though
I spend a morning blowing out the lines,installing them and hookup to pump. After that it's 'turn pump on for 20 minutes' once every 3 days... not really toooooo much work. I should put it on a timer but..I 'walkabout' inspecting things....
benefit is 3-4 families fed all growing season long, big freezer filled with tompulp,beans,peps and 3000 Canucks in 'roadside' sales....

 

[Creature Meadow]

While I'm not setup for soaker hoses yet it is in the plan. Huge benefit you only water what you want to.

Watering over the top waters everything including between the rows thus encouraging weeds to grow.

Soaker hoses also don't wash off anything you may spray and don't wet the leaves of the plants like squash which encourages powdery mildew to form on the leaves.

this year will be fence around entire garden and repairing shelter on barn.

Next spring will be to plow water line from well to garden and start using soaker hoses.

I like to watch HOSS Tools on you tube, they have a video on using tape for watering. Very informative channel. May want to give it a look.

Best of luck.

 

[JimmyJazz]

Go on Youtube and look up Neversink Farm. There is little related to growing vegetables that has not been beautifully addressed including watering. Claims to gross $350,000 on 1 1/2 acres. I believe it. Offers online instruction also. I was ready to quit my job and become a farmer after an hour of watching. Have fun and good luck.

 

[random]

re: Seems like a lot of work for over 1000 plants though
I spend a morning blowing out the lines,installing them and hookup to pump. After that it's 'turn pump on for 20 minutes' once every 3 days... not really toooooo much work. I should put it on a timer but..I 'walkabout' inspecting things....
benefit is 3-4 families fed all growing season long, big freezer filled with tompulp,beans,peps and 3000 Canucks in 'roadside' sales....

You're talking about soakers, right? I was referring to drip irrigation. That's a LOT of drippers (nozzles?) to install.

If I can set it up so I can still till, I think I'm leaning toward the soakers at this point.

 

[sheepfarmer]

You're talking about soakers, right? I was referring to drip irrigation. That's a LOT of drippers (nozzles?) to install.

If I can set it up so I can still till, I think I'm leaning toward the soakers at this point.

Just take up the hoses if you want to till the whole garden in the spring. I drag them to a sloping part of my lawn and drain them and roll them up, tie with baling twine, and hang for the winter. If you want to till between rows after they are down you will have to plan the spacing to accommodate your tractor or rototiller, leaving space at the ends of the rows to turn around. My garden is too small to do that, and I grow small amounts of a lot of different things that require different spacing.