Planning for 2017 - Drip Line Reviews & Frost Covers

hjsullivan

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Hello there!

This year will be my third vegetable garden. First year I was wildly successful, last year not so much. We had a very hot and dry summer. So this time around I'm trying to combat that by setting up a drip system with an automatic timer.

I have been comparing the Miracle Grow starter kit as well as the Rain Bird kit. I'm leaning more towards the Rain Bird because of the spray heads and other accessories they offer. Does anyone have any experience with this system? Lots of good reviews, but some bad ones saying the water didn't carry far enough through the line. I'm assuming this is based on your water pressure as well as the size of the area you are trying to cover.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LO4FFG/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Additionally, we had a really rainy and cold spring which made it difficult for me to get my seedlings outside (coupled with I think I started most of them too early). Not much I can do about the rain, but as far as the cold goes, I've been contemplating DYI'ing a frost cover similar to Burpee's:

http://www.burpee.com/gardening-supplies/frost-protection/tunlcover-prod001325.html

I'm in zone 6 (6A I think... I'm just north of Boston), has anyone had any success with these things?
Other ideas and suggestions welcome as well!

thanks!
h
 
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digitS'

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HJ, you probably should have asked the lower-tech question first. I have some brief experience with soaker hoses. I felt I had no choice but to go back to overhead sprinklers.

The tunnels weren't very successful in my garden, either. They were do-it-yourself affairs with cut rebar stakes, pvc hoops and 6 mil plastic film. I had problems with temperature control in the distant gardens where I felt it was safe to use them. My big veggie garden seemed entirely inappropriate because of too much exposure and wind. Where I use these things every spring is in my backyard and where I'm around often for lifting the plastic film for ventilation and recovering in the evenings.

DSC00961_zps2c0f5af0.jpg


I call them "hoopies" and they are very handy for young plants. However, there is no automation whatsoever - just me moving that film, up and down, on and off.

Now, you need responses from people with more experience with the products you are considering.

Steve
 

majorcatfish

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hello stranger...
like the rain bird drip idea... might look into something like that for the raised beds, it would definitely cut back on all the hand watering we do..
but i am a true believer in soaker hoses in the main gardens since never know where i am going plant. the one thing about soaker hoses is you have to move the water hose every 30 min to the next soaker.. the soaker you get from the box stores now are only 1/2" so you have to be careful about the water pressure.
to help conserve moisture you might want to mulch around the plants...
DSC_0019.JPG


yes it's frustrating when you all your plants ready to go into the ground and mother nature has other plans...a little green house works very well, with a personal heater.
this was back in 2013 when unable to plant till early may..poor little root bound plants.
DSC_0004 (640x426).jpg

for frost will use the low tunnel system mainly in the fall and winter to extend the growing season.
DSC_0001.JPG

hope this gives you some ideas to mull over this winter
 

dickiebird

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Not familiar with either of those drip products.
I used one Mister Gardener it's their veg garden drip irrigation kit.
Only used it one year and found it more trouble than it was worth.
It always seemed the drip lines were in the way.
I plan on a smaller garden this yr so I may try it again.

THANX RICH
 

Chickie'sMomaInNH

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seems the rain bird stuff is sold here in new england, both Home Depot & Lowes have them. i bought it a couple years ago & found i didn't like the 1/2" hose pressure issue either. also tough to get the main hose to lay flat without something heavy holding it down.

i like the idea of the smaller hoses they make & the small sprinkler & drip line heads to place at the base of each plant. i bought some of those small water lines to setup in the future. i have some rain barrels i am setting up this spring with shutoffs so i can run the garden hoses through the gardens without being in the path of the lawnmower.
 

Nyboy

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After years of dragging hoses around the yard, I bit the bullet and had underground sprinklers put in. They are on a timer I can set and have a rain gauge. Was a few thousand but worth it.
 

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