How do you use rain
water drip irrigation to yield such large tomatoes?
The
system utilizes a 500 gallon per hour mag drive pump attached
to 1/2" poly tubing which serves as a feed line, and
the pump is connected to a timer which regulates automatic
watering (15 min once a day). Using the Raindrip hole punch,
punch holes in the 1/2" feed line and then insert the
1/4" lines, attaching no clog drip stakes on the end
of the 1/4" feed lines.
For
the buckets themselves, use a five gallon nursery pot and
then insert the pot into a five gallon bucket. The five gallon
bucket acts as a water catch for any excess water, which will
later be recirculated back to a reservoir to be reused automatically.
Drill a small hole on the side of the five gallon buckets,
and insert the 1/2" grommets first, and then insert 1/2"
barbed T's. By connecting the 1/2" poly line to all of
the buckets, you create a return drain line which, using gravity,
will drain to the reservoir bucket with a sump pump. The water
is then pumped back into the rain barrels and, voila! you
have a recirculation Hydroponic system in your own front yard!
To
prevent clogging of the 1/2 drain line, place paint filter
bags (small mesh like strainers) both on the bottom of the
five gallon nursery pots and on the bottom of the five gallon
buckets. For more oxygen, layer the bottom of the pots with
hydroponic grow rocks, or Via Stone. You should also aerate
the rain barrels using an air pump and air stones to keep
the nutrients from settling and pathogens from developing.
Steve
used coir as his media, because it tends to be sterile, inert,
pH stable and has a great cationic exchange. Coir is composed
of shredded coconut husks, a great hydroponic media.
To
support the plants, stretch a wire in between two metal stakes.
You can then hang plant support spools from the wire to elongate
the plant stalks, and as the plants grow the spools can be
moved horizontally down the wire. Use plant clips to connect
the nylon plant support to the plants.
The
hydroponics drip method not only conserves by using rain barrel
collected water - but the yields are incredible. Large, luscious
fruits and vegetables are just a few steps away - Now get
growing!
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