Diy drip irrigation of strawberries with video
Strawberry is a rather demanding plant, it requires constant care, painstaking action. In addition to its "whims" regarding soil, fertilizers, etc., strawberries also require almost ideal conditions for providing moisture, because not only a lack of water, but also its excess in an undesirable way affects the yield. But experienced gardeners have solved this problem in an ingenious way. They use drip irrigation on strawberries. It is this invention that we will pay attention to in this article, talking about the advantages of drip irrigation, and, most importantly, we will provide information on how to make the aforementioned strawberry irrigation device at home.
Content
Advantages of drip irrigation
There are various stationary and mobile irrigation systems that are more appropriate for large areas, that is, they are used to irrigate fields with strawberries. But if you have a small area in the garden or vegetable garden occupied by this plant, then drip irrigation is just the way to go. What are its advantages?
- One of the most important factors is significant water savings. When using drip irrigation, about 2 times less liquid will be consumed than when irrigating by other methods.
- Possibility of dosage. You can increase or decrease the amount of incoming water, depending on how the situation requires.
- Strawberries will receive water around the clock without your intervention (it is very convenient when you need to be absent for a while and the strawberries will be left without care).
- It is also very convenient that, together with water, it is possible to supply fertilizers to the plants (it is recommended to do this in the spring, when strawberries need feeding most of all).
- It is possible to irrigate densely planted rows without any problems, because the leaves do not lend themselves to mechanical stress and remain unaffected.
- Watering is carried out directly under the root of the plants, which has a positive effect on their development.
- Reduced soil contamination.
- This system is easy to maintain, it can be made at home without any special costs. Read about it below.
DIY drip irrigation system
Perhaps many people think that making drip irrigation at home is a rather painstaking and, as a result, useless job, but this is not so. Yes, you will have to spend some time to make it, use special items, but as a result you will only benefit: in the future you will significantly reduce the time and money spent on caring for strawberries. Making drip irrigation does not require any special skills and abilities from the gardener; it is quite simple to manufacture.
Necessary materials
- Water tank (you can use a centralized water supply system, but unforeseen difficulties may arise, so most gardeners prefer containers with sufficient volume).
- Special drip tapes, flexible hoses will also perform well if you make the right holes in them.
- The main hose and valve, which is used to completely shut off the fluid supply when needed.
- Filter for water purification from unnecessary mechanical elements.
- Connectors with rubber seals, plug on the second end of the main hose, dropper.
Installation instructions
The first step is to install a water tank.It is recommended to install it at a height of about two meters to ensure a normal fluid supply under pressure. A tap must be attached to this tank, which will open / shut off the water supply.
Diagram of the drip irrigation system
Next, it is necessary to equip drip irrigation with a filter, because its absence threatens to permanently clog the drip tapes, the cleaning of which is troublesome. After the filter, the main hose is attached, which extends along the width of the strawberry bed. Drip tapes are attached to it perpendicularly with the help of connectors (they are also called fittings and are of different types, for example, there are even taps, which is very convenient for our case) drip tapes are attached, and medical droppers themselves are already attached to them.
The ends of the main hose and drip tapes are plugged, use rubber seals when connecting the hose to the tapes to avoid leakage. And in general, all connections, including the hose with the reservoir, carefully check so that later there are no unforeseen problems.
Useful Tips
Handled properly, strawberry drip will last for years. One of the most important actions when caring for the system is to disassemble it for the winter, while thoroughly drying and cleaning it, and in the spring, before a new installation, do it again.
The filter should be inspected and cleaned periodically. Experienced gardeners prefer to use plastic water tanks instead of iron ones, as rye particles can get into the filter from the latter, clogging it. As already mentioned, plants can be fertilized at the same time as watering. In this case, use liquid fertilizers, or those that dissolve very well.
Drip irrigation of strawberries is advisable to use in a small area or in a greenhouse. This not very labor-intensive structure has recently become more and more popular among people who devote their free time to growing strawberries. Indeed, with all its advantages (but only in small areas), this system has almost no disadvantages.
Video "Drip irrigation of strawberries with your own hands"
A video about the device and operation of the drip irrigation system for strawberries on a personal plot. System powered by a central water source.