Drip Run Time

Hello! 

Curious how long and often folks run their drip system if they have one set up in their SQF garden. Last year I ran mine every day for 7-9 min depending on how hot it was. Have been seeing some advice to do longer time fewer days a week. Not sure what works best in Mel’s mix. 

Didn’t have any issues last year but also don’t want to use more water than I need to. Would love to hear what other folks do! 

We’re Denver, CO with hardiness zones 5b-6a

Thanks!
Megan

msomers wrote:Hello! 

Curious how long and often folks run their drip system if they have one set up in their SQF garden.

It depends on the number of drip emitters - are they spaced 6" or 9" or 12" - and the number of drip lines.  For example, my beds have 4 drip lines the length of each bed, and the emitters are at 6" spacing.  That determines how much water is delivered per minute.

I think it is best to deep water, and then let it begin to dry before deep watering again. If a bed is always shallow watered the plants will not develop deep roots looking for water and nutrients.

I have to change my watering schedule based on the time of the season.  During the summer heat, when we seldom see rain, I normally water every 4 days for 45 minutes to one hour.  I use a moisture meter to check the level of the soil in the beds and then water more or less depending on how moist they stay.

Note: You do not want the peat in the lower levels of the bed to dry out. When peat dries out it becomes hydrophobic and becomes difficult to re-moisten.

I think (according to what Ohio Gardener told me when I was trying to set up my irrigation system) it depends whether you are using a 1/4 inch drip line or a 1/2 inch drip line.  When I set up my system, I used some 1/4 inch line in some beds and a few 1/2 inch lines in a couple other beds.  It seems the 1/2 inch lines flood the bed very quickly with water.  I think I am eventually going to switch all lines to 1/4 inch drip lines so the beds can get a deep slow watering.