No tap no problem | Drip irrigation does it work | Allotments for Fun and Food

[@gillbeddow9670]

Very helpful video, thank you!

[@stephenbrammall2565]

This system is just what I need here Malcolm, I'll have to start some investigations before the heat of summer...

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Stephen, I’m glad it was of use to you , good luck with your research....regards Malc

[@TheMalcolms7]

Very nice channel, from one Malcolm to another 😊 I'm looking into irrigation for my little Greenhouse too

[@albertscrafton5434]

well done, on your irrigation system. I found it simpler to use a small water butt on a stand and use the micro tube with drippers for each tomato plant with a battery operated timer, went away for 2 weeks once and it kept everything watered, only an 8 x 6 greenhouse though, so I've got two for my two greenhouses. Like your channel Very much. Albert

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Thanks Albert, it sounds like you too found a successful way to water in your absence which is so liberating...well done sir. I’m glad you like the channel ..thanks for watching.

[@sharirowe6291]

I've been planning to do something similar and this was a brilliant demonstration of how I've thought this might work. Thank you for testing the process and sharing how it works for you! Very helpful!

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Shari, glad it was useful for you.....take care Malc

[@777daf]

Very interesting malcom I bought the same sort of system last year and didn’t use it yet I’m just building another polytunnel at the minute everything is at my house but I love the idea of the drip system for my tomatoes and peppers thanks very much really informative 🤝

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Kenneth , that sounds like a great setup you will have in place...glad it was useful....take care Malc

[@siobhang5930]

Great Video. Only within the last few days I've been researching out using an IBC tank to gravity feed an irrigation system in my allotment. It was brilliant to see your system in practice. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Siobhan , I’m glad it was of use to you, I was pleased how well it worked and would say give it a go......take care Malc

[@jackosallotment6224]

Great kit for the price I’ve found the exact one of Amazon it’s a Flantor Garden Irrigation System,50ft 3/8" & 50ft 1/4" Irrigation System £26.99 looks good guess what I’ve ordered erm... cheers 🍻

[@MalcolmKingswell]

It is great value for money and works really well.....so far.........take care Malc

[@murraysmith45]

Another great video Malcolm. I spent around £300 on my system... It is good though :D

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Malc, they are such a good way to irrigate your crops , sounds like you have a great system.....take care Malc

[@michellejones-thewonkygard452]

One to the "When I get a green house" and pile ☺

[@MalcolmKingswell]

I know what you mean , I have quite a few of those keepers for another time.....thanks for watching....Malc

[@myrustygarden]

Wow cool. Would it work better at more height and right behind the poly tunnel, you seem to have a lot of travel space before it gets to the tunnel? I’m very lucky my garden and poly tunnel are at home and hubby is actually running an underground water pipe to the back of the yard. Also we run small gauge water systems and because it gets super cold here in winter we have to make sure the lines are empty or they freeze and split. All fun to watch 🐝 safe and stay gardening 🇨🇦✌️🥬💐🌶🧑‍🌾🥕

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Ali , you are right , higher and closer would be better but I just couldn’t move that tank again lol. Your water setup sounds fantastic well done you two....take care Malc

[@JBNat]

Really fascinating stuff Malcolm. That looked like quite a lot of work. Always loved the idea of automation but never tried my hand at it. One of the guys at my plot absolutely chewed my ear off once about water pressure and physics calculations whilst I stood there looking bamboozled. I prefer your method of 'Just try it and see'!! What an incredible result!!! I didn't expect them to work half as well as they did. Tidy!! (also wow, congratulations on 100,000 views!)

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Thanks JB, ah yes the physics , was never very good at physics at school lol...hands on always works better for me...thanks for noticing the 100.000 views it blew me away .....I just enjoy sharing my journey....take care Malc

[@JBNat]

@@MalcolmKingswell me too, KZbin is so great for it isn't it. I saw someone commented on Green Side Up's recent video that I'm like a "young malcolm Kingswell" which I took as a huge compliment. 😅 Steve said he was interested in promoting more people on his channel, so maybe give him a look if you're interested in it! Really love your style.

[@TuftyMcTavish]

Fascinating episode, Malcolm! I have a water pressure challenge at my Cold Frame, which has a misting system, because I can’t get enough oomph out of the water butts connected to my house gutters, and my mains powered pump is way too strong. I have a drill powered pump to experiment with, since I can adjust the flow rate via the drill trigger. One day, when I have a greenhouse, I’ll be wanting to try similar to you here. I’ve been thinking of getting some soil moisture sensors to go with my Davis weather station, but that’s a future upgrade here at McTavish Manor.

[@MalcolmKingswell]

A Davis Weather System !!! Now I am envious , that is such a great system , I have oggled over it many times but not pulled the trigger. It’s that windows interface that seems a bit fragile ...maybe someday. That Bosch pump looked very good for moving water for short periods of time . Watering certainly has its challenges ...take care Malc

[@lancpudn]

Hello Malcolm, You thought out & planned that drip system very well & I hope it works a treat for you especially as you have no water supply on site, I wonder if a regular drip water supply will cut down on the tomatoes splitting when you tend to over water them in hot weather! Thanks for the video.

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Thanks Ian , fingers crossed it will help the dreaded splitting Toms as you say, I am one of those hot weather over water culprits......take care Malc

[@darrenmanley9681]

Hi if fit a car trye value to the top of the ibc you can pump up the tank with a foot to give a better head of water pressure I have dune on my ibc I pump it up to about 15 psi and works well if the water stop put in a little more air

[@JosExotics]

Excellent, I used a drip tape from my IBC to water a couple of my beds last year, but just turned it on when I was there. I was wondering about doing this for this coming season in my new trampoline polytunnel. I have a battery operated timer at home in my greenhouse that I have never got round to using.

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Sounds like a great pairing Jo, I think it’s just about getting the quantity of water right.....take care Malc

[@JosExotics]

@@MalcolmKingswell I cant find the kit that has those connectors, I can see double ones but not the single ones. What length of tubing did you have, maybe that will narrow it down. Thanks, Jo

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Jo it was made by flantor , I think the only one they make...regards Malc

[@JosExotics]

@@MalcolmKingswell 👍👍 got it. Thanks Malc. 😉

[@cathgreenwood831]

Great video thank you. I'll try this but am wondering how successful I'll be with feeding from a waterbutt just 18" from the ground. By the way love your black tubs with the handles, where did you get them from please

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Cath the tubs are on eBay , there are lots of suppliers….take care Malc

[@bristolveggiebeds5310]

Seems to work ok

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi, yes it was a bit of a gamble but seems to have paid off.....best wishes Malc

[@Kalus_Saxon]

You will find the drips vary depending on the water level.. with a full tank you set the drippers and as you use water the pressure drops and you get less drips... I found a 12v pump the only way to get the same amount of water out to the plants at every feed no matter the amount of water.. Also my drippers were different.. spikes with tops that pop off.. Between the watering earwigs crawled in the holes of the drippers and blocked them up.. I now have the type of drippers he has the earwigs can’t get in them so fingers crossed this year it all works as it should

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Good luck with the earwigs Kalus, its certainly a challenge but will be worth it in the end, looks like I have all those ups and downs to experience...take care Malc

[@hightreegarden]

how'd you get the pump to work? Did you install your own electrical system?

[@KimmysKitchenandGarden]

I could do with making something that waters the greenhouses while I'm away, I think I have some of that black rubbing somewhere.

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Kimmy , it’s worth a try as it might just save your plants if you are away...thanks for watching....Malc

[@jimbr0wn]

Hi Malcom, interesting video, I'm just about to do some of my own tests to water 2 greenhouses and a 6m polytunnel, on my allotment although we do have water i still have one of those IBC's and i have a frame on top with some plastic sheeting and its amazing how much rain water it collects, worth thinking about if you have no water onsite or your not about to get run off from shed or poly. Jim

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Thanks Jim, I’ve been thinking hard about that and I am working up a design to sit in the top of the IBC , good luck with your tests I hope all goes well....take care Malc

[@keithstanden5418]

Hi Malcolm, very interesting info, thanks. Do you have the details of the kit you bought on Amazon, product name etc. Thanks

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Here you go. www.amazon.co.uk/Eterbiz-Irrigation-Adjustable-Automatic-Greenhouse/dp/B0824YH5W7/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2ND0F8N0AAPFV&dchild=1&keywords=micro+watering+systems&qid=1627372619&sprefix=Micro+water%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExMktIQVBYN1AwMExQJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODg1NzM4M0JDWVdSTVYyOFVXJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxMzA1MDQxNkZMSEZDT1kwUEdRJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== Take care Malc

[@JohnSnow-vf8jo]

Height equals pressure, when it comes to liquids. Put a few more pallets under that tank, and you will probably triple the pressure.

[@SecrePeach]

Wow malcontents I cannot tell you how helpful that was! My setup is exactly the same as yours with the poly gradient and the tank site. I wanted to do exactly what you’ve achieved but wasn’t sure if it was possible. I need to get a tap converter for the IBC tank but don’t know anything about them. Are they all standard sizes which will couple to the tank and a hose fitting?

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Karen, i bought taps from eBay that had hose lock fittings on them , the only challenge was fitting them to the existing IBC outlet but with a bit of perseverance and some of that PTFE I got there. Have a look at eBay there is a lot of helpful stuff on the sellers sites, its been a while since I looked but I got taps with two outlets on them....hope this helps Malc

[@SecrePeach]

Thanks Malcolm, great help 🙏🏼

[@madladpjl]

I miss the allotment in my town. the council turned it into a housing estate

[@imogenveneear1935]

Currently looking at drip system for my allotment, could you please tell me what kit you have and where you got it please?

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Solar watering from amazon …..Malc

[@imogenveneear1935]

@@MalcolmKingswell thank you.

[@fsengsec]

Hi Malcolm, where did you get your kit from? I've got the semi-rigid larger pipe system that you prick through, yours look so much easier!

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Tim it was a kit from Amazon , it is very flexible and on the face of it works well. I had a similar system to you and understand the limitations but it the job in the main....take care Malc

[@andrewredmond799]

Have you the make malcolm to know what to look for...thanks

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Hi Andrew the make is flantor .......odd I know but that’s the one.....hope,that helps....take care Malc

[@andrewredmond799]

@@MalcolmKingswell thanks malcolm

[@hightreegarden]

Personally, I don't rate drip irrigation. It can only really provide water for a small area without using electrical pumps and then it gets silly expensive if you can just hose everything.

[@MalcolmKingswell]

I agree , but sadly we have no water connection on the plot….take care Malc

[@hpt08]

the only difference between your water pressure and that from the mains is mostly height, hence all those water towers around the country. Pop it up high and you'll get it right. Research static water pressure and maybe basic civil engineering too.

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Thanks , great information……take care Malc

[@hpt08]

@@MalcolmKingswell statutory service level of mains water pressure = 10m although it will usually be far higher. So if you've elevated to 2m you're doing pretty good

[@garry8330]

It's really simple Malcolm! The next time the tank is empty stick three more pallets under it! HaHa! Static Pressure in a Fluid For a in-compressible fluid - as a liquid - the pressure difference between two elevations can be expressed as: Δp = p2 - p1 = - γ (h2 - h1) where p2 = pressure at level 2 (Pa, psi) p1 = pressure at level 1 (Pa, psi) h2 = level 2 (m, ft) h1 = level 1 (m, ft) (3) can be transformed to: Δp = p1 - p2 = γ (h2 - h1) or p1 - p2 = γ Δh where Δh = h2 - h1 = difference in elevation - the dept down from location h2 to h1 (m, ft) or p1 = γ Δh + p2

[@MalcolmKingswell]

Thats exactly what I thought however i think there is an error....= y (h2-h1) should read = y (h3-h1).....just saying..........