Irrigation requirements are specific to your garden. This is a quick guide to assist you pick which type you wish to use. Each form of irrigation has advantages and disadvantages that may differ depending on geographical location.

1. Using Overhead Systems

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Overhead watering employs the utilization of a sprinkling system to supply water to the areas above or around the leaves of the plants. If you live in a desert area with little humidity and/or are growing plants that aren't vulnerable to waterborne illnesses, overhead watering is an excellent alternative. It is also more beneficial for seed starting in arid settings since it keeps the entire soil surface wet, allowing for improved germination.

It is not advised to use overhead watering in humid locations that already receive a lot of rain. Water is costly, and much of it may go to walkways, thus it is not a suitable match for such a place.

2. Drip Systems

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Drip irrigation is indeed a technique of crop irrigation that employs regulated water delivery straight to the plants. Typically, holes are spaced at certain intervals in connection with the crops being watered. For example, while planting lettuce, you might have had a hole every six inches for the rainwater to drip from a hose.

Drip irrigation is an excellent choice for disease-prone plants since the water is delivered straight to the roots. Watering only the plant's roots and nowhere else signifies two things. For starters, you'll have fewer weeds because they won't be watered. Second, because you're just watering whatever you want to grow, you should save lot of water.

Direct irrigation, on the other hand, can be harmful. It may not be the ideal choice if your soil dries up quickly or if you produce root crops like carrots. Drip irrigation might be more difficult to set up than simple soaker hose systems or overhead watering. It is also far more costly. You'll want to be sure you know precisely how you're going to set things up so that you don't make costly mistakes.

3. Soaker

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Instead of flowing off, a soaker hose causes water to gently seep into the ground. The overwhelming bulk of soaker hoses were constructed of recycled rubber or vinyl. Direct irrigation, in contrast, has the potential to be damaging. This might not be the best option if the soil dries out rapidly or if you grow root crops such as carrots.

Drip irrigation may be even more difficult to install than soaker hose setups or overhead watering systems. It is also significantly more expensive. You'll need to be certain that you understand exactly how you're planning to organise things so that you avoid making costly blunders.

4. Furrow Watering System

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Furrows are shallow ditches that run between raised beds and distribute water to crop roots. This irrigation method is inspired by the original agricultural practice that involves planting on narrow elevated mounds or terraces and then watering using furrows.

Once you're set to water, thoroughly fill the furrows with water, wait a few minutes, and then probe about with your fingertips to ensure the water has permeated the bed. For the following reasons, furrows may not be the most useful approach to water:

• Water takes time to flow from one side of a mound / bed to another.

• The start of a row consistently receives more water compared to the finish.

• To fill each furrow, you must move your hoses around a lot.

• Loss due to evaporation

Irrigation Considerations For Cold Seasons

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Low tunnels are an excellent choice for the colder places and months. The majority of low tunnels begin with a covering of plastic row cover cloth. This is porous, allowing rainwater to enter the garden bed. Cover the raised beds with three or six mm plastic as we reach a strong frost. It is impenetrable. In-ground garden beds will normally wick up water out from area around the row, eliminating the need for additional watering.

During warm spells over the winter, these raised beds will periodically dry out. Rainwater from the polythene may sometimes be directed back further into the raised bed. In  other instances, go ahead and water the garden bed by hand.

The Bottom Line