How to water in a greenhouse. How to make drip irrigation for tomatoes in a greenhouse with your own hands How to install irrigation in a greenhouse

Owners of personal plots engaged in growing fruit crops in a greenhouse are faced with a list of specific tasks that need to be solved at the stage of arranging the greenhouse. These include organizing effective watering, timely application of fertilizers to the soil and pest control. The first place in the proposed list is given to watering, thanks to the rational organization of which not only will the plant receive moisture in a timely manner, but also water consumption will be reduced to a minimum. The need for regular dosed watering is dictated by greenhouse conditions - while crops planted in open ground will be able to enjoy life-giving rain moisture, greenhouse plants, due to the lack of alternative watering, will suffer from a lack of moisture. This issue can be solved in the traditional way, by carrying water into the greenhouse in buckets, but for a dacha, which is usually visited only on weekends, this method will not work. In this regard, greenhouse owners equip a drip irrigation system with their own hands, during the operation of which it is possible to carry out continuous watering, while observing watering standards and the optimal time interval between pauses. Today you can purchase ready-made drip irrigation systems or make them yourself, but before you start manufacturing, we suggest you get acquainted with the types of automatic irrigation systems and their advantages, and then get acquainted with the features of their installation.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation: relevance of the problem

Currently, the usual way to water beds is to use a watering hose, which has a number of disadvantages. Firstly, in the process of watering plants, it is necessary to constantly transfer it from one bed to another, and also regularly loosen the soil to avoid compaction. Secondly, in the process of self-irrigation of the beds, excessive soil moisture occurs, and the water spreads not only to the root zone of a particular plant, but also to the adjacent area between the beds, which promotes the growth of weeds and the spread of pathogens. If you do drip irrigation of a greenhouse with your own hands, you can significantly reduce water consumption and the frequency of watering, thereby organizing the proper care of greenhouse plants. The use of automated drip irrigation systems allows you to supply water specifically to the roots of each plant even at night and in your absence, which will not only help increase productivity, but also reduce water consumption and labor resources.

Automatic watering in a greenhouse: main types

Particularly popular is automatic irrigation in a greenhouse, which operates on the principle of cyclic water supply. To implement this possibility, a special dosing device, called a controller, is installed at the outlet of the storage tank, which is connected to the water supply. There are several types of automated irrigation systems:

A sprinkler irrigation system whose operating principle resembles rain. Suitable for watering plants that are resistant to excess moisture;

A drip irrigation system focused on saving water due to its dosed entry into the soil.

Let's take a closer look at the features of each.

Sprinkler system, like any automatic irrigation system, supplies water according to a given schedule. There is no need to worry about the appearance of a flower bed or greenhouse - if installed correctly, the working structure is hidden under a layer of soil, and only small fountains remain on the surface. An important design element is the control panel, thanks to which you have the opportunity to control the intervals between waterings and supply water according to a given program, which is set for a certain period of time. To ensure the effective functioning of the sprinkler system, a significant amount of equipment will be required, as a result of which it will not be cheap;

Drip irrigation system has a lower cost and is generally focused on saving water. It is installed in such a way that water for each bed will flow from a separate container directly into the root zone of the plant. In addition, water can be supplied along with fertilizer. You can increase the efficiency of your drip irrigation system by installing a controller. In addition, you have the opportunity to set the operating parameters of the structure at your discretion.

Advantages of a drip irrigation system

Before outlining the main advantages of drip irrigation, let’s consider why experts consider its organization a necessary stage in arranging a greenhouse.

• Proper development of greenhouse plants can only occur if oxygen is freely available to the root system. When using a watering hose, a lack of oxygen is created in the root system due to excess moisture, which pushes out air bubbles;
• Lack of air circulation around the root system prevents its normal development and functioning;
• By installing a drip irrigation system in a greenhouse, you can forget about this problem, since its operation is based on the principle of dosed supply of moisture, which creates free access of oxygen to the root system of the plant;
• In addition, when using a drip irrigation system, moisture comes directly to the root of the plant, and the presence of the required amount of moisture and air contributes to the proper development of the plant without additional fertilizer.

Important! If there is a need to apply fertilizer, it is simply dissolved in a water container, which is an integral part of the drip system, and it is dosed into the soil along with water.

Advantages of a drip irrigation system:

• The use of a drip irrigation system helps to increase the yield of crops grown in a greenhouse and, as a result, work productivity;
• Significant savings in water resources and their rational use;
• Possibility of automated remote control of the irrigation process;
• When using a drip irrigation system, the rate of leaching of mineral and organic substances contained in the soil is reduced, as a result of which its fertility is maintained for a long time;
• An agronomist who has given preference to a drip irrigation system has the opportunity to apply a precisely specified amount of fertilizer to the soil at a strictly defined place and time;
• During operation of the system, it is possible to irrigate large areas even with low water pressure;
• The system is characterized not only by ease of installation, but also ease of use, as well as ease of maintenance. In the process of arranging drip irrigation in a greenhouse with your own hands, the bottle becomes the main tool;
• Taking into account the above advantages, it can be argued that the use of a drip irrigation system helps to reduce the final cost of the product.

DIY drip irrigation system for a greenhouse

Purchase and installation of a ready-made drip irrigation system

The modern garden goods market offers a large selection of ready-made automatic and semi-automatic drip irrigation systems. If you are arranging irrigation in a small greenhouse with an area of ​​10-20 square meters. meters, experts recommend giving preference to ready-made, inexpensive semi-automatic systems that operate on the gravity principle and do not require the installation of a pump and automation. To ensure the operation of the system, it is enough to fill the container with water, which will flow through the hoses into the point droppers and provide the necessary nutrition to the roots of the plants.

Among such economical options, the “Eva-Drops” and “Kaplitsa” sets are popular, the price of which depends on the expected area of ​​irrigation and starts at 1,400 rubles. The standard equipment of such kits includes drip irrigation tapes, shut-off valves, filter, connectors, as well as adapters and fasteners.

For those who are planning to set up drip irrigation in a greenhouse with their own hands, the video tutorial presented in our article will help you understand the intricacies and nuances of this process.

Irrigation of greenhouses can be carried out according to another principle, which can be implemented using semi-automatic systems with drip lines. They are connected not to a water tank, but to a water supply through a pressure-reducing valve. Systems of this type do not need to be connected to the electrical network. Among the variety of such brands, Gardena drip irrigation systems deserve special attention.

On average, such systems are designed for an irrigation area of ​​15 square meters. meters, and the cost of a standard set is on average 3,800 rubles. To automate this system, you need to buy a programmable timer, the minimum cost of which is 2,700 rubles.

As for full-fledged kits for assembling automated drip irrigation systems, there are not many of them on the market. The most popular manufacturers in this area take a different path and offer the consumer all the necessary components for assembling drip systems, such as watering tapes, drippers, connectors and filters. All this can be used to independently assemble drip irrigation systems with your own hands (you can watch the video below).

However, complete systems for quick installation of drip irrigation can also be found on the market. These include systems of the Aqua Dusya brand, which include all the elements necessary for installing a drip irrigation system. The price of the basic system is about 3700-3800 rubles.

Another popular brand is Samolei, the basic configuration of which, unlike Aqua Dusi, includes a 16-liter plastic storage tank, but lacks automation and a pump. The price of this installation is 3500-3600 rubles.

Noteworthy is the Water meter irrigation installation, which includes an automatic controller that allows you to control the duration and frequency of watering. However, its use is limited to a small irrigation area (the installation is designed for 2 beds 4 meters long, and even if it is connected through a 2-meter extension, the irrigation area will not exceed 15 square meters). The cost of the kit is about 3,000 rubles.

Manufacturing and installation of a homemade drip irrigation system

Having chosen a drip irrigation system for a greenhouse, follow the advice of experienced professionals and give preference to combined options - purchase the entire necessary set of elements (filter, watering kit with hoses, drippers) and additionally equip it with automatic equipment and a storage tank or connect it to the main pipeline.

Before you begin installing the irrigation system, prepare all the necessary elements:

• Drip tape is one of the main elements of the system;
• Connectors that will be needed to connect the filter to the hoses;
• Start connectors equipped with taps and rubber seals;
• Start connectors without taps with rubber seals;
• Set of splitters and repair fittings.

The first stage of installation is the development of a greenhouse plan, by looking at which you will understand how the beds are located. At this stage there should be no difficulties - just take a construction tape, make the necessary measurements and display it on the plan, taking into account the appropriate scale.

In addition, the plan must indicate in advance the source of water in the drip irrigation system - as a rule, this will be a storage tank to which a pipeline is connected. It is filled with water, which will subsequently flow directly into the drip irrigation system.

Important! Any natural or artificial reservoir, centralized water supply, or a container raised above the ground by 1.5-2 m to ensure the necessary pressure in the system can be used as a source of water.

Having developed a plan for the greenhouse, they move on to the second stage of installing drip irrigation with their own hands from polypropylene pipes - calculating the length of the pipeline.

Important! When installing a drip irrigation system, experts recommend choosing a regular polyethylene pipe for cold water, the diameter of which is at least 32 mm. Otherwise, there will be problems with drilling holes and securing fittings.

To connect the pipeline to the water supply, you can use a regular garden hose.

Important! When installing automatic watering in a greenhouse, be sure to install a filter.

General layout of the drip irrigation system:

• Filter installation. Installation of this element of the system is allowed in any convenient place, the main thing is that it is located between the main pipeline and the water supply source;
• Using start connectors, a drip tape is connected to the main pipe, the location of which should be exactly on your beds so that it runs along the entire row of plants;
• The end of the drip tape is plugged.

Let's look at each of these stages in more detail.

Main pipeline connection

• To connect the hose to the main pipeline, fittings are used, which can be purchased at any specialized store;
• As for the filters of the drip system, they are collapsible, and therefore are easy to clean. Filters are installed in the supply hose.

Important! When installing the filter, you need to pay attention to its body, on which arrows should be drawn indicating the direction of water movement. To avoid confusion, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

• If you are installing a complete kit for installing a drip system, it will definitely include a filter, complete with connectors. This makes filter installation much easier.

Pipeline marking and installation of drip tape

• This stage, regardless of the design features of the irrigation system, will be common to all do-it-yourself pipe-based drip irrigation designs. It involves installing drip tape on the pipeline.
• Let us recall that at the previous stage we drew up a detailed plan of the greenhouse, indicating on it the exact location of the beds. We will need it to carry out the correct marking of the pipeline.
• According to the plan, use a marker to mark the main pipeline, marking on it the places where the drip tape is attached;

• In the places where the marks are made, drill holes using a drill. Make sure that the size of the holes is such that the rubber seals are inserted into them with little effort;
• After all the necessary holes are prepared, insert rubber seals into them;
• Next, start connectors equipped with a tap are inserted into the rubber seals;
• To secure the start connectors, simply tighten the nuts.
• Thanks to these installation features, automatic watering of a greenhouse acquires an additional property that underlies its operation - the ability to turn off a certain bed without stopping the entire irrigation system;

Important! Some kits come with starter connectors without taps, so when choosing a kit, try to ensure that they are equipped with a tap. Otherwise, turning off a specific bed will require shutting down the entire irrigation system.

• In most cases, taps are installed on those beds that do not need constant watering.
• Next, the drip tape is attached to the start connectors. There are usually no difficulties in the process of attaching it. To secure the drip tape, the nuts are also tightened;
• When installing the drip tape, make sure that the droppers on it are located on top;
• Having secured the drip tape, it is pulled to the end of the bed and muffled. To do this, it is cut in the right place, the end is folded, trimmed and secured. The latter can be accomplished using the drip tape itself;
• If your beds have an irregular configuration, you can always branch out the drip tape using splitters. To do this, cut the drip tape in the right place, insert a tee or corner and orient the watering in the right direction;
• The opposite end of the main pipeline is plugged using special plugs.

What should be used to set up automatic watering?

To set up automatic watering, you will need a constant source of water. If there is no supply water supply, install a storage tank and constantly monitor the water level in it. Automation of this process is also possible, but in this case a constant supply of water will be required;

In order to install automatic watering, install the irrigation system according to the scheme described above;

In addition to the equipment used to install the system, you will need an automatic controller that opens the water supply to the main pipeline;

Controllers offered by modern manufacturers can be programmed for specific hours, times of day or weeks.

Installation of the controller is carried out immediately after installing the filter.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation in a greenhouse video

In order to talk about the types of irrigation systems for greenhouses, it will be necessary to determine the types of such structures, since the irrigation system for greenhouses can be varied. There are greenhouses for private use.
They are built on a suburban site and are small in size.

There are industrial greenhouses that differ not only in that they are used for the mass cultivation of a variety of crops. They are also quite large in size and are massive structures.
For both types of greenhouses there are established standards for irrigation systems.
Today there are the following types of irrigation:

• Subsoil irrigation.
• Automatic irrigation of plants.

Attention. The choice of one of these types largely depends on the size of the greenhouse and the method of water supply at the summer cottage.

At the moment, there are several types of water supply in a suburban area:

• Central water supply line.
• Well.
• Well.

Connecting to the central highway is accompanied by obtaining various permits. It is necessary to draw up a detailed plan for the connection to the central highway and build a special well on a suburban area.
It will not contain water, but will house equipment (water flow meter and pumping station).

A well is a fairly practical and long-known way to provide water to a suburban area:

• It is being constructed as a result of the impossibility of connecting to the central water supply and constructing a well on the site.
• The depth of the well largely depends on the groundwater level.
• The soil itself also plays a big role. Since the bottom of the well will need to be filled with crushed stone and sand, this will not need to be done on sandy soil.

All this is a natural filter for water purification. Water from the well enters a certain container using a pumping station.
There is a very large selection of equipment of this type. Everything will depend on the depth and size of the well.
This method of providing a suburban area with water does not depend on electricity, since in case of its absence it will be possible to collect water with a simple bucket.
So:

• As for a well in a suburban area, this method of water supply is considered not only more modern, but also economically profitable. It can be used on any soil and at any groundwater level.
  The water from such a reservoir is very clean, as it comes from a very deep layer of the earth, which is located much below the groundwater level.
• Water can accumulate in the same way as when using a well, in a certain container. The use of a well is directly related to electricity.
  Without it, pumping equipment will not work and water simply cannot be used. That is why it will be necessary to install a reservoir to store water in the event of a power outage or interruption.

Subsoil irrigation in a greenhouse

The choice of such irrigation in a suburban area directly depends on the water supply system.

Advice. If a well is involved in providing water on the site, then this method of irrigation will be very practical and economical.

This type is distinguished by its simplicity.
For this you can use:

• Bucket or any other container.
• Watering can.
• Hose.
• Mernik.

The entire irrigation process is carried out manually:

• Subsoil irrigation is a hole system. A shallow trench (5-7 cm) is dug around the plants.
  Its depth depends on the type of plants being grown and how much water they require for normal growth.
• As soon as water enters such a trench or hole, it is immediately absorbed by the roots of the crop. This method is widely used both in open ground and in greenhouses.
  Only in this case, the height of the greenhouse or greenhouse must be sufficient so that irrigation of this type can be carried out without problems. Again, it all depends on the size and design of the greenhouse itself.

Attention: If previously all crops were supplied with water by subsurface irrigation, today this method is considered very labor-intensive and not very useful. In some cases, water does not reach the roots, but is simply absorbed into the upper layers of the soil.
Because of this, plants may die.

Drip irrigation in a greenhouse

At the moment, there is no more practical way to irrigate plants in a greenhouse. This method of water supply is used very widely in open ground.
It can be used only if the water supply to the site itself is quite stable, since for greenhouses with drip irrigation it directly depends on a stable supply of electricity and water.

Advice. A drip irrigation system is best used if wells are involved in providing water to a suburban area or if water is supplied from a central water supply.

What is such a watering system for greenhouses?

So:

• Consists of pipes and droppers. Pipes should be laid along the rows of planted plants.
  Droppers are installed on them using auxiliary equipment. With their help, crops are watered.
• greenhouses are quite simple to construct. You can make it yourself.
  To avoid any questions about how to do this correctly, you can watch a training video.

To do this you will need to have:

• Pipes.
• Droppers.
• Well or central water supply.
• Pumping station and electrical energy supply.

Pipes for these purposes can be: metal, polyethylene and polypropylene.
Each pipe has its own properties and technical characteristics:

• Metal pipes are used if the irrigation system is not being built for one season, but will exist permanently or for a long period of time. Metal pipes can be of different diameters and sizes.
  To supply central water supply, a larger diameter pipe is installed from the well or borehole itself. Other pipes that take part in irrigation already depart from it.
  Metal pipes are high quality and durable. The only disadvantage of using metal pipes will be their price.
  It is very high, which makes this method of irrigation using this material unprofitable and very expensive.

Advice. In order for an irrigation system using metal pipes to be used for quite a long time, the pipes will need to be coated with paint or a special varnish. These products will protect the pipe surface from rust.

• Polypropylene pipes are distinguished by their practicality. They are quite strong and durable.
  Unlike metal ones, plastic ones do not rust. They are very light, which makes it possible to build a portable drip irrigation system.
  Pipes made from this material also come in a variety of sizes and diameters.

Advice. To construct drip irrigation in a greenhouse, you will need to use plastic pipes with a diameter of at least 1.5-2 cm.

What are polyethylene pipes:

• These are hoses that have long been familiar to everyone. They are also very often used in drip irrigation.
  Only such material would be irrational to use for watering a greenhouse with a drip irrigation system. If it is possible to make an insert into a metal and polypropylene pipe to connect a dropper, thanks to which this type of irrigation is carried out, then it is not recommended to carry out such actions with a polyethylene pipe.

Automatic greenhouse watering system

Industrial greenhouses are very large in size and it would be completely irrational to use manual irrigation there. The photo shows examples of such structures.
All this will take a lot of time and effort. It is best to give preference to an automatic watering system.
It involves not only pipe designs, but also the use of special equipment.
Irrigation systems for industrial greenhouses are all configured in automatic mode.
This system consists of:

• A large number of pipes.
• Droppers.
• Hoses.
• Water supply control panel.
• Pumping station.

As a rule, industrial greenhouses are built on very large plots of land. The central water supply system and pumping station are located in the same areas.
There is only one piece of equipment available. A large-scale construction also requires a large-scale water supply.
It is for this reason that it will be necessary to organize several wells and several pumping stations.
Let's look at the requirements for such equipment:

• It must be very powerful to ensure uninterrupted watering. Also, very often in such areas you can see huge reservoirs of water.
  It will be used by farmers in the event that the electrical power is turned off and automatic water supply is impossible.
• To manufacture an automatic irrigation system for greenhouses, you will need to use the help of a specialist in this field. There are certain instructions for such work that must be followed and all actions must be carried out consistently.

In the control room there is equipment with which the water supply for irrigation is turned on and off. It will be possible to do everything automatically.
On the control device of numerous equipment, you can set the time at which the system will turn on and off. All this can only be done by a specialist in this field.
Here you will need skills in working with electrical wiring and the ability to lay and connect water pipes.

Advantages of automatic watering in a greenhouse

Watering in a greenhouse can be automatic or manual. In this case, everything largely depends on the size of the entire structure and the type of plants grown.

Advice. For greenhouses that are quite large in size, it will be more rational and efficient to use automatic irrigation for the greenhouse. This will greatly save time and money.

So:

• This reduces the physical activity that may be required during its construction. Automatic saves time, which cannot be said about manual watering, where all actions are carried out personally.
  It is possible to dose or completely limit the water supply for watering certain plants.
• Using special equipment, you can set the water supply to automatically turn on and off during irrigation. Control over all irrigation cycles is also automatically established.

Let's consider the construction of drip irrigation for a greenhouse in the country using a barrel and a pump.

The modern rhythm of life does not allow us to devote much time to dacha work. But growing a good harvest is only possible if you constantly take care of the plants. For example, cucumbers should be watered before eleven in the morning and until eight in the evening. To make their life easier, summer residents use automatic watering in the greenhouse. Sprinkling, subsurface irrigation or automatic drip irrigation in a greenhouse can be done independently.

Types of automatic watering

The advantages of an automatic watering system are obvious. They make the holiday season a pleasure. You no longer need to carry water in buckets or stand for a long time with a hose and wait until the plants in the greenhouse are well saturated with moisture. For example, drip irrigation in a greenhouse is carried out in doses. This means that the plants will receive exactly the amount of moisture they need. The automatic method of irrigation in a greenhouse in the form of sprinkling allows you to spray water in different directions and at different degrees, and this is necessary for automatic irrigation of plants of unequal height. After all, many summer residents grow several crops in greenhouses at the same time.

Sprinkling is automatic watering in a greenhouse, in which water is supplied from above the plants using irrigation with spray nozzles. The principle of operation of the system is simple: a hose is connected to a sprayer, which sprays water throughout the area. The only negative aspect of watering is that a large number of drops settle not only on the soil, but also on the leaves of plants. For many cultures this is unacceptable.

There are two types of automatic sprinkling in a greenhouse - above-ground irrigation, when pipes are laid underground, and air irrigation, when they are attached to the upper parts of the greenhouse. The advantages of air sprinkling are the relative ease of installation and operation.

The disadvantage of this system is the use of well-purified water, as well as constant, good pressure. Open sources such as rivers and lakes are prohibited. This system will also require the installation of a cleaning filter.

But the second method of an automatic watering system using pipes under the soil in a greenhouse is unpretentious to water quality.

In order for an automatic above-ground sprinkling system in a greenhouse, made independently, to work without failures, you will also need good water pressure. Therefore, if the pressure is not enough, you will have to install an additional pump. The disadvantage of such a system is obvious: since the pipes are located on the ground, any breakage is fraught with a long search for an emergency location. To do this, you will have to open the wiring yourself.

The most popular method is drip irrigation systems. It allows you to irrigate plants in a greenhouse only in the root zone, which is the key to good automatic water supply.

Drip irrigation in a greenhouse is a water conduit. The polyethylene pipe with droppers attached to it must be placed on a flat piece of land, but if there is a slight slope, then the system must be placed across the unevenness. As for droppers, they come in two types - regular and compensated. The latter are used where an automatic system must compensate for unstable pressure. Such drippers are needed in areas with different levels (for example, an area located on a slope) so that there is enough water for all plants. The automatic watering system in the greenhouse allows you to irrigate certain beds. To do this, special taps are installed that turn the watering of the required areas on and off. This option is needed for competent automatic water supply of different crops growing in the territory of one greenhouse. The advantages of a drip irrigation system in a greenhouse include the ability to install it yourself where there is no plumbing or other sources of moisture. Using hoses, you can simply use a barrel, which must be raised 2 meters from the ground. Such irrigation systems in a greenhouse prevent the development of weeds and reduce the risk of crop disease.

The subsurface irrigation system is similar to automatic irrigation using drips. However, there is certainly a difference. Subsurface watering systems deliver water directly to the roots. Water is delivered using pipes hidden underground, and at a fairly great depth. The subsoil automatic watering method moisturizes plants only in the root area, without forming a crust on the surface. This allows you to loosen the soil less often and creates a favorable environment for plants.

This method is also good because it saves water in the greenhouse. When automatic irrigation systems spray water using drips, most of the moisture evaporates. While underground water supply uses much less water.

Installation of a drip irrigation system

Drip tape is the main element of the system. Find a stable place and place a container of water. For example, a barrel. Ideally, this place will be right in the greenhouse. It must be installed in a shelter from the sun so that the water does not bloom. Next, install the system pipe into the selected vessel. Please note that this must be done just above the bottom of the container, otherwise the debris settling below will interfere with watering. After this, install a faucet with which you can regulate the amount of water. Next, lay a polyethylene pipe along the irrigated area. Opposite the beds, you need to make holes in the pipe and install fittings in them. When everything is done, it is necessary to apply drip tape to them. It should be noted that each drip tape needs a plug. It’s easy to make: you need to cut a piece from it and roll it into a ring, then put it on the end of each drip tape. After finishing the work, do not rush to start the system right away. First check it for leaks and flush it. It’s good if you install a filter that will guarantee the quality of the water in your drip irrigation system.

An electric pump greatly facilitates the automatic method of watering a greenhouse using drips. However, it is also a more expensive option for automatic watering. But you are provided with complete automation of the process.

Installing a drip tape is not the only way to water plants using sprinklers. There is an option to supply water with droppers. In this case, in addition to them, it will be necessary to use hoses.

However, using an automatic drip tape is still much simpler and clearer. It will completely replace the entire set of systems with droppers. The only nuance that should be taken into account is that the life of the tapes is only three years. The system is convenient to use for seedlings when water is supplied exclusively to one point.

To ensure full automation of a drip irrigation system, a controller is used that will operate from the network. In an hour, a drip tape can easily produce about 600 liters. To collect water, you can use not only a water tank, but also a Eurocube: it is sold ready-made and does not require construction, it can be installed in any part of the dacha closer to the irrigation site and ensure that there is always water inside. The Eurocube is made of polymer materials that are not afraid of external influences, and is reinforced with a metal lattice for strength and safety. This is the best option for a small modern cottage with modern equipment.

Automatic sprinkling

In order to install this irrigation system with your own hands, you will also need pipes with a diameter of 20 mm. The kit will include taps and sprayers. If the nozzle is chosen correctly, then you will not need a lot of pressure, since the moisture will come out in small portions and will not crush the soil. It is also necessary to take into account that the water should be sprayed in the form of drops and not streamed. Otherwise, the roots of the plant will simply rot.

An automatic rain irrigation system called “snail” is popular among summer residents. Water is supplied to the nozzle, which is located a short distance from the soil. The liquid is sprayed in umbrella-shaped droplets and covers a large area.

You can also make a second option called “ring”. To do this, you need to roll the hose into a ring of the required diameter. Next, holes are made in it, which will spray water.

If you don’t want to do the sprinkling yourself, you can use sprinklers. By the way, with their help you can simply water plants, both in the greenhouse and outside it.

Subsoil irrigation

Its installation should begin with the preparation of pipes with a diameter of two to four centimeters. Thick hoses can be used. Preparing the pipes involves making two-millimeter pores in them. The second stage is to prepare the beds. First you need to remove the substrate. The depth should be 30 cm. Next, fill the surface with gravel and put plastic film on it. This is necessary to ensure that water does not go deep into the soil and erode its layers. Then you need to lay out the pipes or hoses, at a distance of about 50 - 90 cm from each other. You need to put a film on top of the pipes, the width of which is no more than 20 cm, and sprinkle with the previously removed substrate.

Before planting plants, you should check how well the irrigation system is working. To find out, you need to dig up the soil after seven days and see if the subsoil automatic irrigation copes with the task assigned to it.

Watering rules

It doesn’t matter how you organize watering the plants: using a drip tape, sprinkling or subsoil system. After all, all these modern irrigation techniques will not work correctly if the rules of water supply are neglected.

• Avoid using cold water in the greenhouse. Ideally, let the liquid sit and warm up in sunlight.
• It is necessary to water evenly. A portion of the drops should be completely absorbed, then watering should be continued.
• To retain water in the ground, the holes with crops must be covered with straw, which will not allow the water to evaporate for quite a long time.
• To prevent the soil from becoming overly wet, you should check whether it is actually dry before watering. This can be done simply using a metal pin. It must be stuck into the soil next to the plant to a shallow depth. The soil sticking to it will indicate that there is no need to water it yet.
• The composition of the water must be of high quality. Use a filter for cleaning. This is especially true when sprinkling and watering with drops.

By using auto-irrigation, which you think is more effective and suitable for your crops, you can achieve amazingly high yields. The main thing is to take into account all the nuances and calculate the amount of water required for the greenhouse in proportion to the needs of the plants and the area of ​​the building.

Automatic watering in a greenhouse

In SNT Raduga near Moscow, automatic watering was organized in the greenhouse. The owner of the plot, Dmitry, wanted to get a good harvest of tomatoes without spending a lot of time caring for them.

The main thing for Dmitry was to organize everything himself and install everything with his own hands.

In order for everything to work out and work, the engineers of our company helped him.

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Automatic drip irrigation system in a greenhouse

There are several greenhouses on the site in which various crops are grown, such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.

First of all, it was necessary to make automatic sprinkling for the tomato bushes.

An automatic drip irrigation system in a greenhouse with tomatoes was installed by the owner of the site independently with the help of engineers from the Good Rain company.

For automatic watering, the ESP RZX Rain Bird controller is used; it allows you to divide the irrigation system into 4 zones and run each separately, saving on the pumping station.

You can also set different times for each crop on the remote control.

Automatic drip irrigation in a greenhouse - advantages

What are the advantages of such an organization of crop irrigation in greenhouses?

How to arrange drip irrigation in greenhouses

Everything is very simple:

1. You save time - when you come to your dacha, you can relax more and water less.
2. Automatic drip irrigation in a greenhouse always ensures uniform irrigation both in terms of soil saturation with water and time of day.
3. The American system is reliable and will not let you down - you can go on vacation, and the tomatoes will grow on their own.

Automatic watering of tomatoes

Tomatoes are a very capricious crop to grow.

they require increased attention constantly. To get a good harvest, you need to constantly ensure that nothing interferes with their growth.

Automatic watering of tomatoes solves the issue of uniformity of irrigation and the amount of moisture supplied.

In greenhouse conditions, tomatoes are not affected by external pests, and moisture goes directly to the root, without damaging the leaves and fruits.

Design

An irrigation device based on drip irrigation hoses does not require a special project if the system is organized in a regular greenhouse at a summer cottage.

Do-it-yourself tomato watering system in a greenhouse

In Europe, it is customary to plant plants in greenhouses in increments of 33 centimeters; this is what determines the distance between the droppers on the hose.

You can make a tomato watering system with your own hands, taking this fact into account.

Plant tomatoes at intervals of 33 centimeters, then water drops will flow exactly under the root of the plant and you will avoid excessive water consumption.

The tomato watering system in a greenhouse can be organized in another way.

For example, you can buy a hose without drippers, lay it next to the plants, and then additionally install drippers for drip irrigation in the tube.

cucumbers

Irrigation of cucumbers can be arranged according to the same scheme as tomatoes.

The irrigation lines are also connected to the roots and the cucumbers grow well.

Plants climb along the mesh and hang quietly and grow to the desired size.

The sprinkling regime will be different. The automatic watering control panel allows you to separately program the irrigation of cucumbers at any time of day and duration.

This is what the hose looks like. To ensure that it lies flat, you should buy drip irrigation pegs that securely fix it to the surface of the ground.

Pegs come in two colors:

They are no different in their properties.

To make it possible to forcibly turn off zones, ball valves are used.

Such a ball valve is installed on the line and shuts off the desired section of the hose to reduce water consumption.

Tomato watering system

Do you want large red tomatoes to grow, like Dmitry’s?

A tomato watering system will solve this problem.

Of course, you need a little knowledge about caring for plants in general, but the Rain Bird system from the USA will help save a lot of time on caring for the site.

DIY drip irrigation in a greenhouse

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation: diagram, video.

Regular dosed watering is the key to a high yield of vegetables. Do gardeners solve this problem every season? how to simultaneously grow a bountiful harvest of tomatoes and cucumbers in a greenhouse, while spending less water and physical effort on cultivating the land.

You can saturate the soil with moisture with minimal labor using a drip irrigation system. You can build an irrigation mechanism in a greenhouse with your own hands, using a ready-made kit or selecting hoses, a filter, drip tape and fittings yourself.

Why do you need a drip irrigation installation?

With the beginning of the use of spot irrigation, the yield of cucumbers and tomatoes both in the greenhouse and in open areas increases by 30%, due to the fact that the micro-drip irrigation mechanism, in manual or automatic mode, delivers moisture directly to the roots of the plants in the required dosage with the required frequency.

In this case, plant roots develop in a small area and the plantings do not thicken.

Expensive drip irrigation systems operate in multi-program mode, have a control unit and a built-in timer.

Crops grown in a greenhouse are moisture-saturated plants; they contain moisture from 75 to 97%. As a result, they require a large volume of water to ripen, for example, the water consumption coefficient for tomatoes is 90–150, for cucumbers 100–150. Plants are especially sensitive to lack of moisture during the period of initial growth, when the roots have not yet strengthened.

Both soil waterlogging and drought are dangerous, so automatic irrigation is preferable to manual irrigation.

What is the mechanism?

The principle of operation is to automatically supply filtered water directly to the root system of each plant through droppers. Spot irrigation is installed at the dacha both in open space and in the greenhouse.

How to install a drip irrigation system for greenhouses yourself?

Installation is carried out in 3 stages. Before starting work, calculate the required length of the main pipe, tape or drip hose, taking into account the location of the beds and rows of plants in the greenhouse.

It is necessary to take into account the number of droppers, starting fittings and adapters on the prepared diagram.

For convenience, it is better for the gardener to buy a ready-made drip irrigation kit for greenhouses. When choosing a set of drip irrigation systems, the type of control (manual or automatic water supply), the ability to change the humidification mode, the size of the area covered and what type of vegetable crops the dropper pitch is designed for are important.

Spot irrigation should be assembled in accordance with the instructions included with the kit.

Stage 1. Materials

To install irrigation in a greenhouse you will need:

1.Drip tape or tube.

Each gardener decides for himself whether to choose a PVC pipe or tape, based on his financial capabilities and the characteristics of the greenhouse. The droppers are mounted into the drip tape at a certain distance, and holes are made independently in the PVC tube for a targeted release of moisture.

The tube is made of polyvinyl chloride, the diameter of the pipe should not exceed 15 mm, in this case the pressure required for irrigation is created. It is advisable to choose a dense, black, light-stabilized hose.

If you use a transparent hose and expose it to sunlight, after a few days the pipe will turn green, algae will begin to multiply inside and this will clog the filters.

A PVC pipe or tape with droppers is responsible for the period of operation of the system and the quality of irrigation.

Their consumption is equal to the sum of the treated areas plus a small allowance for the plug at the end.

Drip irrigation in a greenhouse: systems and reviews

There are 3 types of drip tape: emitter, labyrinth and slotted. They differ in the principles of moisture distribution inside, the materials from which they are made and their service life.

Labyrinth drip tape is considered the simplest and most accessible. Inside the thin-walled tube there is a labyrinth-shaped channel. This structure allows you to reduce water pressure and redistribute the movement of flow.

The owner needs to ensure that the holes in the labyrinth drip tape are located on top and do not turn over.

The slot system is an analogue of the labyrinth system; it can withstand significantly greater loads due to the fact that the irrigation channel is located inside the labyrinth.

Drip tape with emitters (microdroppers built into the surface of the tubes at distances of 10-30 cm) is designed for 4-6 service seasons. Compared to other types of drip tapes, the emitter tape is resistant to contamination due to the flow turbulence formed in it.

The thickness of the drip pipe is 0.125–0.375 mm, on average 2 mm. Thick material is chosen for rocky soil where the risk of damage is high.

The average irrigation flow is 1-1.5 l/hour. The distance between droppers for cucumbers is 15–20 cm, for tomatoes 30 cm.

2. Main water supply.
The length of the main hose is equal to the distance of the water tank or well with a pump from the beds with plants. Its diameter is no less than 32 mm. The main line is placed directly on the beds and combined with taps and starters. To prevent the main pipe or hose from moving, it is pressed to the surface of the ground using wire clips of arbitrary diameter.

The main wire can be an ordinary pipe for supplying cold water.

3.Fine filter.
The incoming water flow needs filtration; without it, soil contaminants and foreign objects will damage the device in a short time. Irrigation mechanisms are harmed by biological blockages, such as algae, silt; mechanical in the form of sand, stones and chemical nature - calcium deposits.

To remove blockages, use special reagents and regular washing at least once a week. The filter is installed in the main hose.

4.Mini starters, taps, adapters, plugs, fittings.
Using the initial starter at the dacha, they regulate the supply of liquid to each bed, turn off unnecessary ones, while leaving the rest to work.

This is important for a greenhouse, since plants with different water consumption grow nearby.

4. Droppers.
The kit includes droppers of different structures, for example, in the form of knitting needles with a sharp end.

A hose from a mini-starter is connected to them, and water penetrates through the spoke to the required depth to the roots. There is a compensated dripper that distributes water flows between neighboring plants.

Droppers are divided according to performance level - 0.6-3.8 l/hour.

The number of droppers corresponds to the number of plants in the treated beds!

Stage 2. Cost calculation

The gardener needs to prepare a diagram of the greenhouse indicating the size of the beds. The dots indicate the location of plants in the rows. A main pipe is placed along the beds, and a hose with droppers is run from it to the beds so that the flow goes to all the plants.

Calculate the length of the main pipe, the sum of the lengths of drip tapes or PVC wires, the number of starting fittings, taps, droppers, and splitters. The result will be individual for everyone, since the consumption depends on the size of the beds in the greenhouse, the frequency of planting and the type of material, how many seasons it is designed for, and so on.

Depending on the material, irrigation tapes and components are designed for a different number of years of service.

At the end of the summer season, the system is cleared of blockages, twisted and stored.

Stage 3. Installation and launch of the system

The pipeline is connected to a water source. The container with water must be raised to a height of at least 15–25 cm to ensure pressure and movement of the liquid. At your dacha, you can install a Eurocube for watering - it is more convenient than a barrel and its installation is easier. To calculate the pressure, you need to keep in mind that raising the water tank by 1 meter increases the pressure in the system by 0.1 bar.

The main line is placed at the ends of the beds, secured to the ground and holes drilled for taps or fittings with a diameter of 15 mm. Installing drip tape involves attaching it to taps and laying it along rows of plants. At the opposite end, the tape is closed with plugs or tied with wire or rubber band. Optionally, a control unit is installed next to the filter, and water will be supplied in an automatically set mode.

Before the first start, the system must be flushed.

Ten advantages of the system

1. Thanks to uniform injection, the soil is not washed away during point irrigation, the ecology of the soil composition is preserved, and the land does not sag.
2. The irrigation tape is distributed over the ground in such a way that all plants are equally supplied with water.
3. Slowly wets the earthen ball, while the water does not remain on the leaves, but penetrates into the roots of the plants. For tomatoes and cucumbers in a greenhouse, it is important that water does not fall on the leaves during irrigation.

   This causes burn spots on the leaves.

4. Water from the soil surface does not evaporate and therefore does not create excess humidity in the greenhouse. At optimal temperature and humidity, diseases of vegetable crops develop less.
5. Do-it-yourself watering takes much more time and physical effort than an automated irrigation system.
6. When growing plants in greenhouse conditions, the yield increases 2–3 times due to careful “smart” moistening. Water is not wasted on neighboring areas and paths.
7. With the help of an irrigation system, large greenhouses or open spaces are treated.
8. The drip irrigation method is capable of producing a good harvest even on “difficult” soils, for example, heavy or too loose.
9. The automated system allows you to simultaneously perform several hydraulic operations: moisturize plants, apply fertilizer, use protective equipment in the required dosage.
10. Water savings compared to the conventional sprinkling method are more than 50%.

Conclusion

Do-it-yourself watering has long ceased to be the only solution for gardeners. An automatic irrigation system, despite the initial investment, pays for itself quickly and frees up the energy of summer residents for other work.

The traditional method of watering greenhouses in summer cottages is a watering hose, which has to be carried from garden bed to garden bed.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation in a greenhouse will help simplify your work and reduce the time spent caring for plants. With its help, you will increase plant productivity and save yourself from unnecessary work, while spending a minimum of money. Making a drip irrigation system with your own hands is not a difficult task, but you need to be patient, think through the details and make the necessary calculations.

Benefits of drip irrigation

Watering during the hot, dry summer months is vital for plants.

Having correctly organized drip irrigation of a greenhouse at your summer cottage with your own hands, having carefully thought through the design of an automatic watering system, you will soon experience the numerous benefits of drip irrigation:

• a drip irrigation device will significantly increase productivity;
• drip irrigation in a greenhouse allows you to directly moisten the root zone of the plant, while preventing water from getting on the leaves and fruits;
• due to local watering, the number of weeds is reduced and their further spread in the rows of the greenhouse is eliminated;
• economical use of water.

  You can save up to 50% water, effectively increasing plant productivity. This factor is especially important for regions with water supply problems;

• By installing a special container in which water from the general water supply system will accumulate, you can water the greenhouse with warm, settled water. At the same time, you can create an optimal environment for plants, since the water for irrigation will be the same temperature as the ambient temperature;
• increasing the efficiency of liquid fertilizers, their absorption by plants becomes significantly higher;
• the device of drip irrigation of the soil prevents the deterioration of the soil due to its compaction and preserves the fertile layer of soil;
• this irrigation system eliminates the need for a drainage system;
• Growing greenhouse vegetables and flowers occurs with the least amount of labor: all efforts come down to opening or closing the tap.

System design

Designing an irrigation system involves a detailed study of the geometry of the site, drawing up a diagram of the location of plants in the greenhouse and marking the watering zone.

After this, you need to calculate the volume of water consumption for each zone separately, as well as calculate the productivity of the water supply source. Next, you need to draw a pipeline diagram and, based on the results of the calculations made and in accordance with the project, purchase the necessary components.

Selection of connection elements and organization of drip irrigation

In order to provide drip irrigation in a greenhouse, it is necessary to organize a slow supply of water through tubes from the tank, which should be installed at a height of approximately 2.5 m.

First you need to choose the location of the pipes in the greenhouse. Distribution pipes are installed on both sides of the water tank, which is connected to the water supply using detachable connections. Near each plant, a special hole is made in the pipe for a nozzle, through which water will flow to the root system.

To regulate the fluid flow to prevent waterlogging of the soil, use a tap or automatic sensor.

In summer cottages, to equip greenhouses with a do-it-yourself drip irrigation system, special small-diameter tubes are usually used. Fittings are purchased for them, with the help of which it will not be difficult to connect all the components of the irrigation system with your own hands. However, to do this, it is necessary to study the plan for planting the greenhouse with plants and create a drawing according to which a unified irrigation system will be assembled.

During installation, various types of connecting elements are used: tees, plugs, couplings.

Water penetrates directly to the roots of greenhouse crops using special tips (droppers). They are divided into internal ones - built into a hose or pipe, as well as many types of external ones (droppers with regulated or unregulated water supply, pressure-compensated and non-pressure-compensated designs). To install external droppers, you need to make holes with a diameter of 3 mm in the pipe using a special tool.

To equip an automatic drip irrigation system at your dacha with your own hands, you need to use special devices: controllers, solenoid valves, sensors.

Installation of irrigation system

Based on the drawing of the drip irrigation system, holes are marked in the distribution pipes, which should be located in the same plane.

It is recommended to firmly fix the pipe when drilling. Fittings and seals are installed in the resulting holes. After this, the pipe is connected to a water source, but you need to remember to install a special filter. The disc filter serves to significantly extend the service life of the drip tape. It is also strongly recommended to flush the pipe to remove any chips that form when welding holes.

After completing all the preparatory work, you can begin attaching drip tapes to the pipe and supplying them to each plant.

Which drip irrigation is best for a greenhouse: an overview of different systems

The special tape is a thin-walled tube, which takes on a round shape when liquid is supplied. Plugs are installed at the ends of the drip irrigation tapes.

Test run of the system

When installing a drip irrigation system with your own hands, a mandatory step is its test run.

It consists of sequentially opening the taps and uniformly moistening the soil. It is also recommended to monitor the performance of the droppers.

With a high-quality organization of a drip irrigation system at your dacha with your own hands, the plants in your greenhouse will receive moisture in sufficient quantities and at the right time, and the positive results of your work will not be long in coming! Drip irrigation will become your reliable assistant at your dacha and will last for many years.

Greenhouse conditions: how to install an automatic irrigation system in a greenhouse with your own hands

Self-watering

Everyone who has a summer house or garden plot knows what self-watering is and how important it is to provide timely care for plants. It is necessary to provide them with the opportunity to freely absorb sunlight, a sufficient amount of heat, and also regularly fertilize and water the soil.

However, it takes quite a lot of time and effort to water regularly, and you also need to strictly adhere to the schedule and amount of water.

Therefore, every summer resident, to one degree or another, thinks about how to automate this process, because at the dacha, first of all, you want to relax and unwind.

Self-watering system

There is a solution! This is a self-watering system that you can make with your own hands at the dacha.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation in a greenhouse - the task is simple, the effect is colossal

In modern gardening stores you can find everything you need to collect it.

Today, there are two types of automatic watering - sprinkling and drip irrigation.

When sprinkling, plants are watered from above using special spray nozzles that spray water.

This system is used both for greenhouses and other garden plants and lawns.

Drip self-watering is the most profitable. It is used for flower beds, bushes, vegetable gardens, as well as greenhouses. Special hoses with holes are laid along the beds, and from each hole water slowly flows to the roots of the plants.

Self-watering for a greenhouse

Before you make self-watering in a greenhouse with your own hands, you need to understand what it should consist of and buy the necessary parts.

In order for the process to be automatic and uniform, pressure must be created inside the system.

To do this you will need:

1. Water supply container;
2. Mechanism for water supply (solenoid valves, controller for them);
3. Small diameter plastic pipes;
4. Pipe fittings;
5. Droppers;
6. Pump as well as float valve.

How to make self-watering for your greenhouse

First of all, make a plan for the location of the pipes in the greenhouse and determine the number and distance of the holes for the droppers from each other.

Cut a light-proof garden hose, no more than 1.5 millimeters thick, into pieces according to the dimensions of the plan.

Connect the parts together in the required sequence using fittings.

Using an awl, punch holes and insert droppers into them.

To prevent them from jumping out under the pressure of water, you need to make holes of such a size that the droppers enter them with force. The designs of some of the droppers provide for the distribution of water through microtubes for 2-4 plants.

Place a container of any size above the level of the hoses extended above the ground.

You can fill it manually, or connect it to a water supply (well). In this case, it is necessary to equip the container with a float valve, which regulates its filling level.

Use a pump to supply water from the container to the hoses.

Equip the pipe lines with ball valves if you want to open them manually, or with solenoid valves.

In this case, you will have to purchase a controller to regulate their opening and closing.

But, if you want to get a high-quality result without significant labor costs on your part, and do not have the desire to do everything yourself, use the opportunity to order a self-watering system for a turnkey greenhouse right now.

Almost every gardener comes to a point when he wants to do automatic watering in a greenhouse with his own hands. This desire is easy to explain. In the summer, in addition to gardening, there are many exciting activities for which you need to leave the country house, or which do not allow you to come to the dacha. Cucumbers and tomatoes planted in a greenhouse and left unattended can lose color due to lack of moisture, get sick, or simply die. Automation of watering will eliminate the need to tinker with hoses; automatic watering will save the summer resident energy and reduce water consumption.

It is necessary to consider all the currently popular automatic watering schemes , before starting to create automatic watering in the greenhouse. In the form of an enlarged diagram, any irrigation system consists of the following parts:

• source;
• equipment for forced supply of water under pressure;
• water purification systems from mechanical, chemical and other impurities;
• automation (controller);
• pipes and shut-off valves.

Everything about organizing drip irrigation

Drip irrigation in a polycarbonate greenhouse is the dream of every summer resident. For water, large-volume containers (barrels made of metal or plastic) are usually used. A barrel (tank) is a source of water. To better heat the water and create pressure, the tank must be raised above the ground. The number of bars (pipes) required to construct a stand for the tank is calculated based on the size of the tank (capacity) and the height of its elevation above the ground. The recommended height for a pressure of 0.2 atmospheres is 1 m or 2 m.

To create automatic drip irrigation in a greenhouse, pipes are needed. Through pipes, water from a natural reservoir or central water supply is supplied to the barrel. You can use plastic or metal pipes. It is more profitable to use plastic pipes, since they do not corrode, last a long time, and are easy to install.

To supply water, a pump is installed; if the dacha already has an operating pumping station, then the container is connected to it using pipes.

The scheme must include a cleaning system - a filter for rough water purification from mechanical impurities. The filter is installed at the outlet of the barrel, next to the ball valve. A controller with an electromechanical valve must be installed behind the filter. Thanks to the controller and valve, water will be supplied (switched off) automatically.

Drawing a diagram of a greenhouse

Before purchasing greenhouse equipment, you need to make a drawing of the greenhouse. The diagram should indicate not only the dimensions of the greenhouse itself, but also the size and location of the beds. The drawing is needed to calculate the required length of the line, the number of fittings for the branches, the length of the drip tape or, if you decide to use droppers, the length of the hose and the number of droppers.

Installation

Installation begins with laying the main hose (pipe), the recommended pipe diameter is 40 mm. It is better to place the central highway at a slight angle to the horizon. When storing the system for the winter, it will be easier to drain the water. You can lay the hose in a trench, the maximum permissible depth of the trench is 50 cm. Using a valve, one end of the line is connected to a water source, and a tap or plug is placed at the other end.

Along the entire length of the main plastic pipe, in the places where the drip tapes are connected, you need to drill holes for installing start connectors. The drip tapes are unwound, laid out on ridges, secured with holders. Attached to the central pipe. It is necessary to cut the tapes with a margin (100 mm). Place plugs on the end parts. The system is washed after completion of work.

Drip irrigation and its advantages

During operation of the irrigation system, automatic water supply will be carried out using the controller. At the signal from the controller, the electromechanical valve opens, and under a pressure of 0.2 atmospheres, the water flow passes through the central line through drip tapes and is supplied directly to the root of each plant. Instead of drip tapes, the system can be equipped with hoses and droppers.

After installing a drip system, significant water savings are observed, on average, its consumption is reduced by 30%. In a greenhouse equipped with a drip irrigation system, the incidence of diseases in tomatoes, strawberries, and cucumbers is significantly reduced. The reason is optimal soil moisture. For a greenhouse in the country, drip irrigation is a good solution.

Sprinkler irrigation

In a greenhouse with automatic watering and sprinkling, you can successfully grow moisture-loving crops. This type of system is suitable for cucumbers; they love moist air and the absence of drafts. It is not difficult to assemble this model of an automatic watering system in your greenhouse. It is necessary to calculate the required length of pipes, the number of taps and spray nozzles.

Sprayers (nozzles) cover a large radius area. The pipe system for supplying water is often located in the upper part of the greenhouse. The source is a barrel, at the output of which are installed:

• pump for supplying water under pressure;
• tap;
• filter;
• timer.

To organize irrigation using the sprinkling method, pipes with a diameter of 22-25 mm are suitable; they must be installed under the roof of the greenhouse. On one side, the pipe is connected through a compensating loop and coupling to the main pipe coming from the water source; on the other side, a plug is placed on the pipe. Spray nozzles are installed on the pipe with the required pitch.

Underground irrigation system

Watering in a greenhouse can be organized using underground irrigation. To do this, you will have to work with a shovel, since the pipes are laid in trenches. With underground irrigation, water is supplied directly to the root of each plant.

The advantage of such a system is the efficient use of water, enrichment of the soil with oxygen, and the absence of crust. The disadvantages include the difficulty of installation associated with excavation work. Repairing such a system will also require physical effort.

For the central pipeline, a plastic pipe with a diameter of 32 to 50 mm is suitable. To supply water directly to the roots of plants, you need to use special porous hoses. It is better to dig a trench for laying the central pipe in the middle of the greenhouse; the required trench depth is 40-60 cm.

The assembly of a system consisting of plastic pipes is carried out using fittings. To supply water to the pipes, droppers or sprayers are installed. The assembled system is first covered with a small layer of sand, and then with ordinary soil on top of it.

Equipment for automatic watering systems

To automate your greenhouse, you cannot do without special equipment for automatically supplying water from the source to the central line. For this purpose, timers and controllers are used, both of which are equipped with solenoid valves.

Using timers, you can set watering time and frequency. Device controllers are more complex. They are equipped with a display and a set of buttons with which you can set a specific watering program by day of the week.

For a small greenhouse, a timer or an inexpensive controller with one channel is suitable. If there are several greenhouses, you will need a more expensive model of a multi-channel controller. The advantage of expensive models is a GSM module and the ability to control the system using your mobile phone. An alternative to one multi-channel controller can be several timers (single-channel).

Pumps and filters

Irrigation requires settled water, therefore, a metal or plastic barrel performs not only a reserve function, accumulating water. In the barrel, the water is heated to air temperature; when watering, this has a positive effect on the health of the plants. A tap must be installed into the bottom of the barrel. The tap is needed for emergency drainage of water and for carrying out an inspection: cleaning the tank from debris, rust, and sediment. The water supply pipe is mounted in the upper part of the tank, the water supply pipe to the greenhouse is located in its lower part.

There are certain criteria that must be followed when choosing a pump. Purchase a pump if it meets the requirements:

• it is easy to install and dismantle;

• there is a soft start system;
• low noise level;
• The body material is resistant to chemicals contained in fertilizers;
• optimal power;
• possibility of automation.

Automated irrigation systems for greenhouses must be equipped with high-quality filters for water purification. Reliable operation of irrigation systems will largely depend on the quality of the water used. Drip tapes quickly fail when using untreated water. For small greenhouses with a barrel as a storage tank, mesh filters are suitable.

Automatic greenhouse ventilation

You shouldn’t stop at automating irrigation in a greenhouse. For greenhouse plants, certain air humidity and temperature conditions are important. Natural ventilation using vents cannot always provide the required parameters.

The problem can be solved with forced ventilation using fans installed inside the polycarbonate greenhouse. The advantage of a greenhouse with automatic ventilation is obvious:

1. Plants are less likely to suffer from late blight and powdery mildew.
2. The greenhouse maintains a certain microclimate necessary for greenhouse plants.
3. Optimum air temperature is maintained.

Along with the fans, a thermal relay is installed in the greenhouse; they are responsible for automatically turning the fans on and off. Greenhouses with ventilation and watering make the work of summer residents many times easier. The yield in such greenhouses is higher, the percentage of plant diseases is lower.

Tired of running around with a watering can, hauling gallons of water every day? Organize drip irrigation in the greenhouse yourself. Such a system will not only help you significantly save energy and time. A gradual drip of water will also be beneficial for plants.

System advantages

The drip irrigation method was first used in Israel in the 1950s - in a similar way, scientists tried to cope with water shortages. Later it was found that when it is served in small portions, not only water and labor resources are saved. Drip irrigation allows you to get earlier harvests.

With normal irrigation, water penetrates into the ground to a depth of 10 cm. Its gradual drip entry allows the root system to be more saturated with moisture. The roots grow much faster, which means they extract more nutrients from the soil.

Installation diagram of a drip irrigation system

Since the rest of the soil remains dry, the likelihood of waterlogging is reduced. This has a beneficial effect on the health of plants - after all, most of such dangerous diseases as powdery mildew, white rot, gray rot, blackleg, bacterial spot develop precisely in conditions of waterlogging.

Since water is supplied to the root, the likelihood of plant burns, which usually occurs when moisture gets on the leaves, is significantly reduced. This is due to the lens effect of the small droplets.

Plus, since irrigation is carried out only in the root zone, weeds that do not receive enough moisture spread at a slower rate. This system also prevents soil erosion.

Drip irrigation system for greenhouseis simple, but with its help you can achieve an increase in plant productivity by 30-40%. This irrigation method allows you to accurately calculate the time and intensity of watering for each type of plant.

Initially it was used only in greenhouse conditions. Later, this method began to be used when growing plants in open ground.

Disadvantages of drip irrigation

The main disadvantage of do-it-yourself drip irrigation systems for greenhouses is the mandatory control. After all, if the calculation is incorrect and there is an excess of moisture in the area, in addition to excessive water consumption, you will simply destroy the plants. You will need to regularly check the filling of the barrel - it will need to be constantly topped up.

The disadvantages of drip irrigation include the need to periodically clean the holes - due to their small diameter, they often become clogged. However, this is not difficult to do - just rinse or blow out the system.

To protect the system from contamination, a filter is installed at the inlet (that is, at the beginning of the hose located in the barrel). You can even use an ordinary piece of foam rubber as it.

Cleaning the system will become much easier - all you need to do is remove and wash the foam rubber. It is necessary to protect the barrel itself, as well as the receiver-distributor, from debris and insects - they will need to be covered with lids.

Operating principle

We will describe in detail the device of drip irrigation in a home greenhouse. With this method, water is supplied using dispensers-droppers (nozzles). Its simplest version is a hose with 3-8 mm holes made in it and the main spout plugged with a plug.

To ensure pressure, a tank filled with water with a hose lowered into it is raised to a certain height. Depending on the required pressure, it can be from 1 to 10 m. More complex systems are automated, but we will talk about this below.

Drip watering should only be done under the roots of plants. When water is supplied between the rows, there will not be enough moisture for the roots, and the crops will develop worse. At the same time, the soil around it will become compacted and loosening will be required. Plus, wet soil under the rays of the sun will overheat, which will adversely affect growth.

The source of water does not have to be a tap or a barrel. They can serve as a well, a well or a pond. To do this, you will need to connect a pump to the system.

But in any case, the mandatory installation of a filter is required - otherwise the pipeline will quickly become clogged. When drawing water from an open source (reservoir), it is first necessary to install a coarse filter, and only then a fine filter. In other cases, a single fine filter is sufficient.

But still, to water a greenhouse or vegetable garden, it is better to heat the water in the sun before watering. For this purpose, containers (barrels) of suitable size are used. When it is raised to a certain height, water will flow into the system by gravity.

Water consumption for drip irrigation for such moisture-loving plants as cucumbers is 2 liters per bush, that is, several times less than the usual norm. Drip watering of tomatoes in a greenhouse with already formed fruits is carried out once every 4 days.

Each plant will need 1.5 liters of water. Cabbage and potatoes will need 2.5 liters per day.
Thus, when supplying water from a dropper at 3 l/hour, it will take a little less than an hour to water cucumbers, about 30 minutes for tomatoes, about an hour for cabbage and early potatoes.

Required materials

To set up a permanent irrigation system that will be used year after year, it is better to purchase more durable PVC pipes rather than hoses. Since moisture must enter the system slowly, the diameter of the tubes is selected to be minimal - up to 10-16 mm.

It is better not to use transparent pipes or tapes - algae will grow inside them. Metal pipes will not last long - rust will quickly clog the dropper nozzles.

Manufacturers also offer ready-made irrigation systems in the form of polyethylene drip tapes with built-in drippers. With their help, it is easier to dose watering - the micropores inside resemble a labyrinth in which the direction of water flow is controlled.

The wall thickness of the tapes can vary from 0.127 to 0.381 mm. However, such systems do not last more than one season. In the spring you will need to purchase new ribbons.

In addition to distribution and irrigation pipes, you will need:

• a pump that comes complete with a filter (such systems are called master blocks) to supply water at a certain pressure (up to 1.5 bar)
• droppers (we described their structure and types above)
• stands for strengthening dropper dispensers at plant roots
• taps (switches) for adjusting the flow force and shutting off the system in individual modules
• fum tape or tow for sealing joints
• plastic couplings
• adapters
• tees
• plugs: they are located at the ends of pipelines

When drawing water from a well, you will also need a filter. You can buy a regular mesh or disk one. To install automated stations, you will also need a control unit (timer) and a battery.

Parts from medical droppers with a diameter of 1-2 mm can be used as nozzles (droppers).

System assembly. Main stages of work

Making drip irrigation in a greenhouse with your own hands is not difficult:

1 To install the system, you will need a 100-200-liter barrel, which is raised to a height of about 1-2 meters. If there is a lid, holes are prepared in it for air intake. If there is no lid, it is better to cover the container with gauze.

2 To insert the hose, a hole is prepared at the very bottom of the barrel with a tap-tip installed in it.

3 Each of the tubes or hoses is laid with a slight slope of 5 cm per meter of length. They are secured to small pegs stuck into the ground.

4 You should not pull pipelines that are too long - they will require very large containers. It is much more profitable and convenient to use several systems independent of each other.

5 PVC pipes are cut with a hacksaw, pipe cutter or miter saw. To obtain tight joints, the cutting angle must be precise and equal to 90 degrees. Therefore, it is better to clamp the pipes in a vice.

6 Small 2mm holes must be made in hoses or plastic main pipes. In a simple do-it-yourself drip irrigation system in a greenhouse, the droppers can be replaced with pieces of ordinary wire, along which drops of water will descend and be supplied to the plant.

7 You can make holes in the hose with an awl or a nail held with pliers. In PVC pipes it is more convenient to do them with a small diameter wood drill.

8 When using a pipeline in the form of ready-made strips, they are carefully laid out over the area. To avoid damage, pulling or dragging them is strictly prohibited.

9 Pay attention to the marks on the tape in the form of colored lines. Sprinklers are located on this side. The system must be laid with the colored lines facing up.

11 When connecting taps, fittings (tees and adapters), to perfectly seal the joints you will need fum tape or tow.

12 Before inserting the plug, the system must be flushed from plastic shavings that fall into the pipes during drilling.

13 The last stage is checking the system. After starting the water, you need to make sure that water reaches each drip, including the last one in the garden bed. The soil near them should be moistened evenly

1 Just as in the previous case, to install the system you will need a storage tank (barrel) with a tap to shut off the water. To create pressure, it is installed at a height of 1-2 m.

2 You will also need 20-40 mm PVC pipes and connecting elements (tees and adapters).

3 In the pipeline, round holes of 2-3 mm or slot-like holes of slightly smaller width (1-2 mm) and a length of 5-10 mm are made every 20-40 cm.

4 Water consumption should be small - 0.1-0.3 liters per day. This requires minimal pressure.

5 To protect against small particles of debris that can clog the system, filters are installed at the beginning of the pipeline (inside the barrel). You can use either mesh, sand or gravel.

6 The depth of laying the pipeline in the ground is 20-30 cm. The minimum distance between them is 40-90 cm. It is not worth laying the pipes higher, otherwise water will seep out and the soil will quickly become crusty.

7 Since on heavy loamy soils water flows both into the depths and to the sides, the distance between adjacent pipelines can be made a little larger. On loose sandy soils, when moisture passes mainly deep, the distance between adjacent pipelines should be minimal.

9 You can determine the distance for specific crops experimentally. Bury one or two pipelines next to the bed and after a couple of days dig with a shovel in 2-3 places. The soil in this place should be slightly moist.

10 On dry sandy soils, so that precious moisture does not go to great depths, a film 10-20 cm wide is laid under the pipes.

11 Water must be supplied to the humidifier pipes under low pressure at a water flow rate of 0.1-0.3 l/s.

12 To prevent the holes in the humidifiers from becoming clogged with debris, soil particles or silt, you need to supply water to them through mesh, gravel or sand filters.

13 Just like a conventional drip system, an underground (subsoil) irrigation system can be equipped with a pump and timer to provide automatic water supply at a given time.

When using underground irrigation systems, it is advisable to use special herbicide-impregnated hoses. It does not allow plant roots to penetrate the entrance holes.

Use of plastic bottles

To water small areas, you can make a simple device consisting of a plastic bottle with a small piece of tube inserted into it, suspended with the neck down. It is more convenient to use an empty ballpoint pen.

In addition to the main hole for the tube, you will also need a second one through which air will escape. If the tube is too wide, another, thinner tube or piece of wire insulation, called a jet, is inserted into the main tube to reduce the flow rate of water.

You can do it even simpler. Puncture 8-12 holes in the bottom of a plastic bottle. Their number depends on the type of soil. A minimal number of holes are made on light sand.

Moisture seeps into clay soil more slowly, so the number of holes is increased. However, their size should be minimal, otherwise the water will pour out of the bottles very quickly. It is better to do this with a regular needle.

The simplest bottle watering system

The bottle is filled with water, closed with a lid and buried in the ground, leaving the neck uncovered. As the container empties, you will add water through it. Since it may shrink as water flows out of the bottle, it is better to also make a small hole in the lid.

When the bottle is buried in the ground, the plants will be supplied with water using underground irrigation. The top layer of soil will not be wetted, so the usual crust on it, which needs to be constantly loosened, will not form.

When drip watering tomatoes in a greenhouse using this method, one liter bottle is enough for 5 days. This volume will be enough to water one bush. A 5 liter container will provide them with water for 10 days.

Clay soil can quickly clog small holes. To prevent this, use regular nylon stockings. They are pulled over corks or parts of bottles with holes made in them.

Another method of protecting against blockage of holes is often used - drainage. Before burying the bottle in the ground, throw some hay or a piece of burlap at the bottom of the hole.

Of course, it will be difficult to use such systems for irrigating a large number of plants. But in some cases, for summer residents who rarely appear on the site, this can be a life-saving solution.

It is better to bury the bottle in the ground at an angle of 30-45 degrees so that the water pressure is minimal. In this case, the rate of water flow will decrease.

Drip irrigation for indoor plants

A device like this will come in handy during your vacation. There are many ready-made drip irrigation systems on sale in the form of flasks that look like enemas, capillary trays, wicks, “smart pots”, etc.

Manufacturers also suggest using hydrogel, a polymer that can retain moisture and then release it to plants over a certain period of time, when leaving home for long periods of time.

If you decide to do drip irrigation for indoor plants, before going on vacation, be sure to check the functionality of the system. If water flows out of it too quickly, during the first couple of days, in the remaining time the plants will become without water and simply die.

To assemble your drip irrigation system, you will need a large plastic bottle and an old medical dropper or one or more thin, food-grade silicone tubes. They can be found in medical supply stores.

In hardware stores that sell moonshine stills, you can purchase tubes of a slightly larger diameter. The outlet end of such tubes can be closed with a plug, and several holes can be made in the tube itself for irrigation.

Assembling a wick irrigation system is even easier. To do this, place a large container of water next to the flower pot. One end of the wick is lowered into the container, the second is buried in the ground.

Drip irrigation of tomatoes

Despite the simplicity of the design, the drip irrigation system requires constant maintenance.

To extend its service life, follow these rules:

1 When exposed to water, metal will quickly become covered with rust, the smallest particles of which will constantly clog the pipeline. Therefore, it is better to mount the system from plastic. It is not advisable to use metal barrels and pipes.

3 Don't forget to protect the pipeline with filters. They can be purchased at any hardware store or made yourself from a piece of foam rubber inserted into the supply pipe located at the entrance to the barrel.

4 You need to clean the filter more often, at least once a week.

5 Only clean or settled water should be poured into the barrel.

Simple watering in a greenhouse for 525 rubles with your own hands

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation device in a greenhouse: from a barrel, a plastic bottle, or even an automatic system. For tomatoes and other crops (Photo & Video)+Reviews