As their allotments never had access to running water, they decided to improve the situation and construct their first water station. The water station is additional to plot holders own water collection systems, used for emergency and dry spells though the summer months.

Forks are indispensable for breaking up the soil, and for levelling soil that has been freshly dug. It is sometimes easier to dig with a fork than a spade, as the sharp points of a fork more easily penetrate hard ground. Rake In my case, rather than solving the logistical challenge of manoeuvering an IBC to my plot, I opted instead for a collection of water butts. I could move the water butts by myself, they fitted in my car, and I have found them easy to empty and clean, when required. The good thing about water butt pumps is that they move water with a good amount of pressure. This is ideal for drip irrigation systems, as it provides more consistent water flow through drippers. If the water pressure is too low, it is common for the drippers nearest the water source to work, and those further away to give out less water, or even no water at all.

Polytunnel automatic watering can be done in a number of different ways, ranging from overhead misters, to soak hose embedded in the soil, to individual plant drippers and dripper lines. You’ll have different plants growing in different areas of the polytunnel that each need watering in different ways, at different stages of their growth, too. Here’s a way to approach the challenge. A versatile foundation

If you don’t have a solar panel system that’s big enough to generate the power needed to run your water pump, then you’re bound to run into some problems. This is especially true if you are using solar panels to run a larger, more powerful pump for larger volumes of water flow. You will need to make sure you can generate enough wattage for the job. Legumes Avoid watering peas and broad beans when young but they will need water at flowering time and about 2 weeks later. Runner beans need constant moisture but French beans can cope with dryer conditions.Flow rate isn’t all you need. You’ll need the pressure to push water through all the pipes, up into the roof, and deal with the long pipe runs encountered in a polytunnel. A small, camper-van style pump might claim 15 litres per minute, but when you connect it to a long pipe system, it won’t have the pressure to get the water through. Solar powered The best time to water your crops is in the evening or very early morning, using a watering can and aiming at the roots not the foliage. Water thoroughly on a weekly basis and soak the soil, this encourages the roots to go deeper in search of moisture. Water appropriately to the crop, plants also need different amounts of water at varying stages of growth and too much water can affect yield and taste.