Bruce (V A) can you help

[profire31]

Bruce, I remember seeing some pictures of your garden this past summer but can't remember if you were using drip. I want to try drip this year and looking for some help as I'm not pleased with what I'm being told. Your experience is what I need. Thanks in advance and sorry this isn't about a "N" but if it helps thats what does the work for me. Thanks again, Cliff

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Good timing; I just got back from the farmers market meeting!

I'd like to use drip, but I'm not growing quite enough to make the cost justifiable. I only sell at one market a week. I'd need to really increase production to get justify the cost of drip & I'm not ready to be a full time farmer! All the "real" farmers around here use it & swear it's what keeps them in business. Some of these guys set 10k tomato plants a season & drip is required.

I use soaker hoses. I get 4-5 years out of a hose. I list the row, lay out the hose & then set the plastic. Same concept as drip. But, unlike drip, when I irrigate, I need to manually connect the line to each hose. So, irrigating takes time. Hook up the line, come back 3 - 4 hours later & move it to another row.

Unless you have an unusual extension agent that actually knows something about farming & not growing grass, your best bet is to find a local truck farmer to explain the process. At some point, I'll probably go w/ drip & use my neighbors as "consultants"!

 

[profire31]

Thanks Bruce and another nice pic. If you get a chance check out my post on the crop talk board about this issue. I sure think plastic and drip is the way to go but some of the numbers I'm being told just seem out there. I'm going to talk to one of those big farmers like you spoke of in the morning. Thanks again, cliff