Watering Systems: Drip Irrigation, Buried Clay Pots, Garden Hose Tips | Farm your Yard

On average, vegetables need 1 inch of rain per week to grow healthy and productive. In mid-Missouri we get roughly 36 inches of precipitation annually, requiring backyard and apartment gardeners to make up the difference. Carrie Hargrove from the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture shows three options for keeping plants well watered throughout the season while being water conscious, including tips for keeping plants watered while you’re away and techniques that work even if you don’t have direct access to water outdoors.
Drip irrigation: Uses a system of hoses and drip tape -- a thin, flat hose with tiny, evenly spaced holes that each let a droplet of water out at a time -- placed on the soil and close to the base of each plant which is left to drip water over a long period of time. Droplets are more conservative than running a shower hose, and connecting your drip irrigation system to a timer can keep your garden well watered even while you’re away.
DRIP IRRIGATION MATERIALS LIST (Purchased from DripWorks: www.dripworks.com/)
Hydrant or hose connection
Timer (optional)
Pressure regulator (30 PSI)
Water filter
Main line with valve
Drip line
Olla system: Uses buried, unglazed terracotta pots which are porous by nature to supply water to the surrounding soil when it is dry enough to require more moisture. Olla pots regulate the soil’s own watering needs -- the gardener just refills the pots when necessary -- and eliminates the possibility of overwatering. Olla systems are great for patio gardens and places hoses cannot reach, and can keep your garden well watered while you’re away.
OLLA SYSTEM MATERIALS LIST
Unglazed terracotta pot (we use 8 inch pots)
Silicone caulk to seal the open hole at the base of the pot
IN THIS VIDEO:
0:00 Introduction
1:58 Getting started with drip irrigation, and the required components
4:13 Advantages to using drip irrigation
4:52 How long to run drip irrigation to sufficiently water plants
5:57 Self watering system: Olla System
9:28 Tips for saving water when watering with a garden hose
9:55 Testing soil to see if watering is necessary
11:48 Why it’s better to water the soil and not the leaves of plants
To follow what’s happening at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture:
WEB: www.columbiaurbanag.org/
FACEBOOK: / columbiaurbanag
INSTAGRAM: / columbiaurbanag
TWITTER: / columbiaurbanag
Questions or comments? Drop us your thoughts below, or reach out! [e-mail]

[@GrowingTreesEasy]

Mylady you don’t needs all those ollas or pots,just make a hole next to a plant and water through the hole.Planted tens of trees like this.

[@marycarmalt3851]

Can you combine tubed irrigation and ollas so that the olla fills on a timed schedule?

[@Godwithinme]

Than you for not having on your title Ollas Pots, since olla means pots in Spanish