Thank you for all the great videos, sir. May you find yourself in paradise basking in the warmth of all the love you've given. Your soul was generous and your personality, bigger than this world. To your family, my deepest condolences, he sure will be missed. Love Val from South Africa
You posted this 8 years ago, and can you believe it still works today!! This Los Angeles balcony gardener believes that simpler is better - and boy is this simple!! I love it! Much thanks to you sir from an L.A. city boy!!
I could watch you all day, I love your videos. Thank you so much. So many other videos are so fast paced, I feel stressed out cause I can't keep up. I love your videos 'cause I feel like your my buddy and your showing me some tricks. No one ever taught me how to garden, I had to figure out everything by myself, and I have wasted a lot of time doing dumb things. Thank you so much for helping me with your great videos.
Webcajun you've outdone yourself with this system! You can water without bending over, without getting out of the golf cart, easy to fertilize and it's very efficient at getting the water to the root zone! Genius.
I was so anxious to get growing this year, I started my Tomato plants March 1st, so they all looked like that one you were planting. I did however plant them sideways instead of going so deep and their doing great! Always a pleasure to watch your vidoes, Thanks for making them!
The unit holds almost a gallon of water and it takes between 15-20 minutes to drain out. Because it is 2' tall...you could drive by and fill with your golf cart and water tank! I also drilled several 1/64 holes in the cap for air flow. The total cost of mine is $3.50 ea. I appreciate all your videos!
R.i.p Donald wish I could of met you in person you seemed like such a very good guy and i learned a lot of stuff from you. Hope in heaven I’ll be able to shake your hand and grow a community garden with you
3 of my favorite things...gardening, looking for arrowheads and having a cold beer after those. wish I was closer, we could enjoy one. GREAT videos.....gonna try it. see, even at 67 yr old, old dog learns a new trick.
I will use that method this summer on my farm in Akansas along with rain water collection. Thank you Donald. By the way the fence post tied to the tomato fence is also a good idea to keep them stable. We would'nt want our toms to rest on the ground.
That's what I figured but wanted to be sure my assumption was correct. I enjoy your videos tremendously - not only for the valuable information presented but also I enjoy the way you present that information and make it so easy to understand. My next project will be to make Compost Tea as per your video instructions. Thanks for all you do.
Donald, Thank you for the idea. I went to buy material to make some of these. I ended up using 3" sewer and drain pipe with a 3" Test Caps in each end. The pipe was $10.48 per 10' joint and the test caps were 0.70cents each. I cut the bell off the pipe and then cut the pipe to 23 1/4 inches. One joint of pipe makes 5 tubes.Because the test caps don't fit tightly in the S&D pipe I glued it really good on one end. The cap at the other serves as a cap. I drilled the 1/64 hole 2" from bottom.
Hello Donald, I am testing what my Grandma done (snipping off the suckers) some 60 years ago. I will try to get a picture of my cherry tomatoes to you they are still green but ,well I am looking at nearly a bushel bucket full from two plants because snipping the suckers. The seeds are from last years tomatoes,last year I did not snip the suckers, this year oh my they are loaded with fruit this year. Thankyou Donald, I enjoy your videos greatly.
Thank you mr.donald for sharing your knowledge with us. I am new to gardening and am kinda trying to figure things out my self so I appreciate any information I find from people like you.
Donald--I made the watering tubes like yours. Started with the 1/64 drill bit--then went to a little larger bit. Zip tied them to my cages..But the biggest problem I've had is the hole gets stopped up, and have had to take most of the 22 tubes out several times and flush the tubes out. Done away with the zip ties and just just 1/4 rope to hold them in place. Otherwise not a bad system Enjoy your video's !
Hey Donald, thanks for the info. Currently I am using a soaker hose for my garden but its only 150 square feet. When I move to a bigger plot, I am definitely going to use this method for watering.
looks like a great system and I'm going to try it this year. One thing I'm going to add is maybe a small flat rock angled towards the plant.for the stream of water to hit so it doesn't "drill" a hole into the ground and it'll spread the water around the plant more. This year I'm doing 6 types of tomatoes and might go with a 6th if I can find the right early bearing ones.
Well, you justed added another thing to my to-do list. That's a great idea for a waterer. Will definitely be doing that as well as the concrete wire cages. Many thanks! Don
During the 6 weeks of no rain we had in the summer I was filling each tube once a day. That was keeping the full grown plants going and producing. Only a hand full of tomatoes split this year. Best I've ever done........ Donald
@MrGardenman101 ...Hey Mark, I use the watering tubes mostly on tomatoes but it would surely work with peppers and eggplant too. It could also work when planting a small tree. Glad you enjoy to vids.....Donald
Well my friend I'm about as far north in Saskatchewan canada as you can get to grow a garden The few videos I've watched of yours I found entertaining and informative. Must confess I've been watering like that since I was a teenager over 50 years ago But I enjoy your demeanor. I think we could be friends Most gardeners could I think. It would be nice to sit in the shade and lĺay a game or two of cribbage with you But I must confess I could not take your heat Best to you and your family Safe journeys.
Thanks for the great irrigation tip, so simple, I'll try it. I watch many of your helpful videos, I appreciate your teaching style. Greetings from So. California coast.
I enjoyed watching your videos very much! I am going to use your pvc pipe watering method with my tomatoes and cucumbers this year. I have been using the tall tomato cages for some time now. They last for years. Thanks for passing along all of your knowledge for everyone to share! Keep up the good work! God bless and thanks!!!
Hey Janet … Glad you find the videos helpful and you’re welcome. Just transplanted a couple of tomatoes yesterday, hoping for good weather and growing conditions. Have a great season……Donald
Well, got my cages and pipes together.. Put Better Boys in (18 of em), and the entire system works great. Thanks so much for all the videos Donald. Now on to the compost tea :)
Thanks for the reply Donald, I really should have figured these out myself. My tomatoes didn't fair too well last year, think it is just too cold in Scotland to get them without a proper green house. Loved the 'This is Embarrassing' video btw, maybe I should try just dropping them around the place next time!
Aussie here. Watching the vid and reading the comments, have learned heaps. I used to grow great tomatoes, but with our ongoing drought, the past few years have been poor. This method of planting them deep is new to me. A question. It looks as if you do not remove the seedling from the pot when you plant. Is that so, or just my eyesight failing me yet again?
You have inspired me to start a vegetable garden, however, less for the vegetables, and more so i can make my own small implements and practice problem solving skills.
Got the idea years ago when I was planting pecan trees and needed to water. I'd place two 5 gal. buckets on each side of the trees with a small hole drilled and the water would soak right in. Works the same with tomatoes just don't need as much water........ Donald
You gonna have to get some patents started. Stole your drill bit size :) for my buckets. Since I started watering your way, plants have much more fruit today. Counted 23 on one. Water not to be taken for granted. Golf cart on my bucket list now. Can't afford a dog, so don't worry. Your site reminds me so much of by gone days Mr. Donald. Days when we gardened to eat and took pride in our work. But I sure hated to hoe the garden as a kid. Sure am glad I found your site. From looks of your following you're inspired quite a few of us. Take care.
When I think the tomatoes need a little shot of fertilizer I’ll add 1-2 TBS of Miracle Grow in each tube before adding the water. Watering and fertilizing at the same time. As for hoeing I’d look into the Hooke n’ Crooke hoes, they make controlling weeds a whole lot easier……Donald
+webcajun Mr Donald, This week I'm picking up all the pipe to water out 40 plants. Sir, I owe you BIG time for this tip!! Thank you so much and God Bless!! Chris
@lkerley2006 ... for both the tomatoes and cucumbers I would make my cages out of wire that's at least 5 ft. tall. This year my tomato plants grew to 8' 6" and the tall cages did a good job holding them up. You can plant several cucumbers per cage/hill, they'll climb up the wire, produce some really nice fruit that's held off the ground and easy to pick........ Donald
I had started shooing one on this year’s onion planting that I started late in the season. I think those temps in the 20s may have hurt em. Will have to see if they recover…..Donald
Donald, I made my cages and PVC pipes today. As Wayne noted above, I also used a 1/16 drill bit, as the was the smallest I had. Can you check your drill bit size again? I made up 8 tubes and cages today and set them out in the garden. Jim
@lkerley2006 ... I use the PVC mostly for tomatoes and cucumbers, which are also planted in cages. Takes a lot less water because it soaks into the soil rather than running off in the middles........Donald
Under dry hot conditions how often are you watering your tomatoes using your watering device? Also, is there a preferred time of the day to apply the water. Might sound like crazy questions but I like the simplicity of your system and would love to incorporate it into my garden. Would you also make them for your other plants that are held by a cage or trellis (beans, cukes etc...)? Thank you Donald
Hey Bob … The tubes at 4 ft. long (1 ½ inch PVC) will hold right at ½ gal. of water. Because the water soaks right into the soil next to the plants and doesn’t run off into the middles all of it goes into the root zone. With that said I water, during dry spells, about every other day. If the plants are large enough to shade the soil you could go a little longer between watering. Easiest way to tell is to dig down a few inches and check to make sure the soil is moist. Different soil, different weather conditions (which is always changing) all factor into how often. Yes you could use them for other plants……Donald
Thank you Donald, I checked at Lowes and Home Depot and they both sell the PVC in lengths of 10' which would give me 2' of waste on each pipe. I think I'll make mine 3' 4" to minimize the waste and it will hold almost as much water. I love the idea and agree that conventional watering much of it runs off only to evaporate. Thanks for your prompt reply and I really like the videos you produce, informative and not too long to be boring. Keep up the great work. Lache Pas
During the hot summer months when we’re getting little rain the top several inches of soil is usually dry. If you dig down deep you’ll usually find moist soil. Planting deep does make a difference with both available moisture and IMO a much better root system to take in nutrients…..Donald
During the summer when we got no rain I was giving them about 1/2 gal. a day. Sometimes every other day. Guess it depends how well your soil drains. Too much water is probably just as bad as too little. I'm told that consistent watering will prevent tomatoes from cracking. I had very few crack last season using this method. Also, some varieties crack more than others............ Donald
Hi, It is 2020 and I just saw your video. Nice irrigation system. Can you please confirm if you plated the plant with the plastic pot??? You also forgot to say to us why you made the mark but I know why you did it anyway and that was to make sure the hole pointed to the base of the tree.
awesome intro it looks like a tv show.I liked it. great video.I tried some worm poop spray in my garden after the snow hit to see if I could bring any of the plants back to life and for the first little while I was depressed. I thought for sure I would have to go out and buy new plants argh,but with a little bit of T.L.C and alot of worm poop my garden came back to life and out did my expectations. If it wasnt for that worm poop my plants would be dead. thanks to you, I saved my self a lot of $
Hey Donald! What do you think about putting the pipe into the ground 6 or so inches and have the water get sponged into the soil around the root system? Maybe make the hole in the bottom a little bigger and have the water slowly absorbed all day. Or does it not really matter? Great video! Not sure how I missed this one. Hope all is well!!!
@amp2345 ...The weather has a lot to do with how often. Keep the soil moist and you'll be ok. On average I'll fill mine 2-3 times a week. If it's real dry maybe every other day. You can always put 2 tubes to the plant.....Donald
I think placing that pipe directly on the root ball before you bury it might be a more efficient use of water. Great idea I might give this a shot in the spring.
Insects make their way into the tubes and will sometimes stop up the small hole. They need to be cleaned out about every 3 weeks. Burying the ends of the tubes would make that difficult without damaging the roots…..Donald
I am using this watering system, only I am using inch and a quarter PVC (the 5ft lengths were easier for me to haul in the car) really takes the guess work and the labor out of watering!!!
I have used it one time. We have had plenty of rain in Kentucky the last week or so. I'm sure when mother nature shuts the faucet off this summer it will get plenty of good use lol
Thats a great idea. I noticed when you planted the massive seedling you planted it quite deep. Is there some rule for how deep to plant seedlings? I don't know much about gardening but i've been growing my own tomato seedlings and i just plant them to the level that the dirt in the seedling pot is. Is this the wrong way to do it?
I'm told that consistent watering (not too much or too little watering) is the key to a good crop. This probably makes sense for just about any vegetable. For tomatoes, I make a depression in the row that holds water and allows it to soak down into the root system....... Donald
Poor looking soil... but you have to work with what you have. I would fill it with my own home made compost.... has to help! Also put a cap on the top of the pipe to keep bugs out... Its amazing what you do get with that soil... you're an amazing gardener!
How often to water naturally depends on your soil and drying conditions. The easiest way to tell if you need to water is to dig down a few inches and check to see if the soil is damp or dry. Works every time. : ) …….Donald
Naturally the weather, drying conditions and soil has a lot to do with how often to water. The way I suggest is to dig down a few inches and check the moisture level of the soil. You’ll soon learn how well the soil is holding moisture and how often you need to water…..Donald
Hi Donald, how often do you fill the tubes with water and is that the only method of watering for the tomatoes you use? Thanks! PS- I absolutely love your videos! I've learned so much and you've got a great way of explaining things. Keep it up!
6:52 - you might be sayin' to yourself just how deep is he going to go ? I planted all my tomatoes that were in the ground deep like this, and it took them a while to catch, but they are taller than I am not and bearing lots of fruit. I like planting deep, I think it turbocharges the root system and makes them more water tolerant. Great idea.
I like this, but have a drip system for my vegies, but planning to put in new fruit trees this spring. Would a smaller hole added to the top and a cap cause the water to come out slower??
@MrBillyray42 Blossom end rot can be caused by a lack of calcium. If the soil drys out too much it can lock up the calcium so it isn't available to the plant, so try to keep the soil moist. Crushed up egg shells in the soil can also help give toms what they need, has worked for me without any problems so far. Good luck.
@2010bowhunter ...Some of the best stuff I've found is concrete reinforcement wire. At 5 ft. tall it's a lot better than the shorter fencing I've been using. Cut the pieces at 6 ft. attach the ends and you're good to go......Donald
Thank you for all the great videos, sir. May you find yourself in paradise basking in the warmth of all the love you've given. Your soul was generous and your personality, bigger than this world. To your family, my deepest condolences, he sure will be missed. Love Val from South Africa
You posted this 8 years ago, and can you believe it still works today!! This Los Angeles balcony gardener believes that simpler is better - and boy is this simple!! I love it! Much thanks to you sir from an L.A. city boy!!
Methods change very little in the garden. Keep it simple, less is more……Donald
I could watch you all day, I love your videos. Thank you so much. So many other videos are so fast paced, I feel stressed out cause I can't keep up. I love your videos 'cause I feel like your my buddy and your showing me some tricks. No one ever taught me how to garden, I had to figure out everything by myself, and I have wasted a lot of time doing dumb things. Thank you so much for helping me with your great videos.
I love that you start with French. I’m from Val therese. French Canadian, and a can’t wait to make it out your way! Thank you sir!
R.I.P I'll watch all your videos soon
RIP Mr. Donald. You are the nicest person I never met.
Webcajun you've outdone yourself with this system! You can water without bending over, without getting out of the golf cart, easy to fertilize and it's very efficient at getting the water to the root zone! Genius.
The main objective is getting the water into the root zone and not running off in the middles…..Donald
Where have you been all of my gardening life? I am so in love (with your gardening techniques) I will never leave!
I was so anxious to get growing this year, I started my Tomato plants March 1st, so they all looked like that one you were planting.
I did however plant them sideways instead of going so deep and their doing great! Always a pleasure to watch your vidoes,
Thanks for making them!
The unit holds almost a gallon of water and it takes between 15-20 minutes to drain out. Because it is 2' tall...you could drive by and fill with your golf cart and water tank! I also drilled several 1/64 holes in the cap for air flow. The total cost of mine is $3.50 ea. I appreciate all your videos!
R.i.p Donald wish I could of met you in person you seemed like such a very good guy and i learned a lot of stuff from you. Hope in heaven I’ll be able to shake your hand and grow a community garden with you
I am using this for my peach tree and its doing great. Thanks for sharing.
3 of my favorite things...gardening, looking for arrowheads and having a cold beer after those. wish I was closer, we could enjoy one. GREAT videos.....gonna try it. see, even at 67 yr old, old dog learns a new trick.
I think you’ll find they work real well. I used to metal detect for Civil War relics myself…..Donald
I will use that method this summer on my farm in Akansas along with rain water collection. Thank you Donald. By the way the fence post tied to the tomato fence is also a good idea to keep them stable. We would'nt want our toms to rest on the ground.
That's what I figured but wanted to be sure my assumption was correct. I enjoy your videos tremendously - not only for the valuable information presented but also I enjoy the way you present that information and make it so easy to understand. My next project will be to make Compost Tea as per your video instructions. Thanks for all you do.
Donald, Thank you for the idea. I went to buy material to make some of these. I ended up using 3" sewer and drain pipe with a 3" Test Caps in each end. The pipe was $10.48 per 10' joint and the test caps were 0.70cents each. I cut the bell off the pipe and then cut the pipe to 23 1/4 inches. One joint of pipe makes 5 tubes.Because the test caps don't fit tightly in the S&D pipe I glued it really good on one end. The cap at the other serves as a cap. I drilled the 1/64 hole 2" from bottom.
Hello Donald, I am testing what my Grandma done (snipping off the suckers) some 60 years ago. I will try to get a picture of my cherry tomatoes to you they are still green but ,well I am looking at nearly a bushel bucket full from two plants because snipping the suckers. The seeds are from last years tomatoes,last year I did not snip the suckers, this year oh my they are loaded with fruit this year. Thankyou Donald, I enjoy your videos greatly.
Thank you mr.donald for sharing your knowledge with us. I am new to gardening and am kinda trying to figure things out my self so I appreciate any information I find from people like you.
Now that's a great gizmo for the garden. Just finished planting our garden today.
Donald--I made the watering tubes like yours. Started with the 1/64 drill bit--then went to a little larger bit. Zip tied them to my cages..But the biggest problem I've had is the hole gets stopped up, and have had to take most of the 22 tubes out several times and flush the tubes out. Done away with the zip ties and just just 1/4 rope to hold them in place. Otherwise not a bad system Enjoy your video's !
Hey Donald, thanks for the info. Currently I am using a soaker hose for my garden but its only 150 square feet. When I move to a bigger plot, I am definitely going to use this method for watering.
Excellant video again Donald. Great solution for watering those maters in place. Thanks for sharing !!!
Great technique. Looks like it would be very efficient for far-spaced plants.
looks like a great system and I'm going to try it this year. One thing I'm going to add is maybe a small flat rock angled towards the plant.for the stream of water to hit so it doesn't "drill" a hole into the ground and it'll spread the water around the plant more.
This year I'm doing 6 types of tomatoes and might go with a 6th if I can find the right early bearing ones.
Well, you justed added another thing to my to-do list. That's a great idea for a waterer. Will definitely be doing that as well as the concrete wire cages.
Many thanks!
Don
Awesome idea and video. Watched it on the site the other day, but always good to see it here, too.
During the 6 weeks of no rain we had in the summer I was filling each tube once a day. That was keeping the full grown plants going and producing. Only a hand full of tomatoes split this year. Best I've ever done........ Donald
Really Neat way to "Irrigate" those Mater plants...might try this method myself..
@MrGardenman101 ...Hey Mark, I use the watering tubes mostly on tomatoes but it would surely work with peppers and eggplant too. It could also work when planting a small tree. Glad you enjoy to vids.....Donald
Well my friend I'm about as far north in Saskatchewan canada as you can get to grow a garden
The few videos I've watched of yours I found entertaining and informative.
Must confess I've been watering like that since I was a teenager over 50 years ago
But I enjoy your demeanor.
I think we could be friends
Most gardeners could I think.
It would be nice to sit in the shade and lĺay a game or two of cribbage with you
But I must confess I could not take your heat
Best to you and your family
Safe journeys.
Thanks Donald, You have a wealth of knowledge., I planted tomatoes befor one and half month ago So. Now I use this pipe for that?
That is a great idea! Sometimes the easiest solutions are the ones that someone else shows you (me) how to do!
Thanks for the great irrigation tip, so simple, I'll try it. I watch many of your helpful videos, I appreciate your teaching style. Greetings from So. California coast.
I enjoyed watching your videos very much! I am going to use your pvc pipe watering method with my tomatoes and cucumbers this year. I have been using the tall tomato cages for some time now. They last for years. Thanks for passing along all of your knowledge for everyone to share! Keep up the good work! God bless and thanks!!!
Hey Janet … Glad you find the videos helpful and you’re welcome. Just transplanted a couple of tomatoes yesterday, hoping for good weather and growing conditions. Have a great season……Donald
Well, got my cages and pipes together.. Put Better Boys in (18 of em), and the entire system works great. Thanks so much for all the videos Donald. Now on to the compost tea :)
Thanks for the reply Donald, I really should have figured these out myself. My tomatoes didn't fair too well last year, think it is just too cold in Scotland to get them without a proper green house. Loved the 'This is Embarrassing' video btw, maybe I should try just dropping them around the place next time!
Aussie here. Watching the vid and reading the comments, have learned heaps. I used to grow great tomatoes, but with our ongoing drought, the past few years have been poor. This method of planting them deep is new to me. A question. It looks as if you do not remove the seedling from the pot when you plant. Is that so, or just my eyesight failing me yet again?
You have inspired me to start a vegetable garden, however, less for the vegetables, and more so i can make my own small implements and practice problem solving skills.
Works well and tomatoes seem to like the consistent watering........ Donald
Greetings from Northern Canada. Your videos are awesome and so informative! Thank you!
Donald,
Thanks for posting this! I know what I am going to builld and implement this weekend!
Take Care,
John
Got the idea years ago when I was planting pecan trees and needed to water. I'd place two 5 gal. buckets on each side of the trees with a small hole drilled and the water would soak right in. Works the same with tomatoes just don't need as much water........ Donald
I had a similiar thing but didn't put the cap on it and I push the pipe into the soil for deep watering. Nice!
You gonna have to get some patents started. Stole your drill bit size :) for my buckets. Since I started watering your way, plants have much more fruit today. Counted 23 on one. Water not to be taken for granted. Golf cart on my bucket list now. Can't afford a dog, so don't worry.
Your site reminds me so much of by gone days Mr. Donald. Days when we gardened to eat and took pride in our work. But I sure hated to hoe the garden as a kid. Sure am glad I found your site. From looks of your following you're inspired quite a few of us. Take care.
When I think the tomatoes need a little shot of fertilizer I’ll add 1-2 TBS of Miracle Grow in each tube before adding the water. Watering and fertilizing at the same time. As for hoeing I’d look into the Hooke n’ Crooke hoes, they make controlling weeds a whole lot easier……Donald
+webcajun Mr Donald, This week I'm picking up all the pipe to water out 40 plants. Sir, I owe you BIG time for this tip!! Thank you so much and God Bless!! Chris
Jimmy Phillips 8 men
me n at work
thats a great idea your videos are a real help around my place keep up the good work
@lkerley2006 ... for both the tomatoes and cucumbers I would make my cages out of wire that's at least 5 ft. tall. This year my tomato plants grew to 8' 6" and the tall cages did a good job holding them up. You can plant several cucumbers per cage/hill, they'll climb up the wire, produce some really nice fruit that's held off the ground and easy to pick........ Donald
Enjoyed watching your system. Thank you, Sir and God bless you. Amen.
Having a hard time finding 1/64 drill bit in California. Trying your system out on some tomato plants.
Fantastic, this is sooo coooool!! I will sure be trying this, is simple and inexpensive too! Love your video's Donald! Best to you and yours.
You are my favorite gardener. I wish you'd make more videos.
It's getting harder to come up with new content, but I'll try.....Donald
webcajun we don't care about new content. We will watch you do the same thing year after year.
I had started shooing one on this year’s onion planting that I started late in the season. I think those temps in the 20s may have hurt em. Will have to see if they recover…..Donald
Donald,
I made my cages and PVC pipes today. As Wayne noted above, I also used a 1/16 drill bit, as the was the smallest I had. Can you check your drill bit size again? I made up 8 tubes and cages today and set them out in the garden.
Jim
This was a great video. Great idea and so simple and affordable. Thank you for sharing this!
I really enjoyed this. What a clever idea. I am dealing with sand and this would be a nice SLOW dripping in. Thanks!
It does work pretty well.....Donald
@tydieUAE ... the fun part about gardening is you learn something new each season. Glad you enjoy the videos and stick with it.......Donald
Now that's one cool system. I'm gonna give it a try. Thanx!
that is awesome--can this be used for any thirsty plant or tree?
@lkerley2006 ... I use the PVC mostly for tomatoes and cucumbers, which are also planted in cages. Takes a lot less water because it soaks into the soil rather than running off in the middles........Donald
The reason I plant deep is for the dry spells. Planting sideways is also good for root development. Glad you enjoy the videos....... Donald
I love your videos!, Very relevant to the way I garden, I have found them all very helpful! Thanks!
Under dry hot conditions how often are you watering your tomatoes using your watering device? Also, is there a preferred time of the day to apply the water. Might sound like crazy questions but I like the simplicity of your system and would love to incorporate it into my garden. Would you also make them for your other plants that are held by a cage or trellis (beans, cukes etc...)? Thank you Donald
Hey Bob … The tubes at 4 ft. long (1 ½ inch PVC) will hold right at ½ gal. of water. Because the water soaks right into the soil next to the plants and doesn’t run off into the middles all of it goes into the root zone. With that said I water, during dry spells, about every other day. If the plants are large enough to shade the soil you could go a little longer between watering. Easiest way to tell is to dig down a few inches and check to make sure the soil is moist. Different soil, different weather conditions (which is always changing) all factor into how often. Yes you could use them for other plants……Donald
Thank you Donald, I checked at Lowes and Home Depot and they both sell the PVC in lengths of 10' which would give me 2' of waste on each pipe. I think I'll make mine 3' 4" to minimize the waste and it will hold almost as much water. I love the idea and agree that conventional watering much of it runs off only to evaporate. Thanks for your prompt reply and I really like the videos you produce, informative and not too long to be boring. Keep up the great work.
Lache Pas
I'm making mine this weekend! Thanks for all the great vids!
I am a French Canadian and I find it very funny to hear you with some French expressions ! Lâchez pas messieur you make some nice video
Thanks Danny......Donald
Love your videos thank you. Going to try your watering and fertiliser system this summer in Aust. Added bonus, looks good. 🇦🇺
I think you'll really like it.....Donald
Glad you enjoy the videos and hope they help out.....Donald
I like it Donald! Thanks and when are you doing another video????
Thank You so Much! This was very helpful, as I have a University project involving irrigation systems.
During the hot summer months when we’re getting little rain the top several inches of soil is usually dry. If you dig down deep you’ll usually find moist soil. Planting deep does make a difference with both available moisture and IMO a much better root system to take in nutrients…..Donald
They do work well putting the water where it's needed...... Donald
During the summer when we got no rain I was giving them about 1/2 gal. a day. Sometimes every other day. Guess it depends how well your soil drains. Too much water is probably just as bad as too little.
I'm told that consistent watering will prevent tomatoes from cracking. I had very few crack last season using this method. Also, some varieties crack more than others............ Donald
Hi, It is 2020 and I just saw your video. Nice irrigation system.
Can you please confirm if you plated the plant with the plastic pot???
You also forgot to say to us why you made the mark but I know why you did it anyway and that was to make sure the hole pointed to the base of the tree.
Many,many thanks, keep the videos coming, they are really appreciated. Robb
Man I really enjoy your videos. You are awesome.
Good method, I used the 2liter bottles , I do like your way though, live and learn better 😊😃🤩...
awesome intro it looks like a tv show.I liked it. great video.I tried some worm poop spray in my garden after the snow hit to see if I could bring any of the plants back to life and for the first little while I was depressed. I thought for sure I would have to go out and buy new plants argh,but with a little bit of T.L.C and alot of worm poop my garden came back to life and out did my expectations. If it wasnt for that worm poop my plants would be dead. thanks to you, I saved my self a lot of $
Hey Donald! What do you think about putting the pipe into the ground 6 or so inches and have the water get sponged into the soil around the root system? Maybe make the hole in the bottom a little bigger and have the water slowly absorbed all day. Or does it not really matter? Great video! Not sure how I missed this one. Hope all is well!!!
@amp2345 ...The weather has a lot to do with how often. Keep the soil moist and you'll be ok. On average I'll fill mine 2-3 times a week. If it's real dry maybe every other day. You can always put 2 tubes to the plant.....Donald
I think placing that pipe directly on the root ball before you bury it might be a more efficient use of water. Great idea I might give this a shot in the spring.
Insects make their way into the tubes and will sometimes stop up the small hole. They need to be cleaned out about every 3 weeks. Burying the ends of the tubes would make that difficult without damaging the roots…..Donald
I am using this watering system, only I am using inch and a quarter PVC (the 5ft lengths were easier for me to haul in the car) really takes the guess work and the labor out of watering!!!
Will Butler Glad it's working out for you. It's been raining down here so much I hadn't even set mine up yet.....Donald
I have used it one time. We have had plenty of rain in Kentucky the last week or so. I'm sure when mother nature shuts the faucet off this summer it will get plenty of good use lol
Will Butler I think you are 100% correct about that, things will dry up this summer.....Donald
Thats a great idea. I noticed when you planted the massive seedling you planted it quite deep. Is there some rule for how deep to plant seedlings? I don't know much about gardening but i've been growing my own tomato seedlings and i just plant them to the level that the dirt in the seedling pot is. Is this the wrong way to do it?
I'm told that consistent watering (not too much or too little watering) is the key to a good crop. This probably makes sense for just about any vegetable. For tomatoes, I make a depression in the row that holds water and allows it to soak down into the root system....... Donald
Great Video! How do you come up with all these great video ideas. And if you don't mind what editing program are you using? Thanks.
great tip thank you so much that is so easy so i heard your using miracle grow but are u using the organic kind? it would be a lot better for you
@goarmyboy97 ... Hey Jake, the PVC does work great for both watering and fertilizing. Glad you enjoy the vids.........Donald
Poor looking soil... but you have to work with what you have. I would fill it with my own home made compost.... has to help! Also put a cap on the top of the pipe to keep bugs out... Its amazing what you do get with that soil... you're an amazing gardener!
+George Adams The soil alone a Louisiana bayou is very rich, all deep top soil.....Donald
How often to water naturally depends on your soil and drying conditions. The easiest way to tell if you need to water is to dig down a few inches and check to see if the soil is damp or dry. Works every time. : ) …….Donald
Naturally the weather, drying conditions and soil has a lot to do with how often to water. The way I suggest is to dig down a few inches and check the moisture level of the soil. You’ll soon learn how well the soil is holding moisture and how often you need to water…..Donald
Yes I do and still learning....... Donald
hey boss thanks for the great tips this system also worked on my pepuhs
Hi Donald, how often do you fill the tubes with water and is that the only method of watering for the tomatoes you use? Thanks! PS- I absolutely love your videos! I've learned so much and you've got a great way of explaining things. Keep it up!
great idea. how often do you fill the tubes with water?
6:52 - you might be sayin' to yourself just how deep is he going to go ?
I planted all my tomatoes that were in the ground deep like this, and it took them a while to catch, but they are taller than I am not and bearing lots of fruit. I like planting deep, I think it turbocharges the root system and makes them more water tolerant. Great idea.
Donald. built my water system this weekend. Is that squash between the tomato plants? Thanks for the tip
Love all of your Videos thanks so much!
I like this, but have a drip system for my vegies, but planning to put in new fruit trees this spring. Would a smaller hole added to the top and a cap cause the water to come out slower??
@MrBillyray42 Blossom end rot can be caused by a lack of calcium. If the soil drys out too much it can lock up the calcium so it isn't available to the plant, so try to keep the soil moist. Crushed up egg shells in the soil can also help give toms what they need, has worked for me without any problems so far. Good luck.
Love it you plant how I do. I use the post hole digger also.
The post hole digger is ideal when planting deep.....Donald
Wonderful video. Nice system
+Rick Marshall Thank you.....Donald
Hey Donald. I really enjoy watching your videos. How often do you have to refill the PVC tube? Thanks and keep the videos coming.
@2010bowhunter ...Some of the best stuff I've found is concrete reinforcement wire. At 5 ft. tall it's a lot better than the shorter fencing I've been using. Cut the pieces at 6 ft. attach the ends and you're good to go......Donald
Awesome! Thanks for this great way to water! Going to give it a try.