The benefits of irrigation when growing home fruit and vegetables
Over the last few seasons, the GardenAdvice Team have been conducting trials on the use of drip irrigation systems on homegrown fruit and vegetables to confirm our observations that it increases crop yields.
Over three seasons we can now confirm that the use of a drip irrigation system can increase crop yields by 15 to 20 per cent, the high end coming from salad crops.
Whilst watering with a hose is one of those garden jobs that is very satisfying unfortunately most of the water runs off and does not reach the intended crops. It’s far better to use a drip irrigation system
Benefits of drip irrigation when growing your fruit and vegetables
- Reduced water consumption: Irrigation with a drip system uses up to 70% less water than traditional sprinkler systems.
- Increased water efficiency: The water is delivered directly to the roots, eliminating evaporation and runoff.
- Improved plant health: The steady supply of water encourages deep root growth, which can lead to healthier plants.
- More efficient fertilizer use: Fertilizers that are applied through a drip system are absorbed quickly and used more efficiently by the plants.
- Reduced weed growth: Since the water is being supplied directly to the plants, there is less opportunity for weeds to compete for essential nutrients.
- Easier maintenance: Drip systems are less labour intensive and are easier to maintain than traditional sprinkler systems. Plus the targetted delivery of water reduces the need for weeding in the late spring and summer.
- Cost savings: Drip irrigation systems are more efficient and require less water than traditional sprinkler systems, resulting in lower water bills.
The GardenAdvice team recommend starting with a Gardena drip watering system and extending it as required.