Drip system installed

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svanessa

Registered:1189292564
Posts: 905

Posted 1427566338 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

I finally had a drip system installed for my 200+ fig trees. What a job that was! But now I can finally go on trips and not worry about them...much. __________________ Sue Zone 9B, 1946' Ramona, CA San Diego County

nycfig

Registered:1380768118
Posts: 884

Posted 1427572913	Reply with quote #2

Congrats, Sue! My son and I installed a system last year. It's the best! Going to split the system this year. Couldn't get the bigger trees dialed in with the smaller ones. I guess that's the beauty of the system. Once everything is laid down, making changes is no big deal. __________________ Danny NYC Z7a It's all about the figs! Facebook: NYCfigs Buying Fig Trees and Cuttings From the Internet

coop951

Registered:1217167527
Posts: 596

Posted 1427573275	Reply with quote #3

Looks awesome Sue. I'm green with envy even though everything is still white here Good luck with it and thanks for the Chico's __________________ Coop Northern NJ Zone 7a

Gina

Registered:1330452963
Posts: 2,260

Posted 1427579010	Reply with quote #4

Good for you, Sue! I've been wanting to do that for a long time. Even got all the stuff, but just haven't set it up yet. That would make watering so much easier. Maybe when I stop moving pots around and the ghetto is more stable, it will be time. __________________ WillsC's new fig forum: http://www.Ourfigs.com (and blueberries)

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1427591966	Reply with quote #5

This is definitely on my to do list for this summer! __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

Maro2Bear

Registered:1344284082
Posts: 732

Posted 1427592232	Reply with quote #6

I agree, drip irrigation systems on timers is the way to go, not only for potted trees but for in-ground figs as well. I installed my system two years ago, expanded it again last spring, and it worked so well. Had mini drippers to all my pots, some micro-sprayers as well. Even moisture levels through the summer I'm sure helped over all vigor of our trees, increased fig production. __________________ Mark B., Glenn Dale, MD Zone 7a

donpaid

Registered:1388952715
Posts: 216

Posted 1427597088	Reply with quote #7

Wow, that's a lovely setup you have there. Last year, I learned how tough it was to keep potted figs watered in SoCal, especially with all the heat we had. Best of luck!

svanessa

Registered:1189292564
Posts: 905

Posted 1427609008	Reply with quote #8

Thanks everyone. It's a big relief to have that done. I've had a few minor 'repairs' to make including one main-line blowout but it's getting there. I'm still playing with the amount of water to give. At this point 1/2 gal every other day per tree (1-GPH emitters run for 30 min every other day). I will up it as the summer temps rise if I see any wilting. So far in this 85+ temp they look good. __________________ Sue Zone 9B, 1946' Ramona, CA San Diego County

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1427624039	Reply with quote #9

Good going, Sue! Well worth the time and effort. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

HarveyC

Registered:1212433117
Posts: 3,294

Posted 1427645443	Reply with quote #10

I think they should have gone in the ground first! :) __________________ Harvey - Correia Farms Isleton, CA (Sacramento County) USDA zone 9b, Sunset zone 14 http://www.figaholics.com https://www.facebook.com/Figaholics

svanessa

Registered:1189292564
Posts: 905

Posted 1427646833	Reply with quote #11

When I get a couple extra thousand so I can get a tractor in to rip the hillside and terrace it they will go in the ground. Until then it remains a dream. This old, out of shape body isn't up to doing it a shovel at a time. __________________ Sue Zone 9B, 1946' Ramona, CA San Diego County

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1427652962	Reply with quote #12

Sue, your problem is your lack of ambition. Step 1 World domination. Step 2 order your subjects to plant your figs. See? Easy. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,718

Posted 1427659790	Reply with quote #13

Very nice, if I find time this spring I am going to set one up as well. __________________ Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6 Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves. :)

smatthew

Registered:1423266323
Posts: 180

Posted 1427659926	Reply with quote #14

Just an FYI to anyone else needing to set up drip for potted figs. If your pots are in a line, evenly spaced, you can get what's called "Orchard tubing" - 1/2" tubing with emitters inside the pipe every 9", 12" or 18". You just lay the tube over the top of your pots, and each fig gets an emitter. Cost is usually around $22/100 feet. Saves you from having to punch all those emitters. If you're a home depot kinda person, the product would be "DIG 1/2 in. x 100 ft.1 GPH Pressure Compensating Drip Line" __________________ Blackberry & Fig Farmer in East Bay San Francisco - Sunol. Wanted (4): Emalyn's Purple, IT-258, Pastiliere and Milco Caprifig.

ADelmanto

Registered:1359774201
Posts: 911

Posted 1427676796	Reply with quote #15

I had overhead sprayers on my figs last year. I'm converting to drip this year. Nicely done. __________________ https://www.facebook.com/From-The-Ground-Up-403313193085649/

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1427722165	Reply with quote #16

Sue, Congrats! That was a big job! I would like to do the same for my potted trees as well. Any suggestion on the components, watering frequency, watering amounts, etc? I am in Lon Angeles so the setup would be similar to yours. Thanks in advance ! __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1427729273	Reply with quote #17

I saw Sue's set up yesterday for real, and it's impressive! She did a great job. Our figs eventually all go in ground. Sadly I can't walk someone to the side of my house and say "Here are the figs." I would have to take you on a long meandering walk down steep paths around huge boulders for you to see ours. She is planing to cover the entire bunch with chicken wire. Some of her figs are amazing. Some huge figs on her trees, but the sad thing is, she has never tasted one. The critters get them first. Bummer. I hope that changes for her soon! Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

svanessa

Registered:1189292564
Posts: 905

Posted 1427730568 · Edited	Reply with quote #18

Greenfig, One thing I would definitely change is how the rows were done. If you look at the last image it's a rat's nest down the first 2 rows. Trying to access the figs in the middle of these rows will be difficult. I risk pulling the tubes off the main line with my feet, damaging connections, etc. Next time, not that there will be, I would run the mainline between the pots in each row leaving a walkway as in the last row. I'm trying to figure out a modification for this now...sigh, live and learn. Another thing I'm not yet sure about is the guy helping me design this had me use 1-gal drip emitters at the mainline running the 1/4" tubing to the pot. Now I'm stuck with 1-gal emitters and will have to adjust the amount of water delivery with time. This may be OK but larger pots may need more water and I have no way of delivering that automatically. I could have put 1 or 2-gal emitters at the tips of the 1/4" tubing if I just used a non-restrictive connector at the mainline. I guess I could always exchange the emitter at the mainline but they were such a PITA to put in I shutter at having to do it again especially in the middle of that rat trap. :-) As to watering I am experimenting with that now. At this point each pot gets 1/2 gal every other day. So far they look happy. With the last week being in the 80's and 90's this may work for the upcoming summer heat. If not I'll increase the time the water drips. Smatthew, where were you when I started this? :-) Your solution sounds so much easier than what I did! __________________ Sue Zone 9B, 1946' Ramona, CA San Diego County

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1427747887	Reply with quote #19

Sue, Thank you! Please keep us posted on your progress and adjustments. I may do mine this week, the summer is approaching really fast. __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

Bosco

Registered:1355165747
Posts: 211

Posted 1428116174	Reply with quote #20

Great job Sue, you inspire me! Your model plus early hot weather has my 1 and 2 year old figs wanting water every other day. Enough of this dragging the garden hose around, I’m going with drip system too! The basic infrastructure is existing so, just a matter of new poly pipe laterals and tap to pot and new emitters. Spent an hour with the drip expert at Grangetto’s Farm and Garden Supply and as you suggested, I’m going with the micro tubing (1/8”) to emitters. My 2 year pots are spaced a good 6-8 ft. and 1 year about 3 ft. apart so, will run one lateral per row. I’m also going to bury the laterals just below ground for better access and so I’m not tripping over them all the time ( past experience..... LOL ). Thanks again for the photos, I will post a few of my setup when complete. Like you, praying for rain. __________________ Jack San Diego, North County Coastal Zone 9A Wish List for 2015: Black Madeira, Col de Dame Blanc. Noir and Gris,

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