Save time on watering and get yourself an irrigation system for your vegetable garden. You’ll also cut down on 50%-70% of your water usage, too!
So what’s the best irrigation system to use for vegetable garden? Irrigation systems that provide water directly to the root systems of the plants are ideal because they deliver the water to where the plants can absorb it and also help to conserve water at the same time. For this reason, drip irrigation and subterranean irrigation systems are excellent choices.
However, there are plenty of other systems that could work well for your situation, so lets take a look at each one and you can decide which one will work best for you and your garden.
Surface Irrigation System
Now, surface irrigation doesn’t mean just watering on the surface of soil to water your plants.
The practice of surface irrigation is ancient and it involves shaping the surface of the land and using gravity to create a system that disperses water to where you need it.
A surface irrigation system can be as simple as using the natural slopes of your land, to allow the water to run down the slope and gradually water the soil on the way down and flood up at the bottom of the slope.
One of the biggest advantages of using this system is cost. This is the cheapest irrigation system you can get because you can just make it yourself by conturing the soil to get the water to desired areas.
However, a huge problem with this system is that it wastes a lot of water, especially if the land is not properly shaped to efficiently move the water around. Even if the soil is shaped correctly, surface irrigation systems still waste more water due to water evaporation.
Sprinkler Irrigation System
One of the most commonly known irrigation systems is the sprinkler system.
Sprinkler irrigation systems also provide irrigation to the surface of the soil, but don’t necessarily use the shape of the land to move the water around, they just spray water directly on top of any surrounding soil.
Although sprinkler systems are most commonly used to water lawns, they can also be used to water your vegetable garden.
Some advantages of using sprinklers are that they can cover a large area and be placed in odd locations, such as hills and slopes.
However, there are some drawbacks. Let’s take a look.
One of the biggest drawbacks to using a sprinkler systems is the cost, even if you install them yourself. Not to mention, installing them yourself can also be a daunting task especially if you have no experience with installing irrigation systems. If you end up hiring a professional, it will cost you some extra cash.
Another drawback to using a sprinkler system is that, up to 50% of the water sprayed does not make it to where it is intended to, the plants. The reason so much water is lost can be due to many factors such as wind, evaporation or just bad placement of the sprinkler.
Drip Irrigation System
Water conservation is something all home gardeners are concerned about and rightfully so.
One solution to the wastefulness of some other irrigation systems, is the drip irrigation system.
Using a drip irrigation system in your vegetable garden can help you conserve up to 60-70% more water than traditional watering methods because only the target plants receive water, not everything else.
There’s another added bonus. When you water only your target plants, you’re less likely to water any weeds that may be in your soil.
Now, you might be thinking, so what are the drawbacks?
Some drawbacks include having to maintain your drip systems. You have to perform some maintenance every so often on your drip systems to ensure that there’s no cracks or leaks in the drip lines and no clogging due to dirt blockage.
Another downside to drip irrigation systems is that they can be a bit complicated to install, but I wouldn’t say they’re as complicated as sprinkler systems. Plus, you won’t have to do as much digging with drip irrigation systems.
Yes, you can probably hire a professional to do this for you, however, I wouldn’t recommend it.
I know how intimidating installing a drip system can be. I put it off, myself, for many years. However, once I did, my only regret was not installing them sooner.
Check out this excellent video I found on YouTube which explains how to install your drip irrigation system, very thoroughly. I probably would have been lost installing it, if it wasn’t for this video!
Also, be sure to check out the irrigation section in our Garden Tools resource page for more information on all the different types of irrigation systems and supplies that you can get.
Subterranean Irrigation Systems
Underground watering systems, often referred to as subterranean irrigation systems, are one of my favorite types of irrigation systems.
This involves installing an irrigation system similar to the drip system, only it’s underground.
Another option is an underwater system known as an olla.
Using a subterranean irrigation system in your vegetable garden will reduce your water usage by about 80% when compared to hand watering or sprinklers.
These underground water systems also have the advantage over the drip systems because the water is delivered below, directly to the root systems and is less prone to evaporation.
Let’s take a look at both of these subterranean irrigation systems.
Underground Drip System
An underground drip system is one of the most ideal methods of watering your vegetable garden.
The advantage that underground drip systems have over the regular, above-the-ground, drip systems is that they not only water your target plants, but they directly water the roots, where the plants can actually absorb the water.
This typically means less water is wasted due to evaporation because the water is being delivered underground, directly to the roots and not on top of the soil.
However, some problems with installing an underground drip system is that you have to actually dig and place your drip lines underneath your soil.
This can be very inconvenient if you move stuff around your garden frequently, because you can sort of feel like you’re locked-in once you install your underground system. It can be a hassle to dig up, clean up and rearrange your lines every time.
Speaking of cleaning, you also have to maintain your drip lines more often when they are underground as dirt and other small particles can easily clog your lines. Again, this oftentimes involves digging up your lines to do your routine maintenance cleanings.
Ollas
Olla irrigation systems are one of the best irrigation system to use for your vegetable garden because it provides water to the roots with no major maintenance required and it’s the quickest and easiest to install.
You literally just dig a whole in the ground, garden bed, or even a container and plop an olla right inside the hole, leaving the opening sticking out and then you simply cover up the rest of the olla with the dirt.
Drawbacks? There are no real drawbacks.
I guess the fact that you still have to go out to water can be a drawback, but you’ll definitely have to do it much less often. So, if you ask me, that’s still an advantage.
Conclusion
Personally, I prefer to use regular above-the-ground drip irrigation systems in combination with the olla irrigation systems.
Overall, you’re conserving the amount of water that you use to water your plants, while allowing myself the flexibility to move stuff around in your garden with minimal digging around.
I hope I provided you with enough information to make the important decision of which irrigation system to use for your vegetable garden.
Don’t forget to check out the irrigation section in our Garden Tools resource page for more information on all the different types of irrigation systems and irrigation supplies.
Ultimately, what is best for your garden will be up to you. Choose wisely!