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When using drip line (T-Tape) for your plants water supply can it be applied directly to the growing area or should it be warmed up first by filling 250 gal totes and letting it sit for days till it does. I know overhead watering is better with water being warmer (air temp). I'm hoping that it can be straight from the well for drip line use because it will be a lot of totes to do so (warming) at 150 gals/plant/day. My drip tape is .45 GPM/100ft which would be 324 gals/hour with my 1200 feet I'm using. That will take care of two plants per day and it takes about 5 days to get a 250 gal tote to warm up and with 4 plants that would be a lot of totes for rotation! So any input would be helpful-Thanks.

6/26/2024 2:43:37 PM

Western NY

Dave Stelts uses water straight from the well via drip - so a whole bunch of 2000# pumpkins would say that's fine.

Probably only a concern when using a watering can when they're little and the soil may not be all that warm yet.

6/26/2024 3:36:28 PM

Kutztown, PA

The warm ground will offset the cold water temperature. I usually spray warmed up water from my totes for foliar feeding, but I spray cold water when I'm washing it off or trying to cool the plants off some. When I'm trying to cool the plants I use an overhead sprinkler too. I've used both warm and cold in m drip system. Also, keep in mind your drip tubes will probably have some residual water in them that's fairly hot and will mix with the initial cold water. I'm sure there's some tipping point with too cold or too hot, but I haven't noticed any outward changes in the plant after doing it either way. If I were you, I'd go with whatever Andy or Mr. Stelts does. There experts.

6/27/2024 11:52:05 AM

Deering, NH

The drip tapes are black as well as the headers. My well water is 48 F and I let it sit in a 250 gallon tank overnight to warm to 61 F. I have measured the temp several times at the end of the 65 foot header and by the time it reaches the end it has warmed to 74 F. Of course it is all dependent upon the intensity of the sunshine. I did notice in May the ends of the new secondaries would curl backwards when low temp water was applied. I guess the boys were trying to keep their goods warm!!

6/27/2024 12:21:58 PM

Kutztown, PA

Wow! That's some cold well water Ruger. I know mines at least 15 degrees warmer than that. If your doing ok at that temp then I might quit using totes all together. :)

6/27/2024 1:14:54 PM