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How to utilise the water collected in my polytunnel trench?

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  • #1

    How to utilise the water collected in my polytunnel trench?

    Evening all,

    I first decided to dig a small trench (in terms of width) within my polytunnel (in the middle) to hide stuff in (so I would use paving slabs so the path would be over and along the trench) but I have found that it collects (after approx 1ft the plot is mainly clay) and holds quite a bit of water after I finish watering the crops on the beds either side.

    I was wondering how I can utilise this water storage so that I could set something up to 'recycle' it back into the beds either side?

    Maybe using a hand pump, or the capillary action of water?

    Many thanks,

    Samuel
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  • #2


    So the trench will go below the path and the water which will be collected will be re-used to water the raised beds either sides
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    • #3
      Get hold of a long iron bar and hammer holes into the bed at 1 foot intervals so it allows the water to soak down into the bed & not out onto the path.
      Last edited by Bigmallly; 24-08-2014, 09:23 PM.
      sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
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      Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
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      Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
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      • #4
        No point in trying to store valuables in a waterlogged path You should be aiming to keep the water on the beds, not letting it drain onto the path.

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        • #5
          Cheers for your replies

          I'm not aiming to let any water into the path but I water every other day (or three days) giving the beds a good soak (I am aiming to make the plant grow deeper roots to reach the water further down).

          I just wish to be able to re-use any water that makes its way into the small trench I dug

          So I could water the beds then maybe not have to re-water the beds as the water would be utilised from the trench via say some sort of capillary action mechanism? (Does my idea make sense in terms of what I am trying to get across - I have a habit of confusing myself!).

          Plus I need the soil to raise other beds up

          And I will also try hammering the holes in the bed Maybe I could put some two litre bottles and puncture small holes in them and water in the bottles?

          Samuel

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          • #6
            You're confusing me Samuel, not just yourself
            Water will find its own level, so will drain into the lowest point - in this case your trench. If there is so much water in it that you're talking of pumping it out, I think you're overwatering!
            How much water is in the trench? A couple of pints/litres/gallons?

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            • #7
              Just a random thought.................Get some 32mm waste pipe or even 20mm pipe, drill some holes along the pipe same width as the bed, then knock the pipe from the base of the trench into the bed (it may have to go in at an angle depending on the length of the pipe. The theory being that excess water will run into the trench then when needed it will run from the trench through the pipes back into the beds via the drilled holes.............hope all that makes sense...........
              sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
              --------------------------------------------------------------------
              Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
              -------------------------------------------------------------------
              Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
              -----------------------------------------------------------
              KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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              • #8
                Yes it makes sense I'm quite excited about trying it.

                What would be the easiest way to go about making the hole in the bed?

                Perhaps I could also line the inside of the tubing with a material that could soak up the water.

                So gravity will fill the trench & capillary action will water the plants using the trench water

                @veggie chicken - I would say approx 1/2-1 watering can amount but I am not sure if water from the rain will top this trench up so the loverly weather today will help me figure this out

                Samuel

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                • #9
                  Just hammer the pipe from the trench into the bed at a slight angle so gravity will take the water away, no matting required.............I still would try and sort your beds drainage out first to avoid water seeping into the trench.
                  sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
                  --------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
                  -------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
                  -----------------------------------------------------------
                  KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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