Automatic watering

We've got a Gardena microdrip kit we bought when it was on sale many years ago - works well but the challenge is not over or under watering while we're away, as the UK weather never seems to do what it should!

I am in the process of setting mine up again this week as we are away next week. I have two, one in the front garden and one in the back (inc greenhouse) and it is this one I am currently fiddling with as my veggies are in the back garden.
Have had both of them for a few years. One is Hozelock and the other is B & Q's own "Easy Watering Timer"
Both are battery powered.
The B & Q version is capable of watering up to (I think) three times a day and you can set the duration of time for both versions.
I wouldn't be without mine but the B & Q one is a bit complicated for me. I get there in the end but it's frustrating in the meantime.
Allow yourself plenty of time to become familiar with the working and setting up.
Most of my actual system is home made ie using £1 garden hose with the thinner irrigation hoses coming off it. You will need the proper fitments for the small irrigation hose though. Having said that, on occasion when I have run out of the bits I have just made slits/tiny holes in the hoses and let it water that way.
You have to be aware of water pressure and may need to set that pressure on the tap before you go.
Just take your time, read the instructions carefully (hark at me, like I know what I'm doing - that's where my problems start!)
Well worth it in my opinion. The B & Q replaced one of my Hozelocks.
I do not have neighbours who I could ask to water for me and my friends still work and have other commitments so I don't like to impose so the auto watering is of great benefit to me.
I have invested too much time, energy and compost to take the chance that it might rain enough whilst I am away.
Remember though, that having set it, it will still come on at the chosen time irrespective of whether it has rained/is raining.
I am also experimenting with 5 litre containers and the ceramic waterers that I got last year in the £1 shop for my toms which are in gravel trays.
I expect to come back and find at least some of them waterlogged, but better that than dry as dust and not revivable.
Hope that helps.
Sorry, it's very long winded.

Very helpful - thanks. I do have friends who will water for me but they're not gardeners so it always seems such an imposition and its quite a big job. We've ordered a hozelock one off the internet. I am worried that we'll come back and find everything waterlogged with the unpredictable weather but will do plenty of experimenting before we go away.

Thanks again

Caz

Hozelock do a 'rain sensor' add on - which costs around £10. Might be worth investing in to save the waterlogging etc

I used the Gardena kit last year running off a Hozelock tap timer. I split the pipe 6metres from the tap and fed one line in to the greenhouse and one across the various pots and grow bags on the patio. All worked well when I was away for a week. I think the trick with regard to the weather is to experiment a lot with quantities, i.e. how long the timer is on, before you go, so you can get the right amoung of water in - this took me about a week, and then hope the weather is not extremely hot or wet!

Don't know if it's any good but ALDI are doing a mains irrigation timer thing from Thursday for £17.99 ALDI - Thursday Special Buys 27th May 2010
Has two outlets which look independent.

Cheers,
Matt