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Garden Gate:  Anyone use rainbarrels?  |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 06:45:47 AM
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I am getting a greenhouse and I am going to install gutters and rainbarrels. My goal is to use a lot of this water to water my gardens with. However, I live in a very hot climate. I feel like the water in the barrels would get really hot. What would I need to do in order to use this on my garden or is this just something that wont work in my area because of the heat.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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karla
True Blue Farmgirl
1308 Posts
karla
Pella
Iowa
USA
1308 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 07:10:33 AM
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How about rain buckets? We use buckets at the roof edges. Water stays cool for the most part unless it is in direct sun or a dark container. Do put lids on or you will have mosquitoes laying eggs like crazy! You could just use the ones in the shade if you were concerned or move some into the shade before you were ready to use. I would still give it a try it has been great for us!
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
http://rua2j-grammysheirlooms.blogspot.com/ |
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 07:25:42 AM
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The larger the barrel you get the more mass to heat. Therefore it will take it to long to heat in the day before it cools in the evening. Also the color of your barrel will have a lot to do with it. I have a 700 gallon barrel that is in full sun in our 85-90 degree weather and the water is never hot because I pump from the bottom and it just can't transmit enough heat to the amount of water. You could build a small roof over each barrel which will cut down on sun exposure. if your using drip irrigation and soaker hose the water never comes in contact with the plant even if the water is quite warm.
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 08:51:06 AM
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Jane what color is your barrel? We get temps in the UPPER 90's and low 100's all summer. Nighttime temps rarely drop below 75 in June, July and August.
Karla - I dont think buckets would work for us. In the summer rain comes only rarely and when it does it downpours. I would be collecting large amounts of water and would need to hold it for an extended period of time. My garden is about 1/2 and acre in size and we will be increasing it next year. Plus we will have the 14x25' green house to water. That would be A LOT of buckets!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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Edited by - willowtreecreek on Jun 20 2010 08:53:39 AM |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 10:01:44 AM
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I'm using rain barrels for the first time, and my big problem is junk that washes off the roof and into the water. In spring, my elm trees put out millions of seeds, they land on the roof, get into the water, then ferment in the barrel. The water coming out is rank with the rotting stench. The seeds also clog the spigot at times. I work very hard to not pour the water directly onto plants, but onto the ground around them, to avoid bacterial contamination. But then, maybe the sun takes care of that. I am using mosquito dunks to eliminate a rising mosquito population, too.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 10:21:15 AM
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Julie:
I love our rain barrel. The flowers and plants just love the rain water. During one of the hurricanes, the screen top of the barrel was blown away. We never could find it. So, we haven't used the barrel for a while. My sweet hubby is going to make another screen top. At least that project is on his list of things to do. LOL.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 10:34:21 AM
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Melina - you need to cover your barrels with a screen to keep stuff from getting in them.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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sue5901
True Blue Farmgirl
122 Posts
Sue
Wellingborough
United Kingdom
122 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 12:38:23 PM
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I also love my rain barrels - the plants seem to really prefer it to tap water. Ours are fitted directly to the household guttering and are designed with mesh over the inlet so the rubbish doesn't get into them. We also have one fitted directly to my bath outlet so we collect that water and use it for other outdoor tasks.
Ours are all blue or black coloured but we don't live in a particuarly hot area so I can't advise on that
Sue
Dance like nobody's watching! |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4821 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4821 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 8:11:24 PM
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My rain barrels came with screens and that keeps them from getting anything but water in them. I love having them and use them to water during dry spells. We've had such a rainy May and June here that I haven't had to use their water too much lately, but it is great to have that water when a dry spell does hit. We usually get one in July and again August. I have never noticed the water in them getting hot and one of my barrels gets bout 6 hours of morning/early afternoon sunlight.
Good luck with yours1
Dawn in IL |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 8:47:26 PM
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Keep in mind girls I am in Zone 8! It is 10:45 right now and is STILL 94 degrees out!!!! HAHAHA!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 06:46:42 AM
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Black is a good color for reflecting the heat. I have some too and added an extra layer of cheese cloth to help screen out some of the gunk. Good luck
Best Growing |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 2:14:27 PM
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I thought black absorbed heat and white reflected?
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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Garden Gate: Anyone use rainbarrels? |
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Anyone use rainbarrels?
