How to make a drip irrigation system for cucumbers using plastic bottles

Vegetable growers who grow cucumbers often need to water their plants frequently. Experienced gardeners recommend using a drip irrigation system to moisten the soil, as this method prevents water from reaching the leaves. It's recommended to learn how to make a drip irrigation system for cucumbers using plastic bottles beforehand.

Drip irrigation - what is it: design and operating principle

Before you begin watering, it's important to familiarize yourself with the system's design and operating principles. This system delivers water directly to the roots of planted cucumbers. Water can be delivered not only to the lower soil layers but also to the surface. If you want water to reach the topsoil, install a drip system. For surface irrigation, the system is equipped with drip tape.

Many irrigation systems are equipped with a dedicated pump to supply water. Without it, the water will take longer to move through the main pipes.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

Drip irrigation has its advantages and disadvantages, which should be considered in advance. The main advantages of bottle irrigation systems include the following:

• Improved yield. Cucumbers irrigated with drip irrigation yield 50-60% more fruit. The fruits also become juicier and tastier.
• Reduced labor costs. Using this method, you don't need to waste time and effort dragging hoses or carrying heavy buckets of water. Simply open the faucet to fill the system with water.
• Reducing the number of weeds in the garden. Since water will only reach the cucumber plants, weeds will not have enough moisture to grow.
• Soil protection from erosion. Soils in areas with drip irrigation are significantly less susceptible to erosion.
• Protects cucumber leaves from burns. The design allows water to flow directly to the root system. This prevents liquid from reaching the leaf surface, which could cause burns.

There are several disadvantages that gardeners may encounter when using this method of soil moistening:

• frequent clogging of holes through which water penetrates into the soil;
• high cost of finished structures;
• Droppers can be damaged by moles or other pests.

Is it possible to make the structure yourself?

People planning to use drip irrigation for cucumbers are wondering if they can build their own water supply system. Building your own soil irrigation system is quite simple. All you need to do is create a simple water supply system that will deliver water to the root system of the planted seedlings.

Necessary materials and tools

Before you begin building an irrigation system, you need to figure out what you'll need to complete the job.

To create a drip irrigation system for cucumbers you will need:

• Plastic bottles. This material forms the basis of the entire structure. Plastic bottles are used to hold the water that will be delivered to the plant roots. It is recommended to use containers with a capacity of 2-4 liters. These bottles will always contain the required volume of water.
• Unused stockings or cotton fabric. This fabric is used as a filter. The fabric is wrapped around the holes through which water flows into the open ground. This prevents the irrigation system from becoming clogged with soil and other debris.
• Shovel. Used for digging holes in which plastic bottles will be placed.
• An awl, needle, or sharp nails. These will be needed to create small holes in the bottles to inject liquid into the soil. Before puncturing the bottle, you'll need to thoroughly heat the nail or needle, as heated metal makes it easier to pierce plastic. A regular lighter or a gas stove can be used for heating.

Schemes of the future system

A drip irrigation system using plastic bottles consists of a complex network of pipes that deliver liquid to the plant roots. The bottle design is quite simple: liquid is first pumped from the main water source into a barrel, after which it is distributed through tubes into the bottles and delivered to the plants.

Modern systems can be improved and automated. This will help determine the optimal watering dose for each plant. For this purpose, drip systems are equipped with special rain sensors that determine whether water needs to be applied to the plants.

Many gardeners recommend using bottle watering, as it is much more effective than manual soil irrigation.

Manufacturing options

There are four main options for making bottle structures for supplying water to vegetables.

Watering cucumbers from plastic bottles with the lid up

The most common option is to place the bottle cap-up. It's important to familiarize yourself with the step-by-step instructions for making this system:

• Digging a hole. The hole for the bottle is placed near the bush. The dimensions of the container are taken into account when determining the hole's diameter and depth.
• Making holes. Before placing the bottle in the soil, make holes in it to allow water to flow. The holes should be located 3-5 centimeters from the bottom.
• Wrapping the containers. Each bottle is pre-wrapped with nylon to prevent the holes from becoming clogged with soil.
• Installing the container. Place it in the hole so that 5-8 centimeters of the neck are above the ground.

Root watering

Using this method, you'll need to spend a little money on special dispensers that you manually install onto the bottle neck. These devices can be purchased at any gardening store. The bottle is inserted into the soil, dispenser-side down, 5-8 centimeters from the cucumber plant.

Bottle irrigation through a rod

To make a rod irrigation system, prepare the following materials in advance:

• five-liter plastic container;
• a small piece of plasticine;
• a rod from a regular ballpoint pen.

When creating a soil-watering system, a cavity is made in the bottom of the bottle into which a rod is inserted. The contact point between the rod and the hole is sealed with plasticine to ensure a better seal. The outer end of the installed tube is closed with a match, after which a small hole is made in it with a needle to allow water to drain. The bottle is then placed near the bush to be watered.

Suspended structure

Some people don't want to bury their containers in the ground, so they use hanging structures. To create these, they make two 2-3 mm diameter cavities in the lids of each bottle. Then, they make 5-6 cm diameter holes in the bottom of the container to allow water to flow.

Dropper tubes are inserted into the holes in the lids and directed toward the base of the stem. The bottles are then hung upside down on special pegs.

The nuances of making an irrigation system

There are some differences between creating irrigation systems for open ground and greenhouses that you should be aware of.

In the greenhouse

In greenhouses, the soil dries out more slowly than outdoors, so drip irrigation doesn't require large containers. Regular 1.5-liter bottles are sufficient. If vegetables are grown in low-rise polycarbonate greenhouses, root irrigation is recommended.

In open ground

Most vegetable growers plant cucumbers in spacious gardens. During dry summers, the soil outside dries out quite quickly, requiring more water to irrigate the soil than in greenhouses. To set up an outdoor irrigation system, use 3-5 liter bottles.

How to set up and check the correct operation of the device?

Before you start watering cucumbers using plastic bottles, you need to check the functionality of the constructed structure.

Checking the functioning of the irrigation system is quite simple. To do this, you need to fill the container with water and make sure that the liquid flows into the soil without any problems.

Conclusion

It's no secret that cucumbers need regular watering to ensure a larger harvest in the future. Drip irrigation systems are recommended for irrigation. To build one yourself using household items, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic methods for creating drip irrigation systems from bottles.