Bargains at Wilkinson's????????????

[Willonthewall]

I collected my two plastic barrels yesterday for my tumble composter and tumble sieve. I called into the Wilkinson's store in Newcastle to buy a sieve for my project.
Alas no sieves but a couple of bargains were ready and waiting
This kit was £6.99. I know they can be found marginally cheaper elsewhere but by the time you add postage........................................... .........and I thought it would be ideal for my tobacco poytunnel as tobacco plants have an enormous thirst

Garden Centre Online :: High Quality Micro-Irrigation Set

Added to my 1000litre tank and one of these

WT100 Electronic Water Timer - Machine Mart

it should provide a reliable and relatively inexpensive irrigation system.
They also had their own brand compost maker at £1.99 for 2.5kg so I thought it was worth a try

Wilko Compost Maker 2.5kg at Wilkinson Plus

[Willonthewall]

Sometimes I just feel so dumb.
DOH!!!!!!
Called in at the local hardware shop to get a sieve.
None in stock.
OK says I - I'll make a bottom for the "ezeesieve" out of mesh. How shall I fix it says I. What size mesh will I need.

BINGO - I don't need mesh OR a sieve.

Just strategically placed holes of the right diameter drilled in the bottom of the barrel, a couple of braces fixed inside to help break up the soil, job done

[paulsherwin]

Just for people's info, these micro irrigation systems are really intended to be connected to mains water and need a fair bit of pressure to work properly. If you are using rainwater tanks you will probably need a pump. This isn't necessarily a problem - just replace the control valve mentioned above with a small water pump and a timer. When the timer switches the pump on the irrigation will start.

Paul

[Willonthewall]

Cheers for that Paul.
It's going to be "suck it and see" and I intend to put the system in place before I do any planting/transplanting to check on the flow. If all else fails I can "resize" the bore on the drippers

What are your thoughts on weed control geotextile on the polytunnel floor and using raised beds?
I'm in two minds at the moment.