The Model K015 Gravity Feed Drip Irrigation Kit for vegetable gardens is The Drip Store's custom-designed drip irrigation kit that includes all the parts needed for installing a drip irrigation system on up to 10 rows of vegetables. The kit contains 100' of 1/4" drip line with .5 GPH drip emitters every 12". The emitters have flow rates of .42 GPH @ 10 PSI. The kit also has a 50' of high quality 1/2" drip tubing with .600" ID x .700" OD, sufficient to start a vegetable garden on a lot 40' wide by 10' long. The Gravity Feed Drip Irrigation Kit includes all the fittings and accessories needed to install 10 rows of drip irrigation in a vegetable garden, starting from a rain barrel (not included). This drip irrigation kit can be used to water all types of vegetable plants with 8” to 12” spacing.

A gravity feed drip irrigation system is an inexpensive and effective way to irrigate a small-sized vegetable area. It is especially cost effective if the climate of the area provides sufficient precipitation to consistently keep a rain barrel (50 to 100 gallon barrel) filled using rain water-harvesting techniques. The basic hand operated system is very simple, consisting of an elevated rain barrel with a drip irrigation hose as the main line coming out the bottom to feed water into the drip-line irrigation system.

The most important practice for a healthy and productive vegetable garden is the use of an appropriate irrigation system. During years of normal rainfall, rains usually wet the soil and provide a good supply of deep soil moisture. What happens later will depend upon the efficiency of your irrigation system. Adequate soil moisture is important for seed germination, uniform growth, and productivity. Correct use of a drip irrigation system should keep vegetable plants actively growing in dry periods yet cause no problem when rain occurs following irrigation. The system, when properly operated, keeps soil at the base of the plant (root zone area) moist. This may require operating the system for short periods two to four times a week during dry weather in order to prevent the soil from ever becoming completely dry.

One of the most important features of a drip irrigation system is the creation of a totally new and more favorable root zone environment within the planting. Drip irrigation sustains this environment by using low flow rates to maintain constant soil moisture levels. This encourages better growth and disease resistance by reducing plant stress.

The Gravity Feed Drip Irrigation Kit has all the parts needed to install a drip irrigation system from a rain barrel (not included).

Suggestion in connecting the 1/2" compression drip fittings. To install the 1/2" compression fittings, cut the drip tubing with a hand pruner, being careful to keep dirt from entering the line. Hold the compression fitting in one hand and the drip tubing in the other and force the drip tubing into the fitting by wiggling it from side to side. Make sure that the drip tubing is pushed into the compression fitting for about 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch for a very tight fit. No glue or clamps are required.

• Nominal Flow: .57 GPH @ 25 PSI
• Operating pressure: the height of the rain barrel (the higher the barrel's height, the higher the flow rate from the drippers)

• Instruction for Complete Gravity Kits Model: 334.622 KB 07/26/11

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