How to Build a Drip Irrigation System

One reader shares how to build a watering system that incorporates both soaker hoses and drip irrigation.

By Kurt Jacobson
Published on February 28, 2018
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This dual-purpose watering system delivers water just where it’s needed.
This dual-purpose watering system delivers water just where it’s needed.
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By following this photo diagram for the PVC manifold, you can cut and assemble the necessary pieces to accomodate a 3-foot-wide garden bed.
By following this photo diagram for the PVC manifold, you can cut and assemble the necessary pieces to accomodate a 3-foot-wide garden bed.
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This watering system design helps Scott and Susan grow vibrant crops with less effort at Hill Farm.
This watering system design helps Scott and Susan grow vibrant crops with less effort at Hill Farm.
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Scott inserts an emitter into his drip irrigation tubing.
Scott inserts an emitter into his drip irrigation tubing.
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Watering systems at work inside a high tunnel at Hill Farm.
Watering systems at work inside a high tunnel at Hill Farm.

Proper watering is one of the most important aspects of growing your own vegetables. On a recent trip to Virginia, I met Scott and Susan Hill of Hill Farm. Scott and Susan turned their retirement into a profitable farm venture. Susan is a master of the growing and accounting part of the operation, and Scott is the architect, maintenance man, and everything-else guy. Scott was a helicopter maintenance test pilot in the U.S. Army before retiring. His skills in fluid dynamics shine in his development of this unique dual watering system.

Scott and Susan use these dual watering systems in both their raised and in-ground garden beds at Hill Farm. One part of the system is comprised of a series of three soaker hoses, and the other part provides drip irrigation. Scott created this system to make the best use of Hill Farm’s well water and to help support the farm’s amazing harvests month after month, all year long.

With a little time and effort, you can build your own dual watering system with easy-to-find parts at a reasonable cost. You can expect to pay approximately $60 to $85 per unit, depending on the length of your garden beds and the quality of your materials. Scott suggests going with higher-quality materials because, in his own words, “The better the quality, the less repair required.”

To build your own system, you’ll need the following:

• 3 lengths of soaker hose
• 1 length of drip irrigation tubing

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