Hardy Tropicals UK

I find watering straight from the hose in spring cools the soil down so I usually try to warm it for the more tropical plants to help keep the soil temps higher. April has been so dry that I need more water than is possible to heat by leaving the hose in the sun, so I bought a small paddling pool.

The pool holds about 200 ltires of water and when filled from the hose has been 11C. I leave this in the sun and after about 4 hours I have water at 23C

It is not so easy to distribute using a 10 litre bucket, but is fine for the palms, Cycads, Musa basjoo etc. The M basjoo in particular are rocketing away now watered with warm water

I'm impressed with the temperature increase

Interesting Dave, the ground here is cracked with lack of 'April showers'
As I'm now on a water meter,I've been watering direct from a stream which despite the nice weather, is still bloody freezing. Will have to find something to put it in, no kiddies I'm afraid.

i have been bringing a basjoo in out for the last week or so.. might get it planted tomo!!!! get it going.. dont think temps are due to drop too low

Bob wrote:Will have to find something to put it in, no kiddies I'm afraid.

My Kiddies are 21 and 19 now I bought the paddling pool specifically for water warming last week. Cost £2.50 from ASDA

Thats cheap, but would cost me a tenner in fuel to get it.

28, & 26 here.

get someone to take one to akamba for you mate

redsquirrel wrote:get someone to take one to akamba for you mate

I like your thinking Red, can't go though.

great idea Dave. As a possible alternative, this Sunday Aldi have 20 Litre Folding Water Carriers on sale. I know Your pool is 10 times bigger, but its worth a look at £3.99.

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/sp ... _13909.htm

I fill an old black dustbin with water in the green house

cOME ON DAVE,LETS C U IN THE PADDLING POOL LOL .

In your borat mankini lol

wha bout buying a compost bin and fill with water and paint it black or get a black one as it attracts heat more

Yes, good idea dave. I have 5 home made black waterbuts that take 200 litres each, this water gets very warm even at this time of year, i'm sure this makes a huge difference getting things moving early on, the only problem is that 1000
litres does not last that long in the middle of summer maybe a week or so, if we are expected a very long dry spell i re-fill them with tap water but this all became a bit of a faf and i'm lazy so i installed a drip irrigation system a few years ago that is brilliant!