Water Warming

[Dave Brown]

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

[Dave in Warrington]

I'm impressed with the temperature increase

[Bob]

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.

[bobbyd44]

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

[Dave Brown]

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

[Bob]

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

28, & 26 here.

[redsquirrel]

get someone to take one to akamba for you mate

[Bob]

get someone to take one to akamba for you mate

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

[marfanuk]

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

[daz]

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

[delboy12]

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

[daz]

In your borat mankini lol

[davidjonesUK]

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

[Vic]

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!