Organizing irrigation and greenhouse maintenance during the owner's absence

Organizing greenhouse care in the owner's absence

Ideally, of course, it would be for the greenhouse to automatically continue working on harvest production during our long absence. For what maximum period can a greenhouse be left unattended? Is there any way to create an increased water reserve in the greenhouse so that it lasts for at least a week or even two? And if one invites someone to water in one's absence, how often and how much water should one ask them to apply at a time? How to prepare the greenhouse for one's vacation?

Above, I provided the most preferable option for greenhouse maintenance, where the owner resides permanently on-site and can open it every morning and close it every evening. Gardeners are divided into two large and, apparently, roughly equal parts:

• the first — those for whom this option is suitable (owners of private houses);
• dacha owners belonging to the second group — those who come to their summer house from the city only on weekends.

What should dacha owners do then? A simple and also productive care option is well-known to them: leave one greenhouse door open during their absence. Then the greenhouse turns into a heated and, at the same time, sufficiently closed "sack." It also effectively maintains a higher temperature inside than outside. Plants cannot overheat to critical temperatures, except for the furthest ones, which might "steam" a little.

My experience shows that even tomatoes by the far wall always yield a harvest one way or another with this method, despite curled leaves, and other greenhouse crops even more so.

And on weekends, the owner provides them with full care from Friday to Monday. Then they spend three nights in full warmth with doors closed, and two days with doors and vents open on all sides.

Irrigation and work schedule in the greenhouse

In general, in summer during heat and prolonged drought, it is highly undesirable to leave the vegetable garden for the whole week (for 4–5 days) without irrigation. This is typical for July in the Central region: after June coolness with rains, heat and drought suddenly set in. Plants, of course, will survive if left for a long time in July, but losses in harvest are certain even with mulching and abundant irrigation beforehand. In July, when all plants are already large, this irrigation is enough for two days, and no more.

Diligent garden owners come to the dacha in the middle of the week, on Wednesdays, for additional irrigation. Cucumbers, cabbage, greens, root crops — all of these perform better with frequent irrigation, without prolonged drying out of the soil.

The situation in the greenhouse is somewhat better due to more heat-resistant and drought-tolerant crops.

A watermelon, for example, is completely indifferent to drought; it is even capable of growing fruit sets on dew alone. Roughly the same applies to a melon that has already grown enough of a vine: although it likes periodic abundant irrigation, it will calmly endure thirst for several days. Sweet pepper, eggplant, and even Mr. tomato are just as resilient and will last through your work week. So, coming to the dacha during the week for the sake of the greenhouse alone is not necessary. Especially if there was at least a light rain.

We discussed above that water from light rain collects in one place, under the roof slope, and soaks the soil deeper than usual — a good help.

Autonomous greenhouse irrigation in August

Attention. It is precisely on this "small but deep" rainwater that greenhouse plants will be able to successfully hold on during your month-long vacation absence. In the central region of Russia, as a rule, it rains quite regularly in August.

In August, the greenhouse is capable of operating on full autopilot with one door constantly open. Most likely, returning from vacation at the end of summer and fearing to find a decline in the greenhouse, you will be surprised to discover that it is full of ripe fruits.

Conclusion on irrigation automation

August is not July for someone who has learned dacha hydrodynamics through long practice. When going on vacation in August, it is not at all necessary to ask neighbors to come and water.

In my opinion, recruiting strangers to water one's plantings is a pointless activity altogether. They are poor irrigators. They have no idea about irrigation rates. If the person is an experienced gardener, they are usually already busy with all sorts of things on their own plot and will be unhappy with your "assignment," especially if they have to go to a neighboring village, even if you personally do not begrudge their time at all.

A "refined intellectual" far removed from gardening will water as if they hadn't watered at all! Only if you prepare 12 buckets of sun-warmed water for them at the greenhouse entrance will that minimum reach the plants. Otherwise, imagine, would they stand there with a hose long enough to apply that amount of water? No, they will hastily sprinkle the surface and impatiently run off. By the way, that is how children water too…