Irrigation "Drinkers" Boost Blackberry Production

Irrigation "Drinkers" Boost Blackberry Production AG WORLD 31-3-22 George Reisner, Jewett, Ill., gets great production from just a half dozen blackberry vines by planting them on one side of his manure pit, where the plants grow in well rotted, 2-ft. deep cow manure. He uses pvc irrigation "drinkers" to provide the plants with plenty of water. The drinkers are lengths of 4-in. dia. pvc pipe, which he presses down into the manure. He uses a garden hose and wand to fill the drinkers with water, which slowly percolates down to the roots. The berries climb on livestock panel fencing that's tied to metal posts set in the ground. "It's an easy, highly productive way to grow blackberries. I can easily pick two gallons of berries every other day from just six plants. What's more, I hardly even have to bend over," says Reisner. The pvc pipe comes in 10-ft. long sections, which Reisner cuts into 2-ft. lengths. He sets one end of the pipes into the manure at an angle alongside the blackberry plant, shoving the pipes 8 to 10 in. down into the ground. The pipes are spaced about 4 ft. apart. "I fill the pipes with water twice every day during the peak growing season," notes Reisner. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, George Reisner, 7409 E. 2050 Ave., Jewett, Ill. 62436 (ph 217 683-2318).

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