Estimate weekly water needs and drip line length for your garden beds. Covers common vegetables and herbs at typical water requirements.
A general rule is 1 inch of water per week per square foot of garden, which equals about 0.623 gallons per square foot. A 200 sq ft garden needs roughly 125 gallons per week in typical summer conditions. Thirsty crops like tomatoes and squash need 1.5 inches; drought-tolerant crops like root vegetables need 0.75 inches.
Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, reducing evaporation by 30-50% compared to overhead watering. It also keeps foliage dry, which dramatically reduces fungal diseases like blight, powdery mildew, and downy mildew. The upfront cost of a simple drip system for a home garden runs $50-200.
Run one or two drip lines the length of each bed, spaced 12-18 inches apart. Use 1 GPH emitters at 12-18 inch intervals for most vegetables. Connect to a hose timer and run for 20-40 minutes per session, 3 times per week in summer. Adjust run time up or down based on soil moisture checks.