I think I would skip the water tank and pump straight to the garden. Now a quarter of a mile is a pretty good distance to run your electric wires. Have you thought about a portable generator for that purpose? Should you use the water tank don't forget to install a check valve to prevent water from draining back through the pumps. Man it's going to take a lot of mater's to buy a tractor. Have fun and enjoy.
Norm

THANKS NORM.. HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST HOOKING INTO A DRIP TYPE SYSTEM AS I HAVE HAD NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH IRRIGATION. AND I DO HAVE A GENERATOR. I PLANTED 300 TOMATOE PLANTS LAST YEAR AS WELL AS BEANS, OKRA, MELONS AND SQUASH I CLEARED ABOUT 1,300.00 AT OUR FARMERS MARKET WHICH WAS IN ITS FIRST YEAR. I HAVE RAISED A GARDEN SINCE I WAS A CHILD AND USUALLY GAVE LOTS AWAY BUT LAST YEAR I WANTED A NEW TILLER SO I SOLD ALOT OF MY HARVEST AND GOT A TROYBUILT. AS YOU KNOW IT WAS VERY DRY LAST YEAR SO IM HOPING BY DOUBLING THE SIZE AND USE OF DRIP IRRIGATION MAKING 4 OR 5 THOUSAND... TIME WILL TELL WHEW ITS ALREADY SOUNDING HARD..LOL THANKS AGAIN

Hey Gizzardfarm,

I'm just curious, where in Tennessee are you, and how big of an area do you plan to plant? Sounds like you were pretty busy last year. I guess if you are looking to buy a tractor, you're really committing to some work. LOL.

I don't know much about irrigation. Norm or others on this forum may be able to answer all your questions, but I thought I'd let you know that there is an Irrigation Forum here on Gardenweb. I'll post the link below in case you want it.

I am interested in what you find out and what you decide to do because I have also considered a similar system for watering plants in my arboretum. You'll have to get a good filter for your drip irrigation system, and that's one thing I have wondered about. I have thought about how to get, or make, one that doesn't require much maintenance.

One other tip, for what it's worth, some people get offended when you type in all caps. It's considered screaming in cyberland.

Here is a link that might be useful: Irrigation Forum

Thanks for the link Brandon.. I hope to get started within the next few days as the weather has been in the 70's here. I live near South Pittsburg close to the Alabama/TN/ Georgia line. my garden this year will be doubled it will be 200 x 300 feet. I planted 300 tomatoes plants last year and had a good harvest despite the drought. i also plant alot of Okra and Beans as well as melons and squash as they sell well at our new Farmers Market.. thank you for your help..

I had a pretty big garden (at least for me) last year. It was somewhere around 60' x 100'. I located the garden not too far from a yard hydrant and watered with soaker hoses and water from the tap.

I have just about given up on ever being able to grow good tomatoes. I have tried around 25 varieties over the past few years, and have yet to find a type that did well. Catfacing, blossom end rot, unripe/hard internal area, and a host of other problems take turns destroying most of my crop every year. I've tried a lot of the stuff people recommend, but with only limited results.

On the other hand, most of my other crops did exceptionally well last year. I had enough okra and cucumbers for a small city. I shared fresh vegetables with six neighbors and another friend, and I still worried about annoying them by continually knocking on their doors with bags of produce.

My soaker hose idea was probably not the most economical option because of the limited life of the soaker hoses, etc., but it sure worked wonders for me last year.

I know nothing about the drip irrigation systems, but all the commerical growers around here are using that type of system. I use well water and can cover about a half acre at a time, with sprinklers. I know I waste a lot of water. Guess I need to learn about the drip syatem.

Drip is the way to go.

I have a bookmark for a great site that explains EVERYTHING. Written by a landscape Architect for the typical, neophyte, homeowner.. All the details are clearly spelled out and illustrated and in easy to digest terms and diagrams.

http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/install.htm

THANK YALL SO MUCH HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS...