Over the years, there has been a significant increase in the number of people who are taking an interest in allotment growing. Whether your allotment is small or large, having a defined space for growing plants offers a therapeutic routine that many people value as a hobby.
However, if you’re a long-time grower, you already know the amount of care it takes to ensure your allotment continues to thrive. For instance, your plants’ growth is heavily influenced by moisture levels and sunlight.
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On some days, the soil dries out faster than you expect, and on other days, you wish you had a more reliable watering system to take care of your plants.
Manual watering does the job, but it starts becoming a time-consuming task as your plot expands. If you step away for a short trip or face a long dry spell, keeping up with your plants’ watering needs becomes difficult.
An irrigation system makes that job easier by consistently delivering automatic, precise watering. It helps you maintain a steady flow for your plants and protect your stored water, giving you more time to focus on the parts of gardening that you enjoy most.
In this article, we’ll cover 6 irrigation system providers in the UK that can help you keep your allotment healthy with automated and accurate watering through every season.
1. Harvst
Harvst specialises in smart watering solutions for gardens, allotments, polytunnels, greenhouses, and indoor growing. They focus on creating reliable systems that help growers manage plants efficiently, saving water and reducing the time spent on manual watering.
Harvst’s products are designed to be user-friendly and flexible, catering to small home gardens as well as larger growing spaces. They aim to make automated watering accessible to anyone looking to maintain healthy plants with minimal effort.
Product Range
- WaterMate Mini: Designed for smaller growing spaces like cold frames, raised beds and compact polytunnels. It ships as a dual-zone kit, covering around 6 m2 in total with up to 40 drippers.
You can choose solar or mains power, making it a practical option for salad leaves, herbs, seed trays, and microgreens.
- WaterMate Pro: Ideal for larger plots or mixed-crop setups. It supports up to 6 separate watering zones, each covering around 20 m2, and can be expanded with extra zone kits.
This system allows independent control for different plants, such as tomatoes and peppers. Its flexibility, power and customisable design make it ideal for serious growers who need reliable irrigation, even when they’re away.
Why Choose Harvst for Irrigation Systems?
Harvst’s irrigation systems are fully automated and sensor-driven, adjusting watering based on live conditions to keep your plants healthy. They can work off-grid with solar or mains power, giving you added flexibility for your plot.
Designed and made in Britain, their irrigation systems use industry-standard fittings for easy setup and long-term reliability. With features like multi-zone control and smart watering, Harvst’s irrigation systems ensure precise and efficient watering for any growing space.
Customer Review
Here’s what a customer had to say about Harvst’s irrigation system on Trustpilot:
“Great product that has made my Greenhouse a lot easier to use. Much more powerful then all the other Solar irrigation systems that are out there. Having the wrong system can kill all the plants you have. This one is also connected to the internet, so you can see if it has watered, the temperature of the site and is intelligent to water more if the temperature hits certain points you can program in. Much more professional and cleaner to set up with a main water system around the greenhouse that then you can connect your dripper feeds, rather than having tiny hoses around, where if one fails, your whole system would not work. With this, you do not have this problem.
I must not forget to add, their support is fantastic, fast and local!”
2. AutoPot
Autopot offers gravity-fed irrigation systems that need no electricity or mains water pressure. Their setups use a patented valve system to ensure each plant in your allotment draws water only when needed.
You can use AutoPot’s expandable kits to match the needs of both small and large allotments. Their kits come in various sizes, from small 1-pot modules to larger multi-pot systems.
If you prefer low-effort irrigation without relying on pumps or mains supply, AutoPot is a solid pick for an automatic watering system.
3. Gardena
Gardena offers a wide range of irrigation solutions for gardens and allotments, from drip systems to automatic sprinklers. Their systems are designed for simplicity and reliability, helping you maintain steady watering without stress.
Many of Gardena’s kits connect directly to a standard tap and rely on weather data to adjust watering needs. Some products also include an app or Bluetooth control, allowing you to monitor and adjust your system remotely.
With strong brand recognition in the UK, Gardena is a dependable choice for growers who want a user-friendly, automatic watering setup that keeps plants hydrated efficiently.
4. Irrigatia
Irrigatia provides solar-powered irrigation systems that operate without mains water or electricity. Their kits suit allotments, gardens, greenhouses, hanging baskets, and raised beds, automatically adjusting watering to weather conditions.
Their irrigation systems are easy to install and maintain, with options ranging from small garden kits to larger setups for extensive plots. The SOL-C180 from their tank series is capable of watering up to 180 irrigation units and uses 90% less water than a hose.
Irrigatia is ideal if you want an eco-friendly and low-maintenance watering solution that keeps your plants hydrated even when you are away.
5. Hozelock
With over 65 years of knowledge, Hozelock offers a wide range of irrigation products for gardens and allotments, from drip kits to automatic sprinkler systems.
Hozelock’s automatic watering kits include drip systems for up to 25 pots, making them suitable for gardens with many small crops or mixed layouts. Their kits come with a water timer to make scheduling simpler and watering duration more predictable.
Customers have especially praised Hozelock for their responsive customer support team. Many gardeners have noted that this level of support sets Hozelock apart from other irrigation system providers.
6. Easy Garden Irrigation
Easy Garden Irrigation is a retailer that offers a wide selection of watering solutions, including drip systems, micro-spray kits, pop-up sprinklers, pumps, and complete garden irrigation systems.
They provide cost-effective options and reliable services from gardeners across the UK. Their 30-day returns policy and straightforward refund process give extra peace of mind, especially when you are trying new irrigation parts or kits.
Easy Garden Irrigation holds a 5-star rating on Trustpilot, with customers praising the quality of their products and the support they provide.
To Sum Up
Each provider on this list offers unique features and solutions. Take the time to understand them thoroughly and choose the right irrigation system for your setup to maintain healthy plants hassle-free.
