Like all things in giant pumpkin growing, there are many ways to accomplish the same thing.  Some ways work better in certain situations, some just work better, and some don't work at all.  This is certainly true for how and how well you water your plants.  Watering is vitally important, and often overlooked as one of the main influences the grower controls to determine the outcome of their season.

Many influences will determine the direction that you choose in determining the path you will take; keeping it simple, how much you rely on supplying water for your plants or letting mother nature do it for you, the amount of money you are willing to spend, using a system that has proven itself very affective, or just going with what the next guy uses.

I will show you how to build the system that I use and I firmly believe it will make a huge difference in your success and overall weight gains.  Using the Dan Micro Sprinklers system isn't cheap, but the extra money you will spend now will more than pay itself back in increased yields, ease of use, durability of the sprinklers and ability to use them every season for at least a decade if properly taken care of.

There are no better sprinkler or drip systems available that can do what the Dan System accomplishes.  In a nut shell, the sprinklers will irrigate, fertigate, foliar fertilize and mist/cool your plants in a way that no other system can.  Because the Dan sprinklers are placed directly on the ground within the canopy of the plant itself, they provide complete uniform coverage.  Most sprinklers will leave dry spots within the plant due to obstructions from leaves, stalks or stems.  Dan's are placed in a "grid" to allow even coverage to all areas even if some leaves get in the way.  Sprinklers from another area will cover the blocked heads.  It is as flexible as you want to make it.  It can be built to water any design plant you wish to grow.  Because the sprinklers are a modular system, with many options available for each component, the combinations are practically endless and can be adapted to your situation.

Consistent uniform irrigation equals consistent uniform growth. You will use less water, spend less time and achieve better results using this system. With a few minor modifications, this system can also be used to deliver all of your compost tea and fertilizers.

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Because there quite a few pieces to the system, I will break it into two major categories; Sprinkler Head Assembly and Water Delivery.

The Dan Micro consists of 4 components;

Bridge	Spinner	Nozzle	Threaded Base

The Bridge is the main structure of the sprinkler. It contains the nozzle and holds the spinner in place.

The Spinner is the part that "spins" and distributes the water. The spinners come in many different patterns and configurations from 90 and 180 degree water delivery, to heads that will angle up or down or reach out as far as 15 feet.

The Nozzle is the true magic of this system.  They come in a several sizes to allow you to maximize the output to your water source, while still allowing adequate pressure and flow. 

The threaded base is the connection between the Sprinkler Head Assembly and the Irrigation Water Delivery

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The Water Delivery system is nothing more than building PVC piping that fits the dimensions of your patch.  If you have any experience at all with simple plumbing or lawn sprinklers, this part will be simple for you!


Parts

3/4" and 1/2" PVC Pipe	3/4" x 3/4" x 1/2" Reducing T	3/4" Male Adapter
1/2" X 1/2" X 1/2" FPT	1/2" x 1/2" Union	Hose Adapter

PVC Glue and Cleaner	1/2" and 3/4" PVC Cap

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Detail # 1	Detail # 2	Detail # 3
Detail # 4	Detail # 5	Detail # 6
Detail # 7	Detail # 8	Mazzei Injector

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Detailed Assembly

The PVC Sprinkler is layed out in a grid system in your patch. 

* Detail # 1.  Start by determining the length of your patch. Take the 3/4" PVC pipe and lay it out the entire distance, then every 6 feet, cut it and glue in a 3/4" x 3/4" x 1/2" reducing T.  This will serve as the main feeder water line.

* Detail # 2.   Glue 3/4" male adapter to main feeder line, then attach pipe to hose thread adapter fitting.  I leave about 18" of pipe between the first T and the fitting.  This is the connection to your water source.

* Now determine width of your plant to irrigate. You will use 1/2" PVC pipe to deliver water to the sprinkler heads.  I spread them every 6 feet, and feel this is the minimum distance to ensure adequate coverage to all areas within the plant.

* Detail # 3.  Glue 10" 1/2" PVC pipe to 1/2" side of 3/4" reducing T.  Also glue 1/2" Union. 
This union allows you to disassemble the assembly for storage following the season.  Also glue 6" 1/2" PVC to other side of Union.  This piece is where you will stat gluing in the 1/2" T's.   

* Detail # 4.  Cut a 6" piece of 1/2" pvc, glue 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/2" FTP to one side and 1/2" Union to other side of pvc.   1/2" FTP fittings serve as riser heads for the sprinklers.

*Lay out 1/2" PVC the entire width of patch, breaking the distance every 6' with a 1/2" x 1/2" x1/2" FTP fitting.  Take care to align all of the fittings as evenly as possible so the sprinkler heads will stand as straight as possible.

* Detail # 5.  Allow approximately 12" of pipe past last 1/2" fitting, then cap the end with pvc cap.

* Detail # 6.  Now screw in Base adapters to all 1/2" t's.

* Detail # 7.  Attach Sprinkler Head Assembly after all piping has been layed out in your patch.

* Detail # 8.   Attach your garden hose and start watering!

Note:   It is up to you if you would like the vines to grow over the piping or train them under the piping then bury.  Either way seems to work fine, I have done it both ways.  It is much simpler to reposition the vines later if you have trained them over the pvc piping.

Every year, with every pumpkin, the fruit grows right in the middle of a sprinkler line or on top of a head.  I head to the patch with the necessary tools, cut the 1/2" pvc pipe well back from the fruit and re-route it around the pumpkin.  Take care to re-route a sufficient distance away to allow growth, or you will need to do this over again.  Don't ask me how I know this!

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