Greenhouse and polytunnel owners looking to boost their growing potential with less effort, can now retrofit their unit with a Harvst self-watering system www.harvst.co.uk.
Blending technology with gardening, the Harvst ‘smart’ greenhouse system is controlled by an online app to provide optimum and automatic hands-free watering.
Daily greenhouse or polytunnel watering can become a chore and, if left for a few days, plants can easily wilt and die. While simple timer systems can drip water over plants, these can over or under water depending on the weather conditions. This is where The Harvst system provides the perfect solution as it monitors soil moisture, tracks temperature and, coupled with a timed system, delivers just the right amount of water to plants.
Run off-grid using solar power or plugged into the mains, its temperature and soil moisture sensors monitor conditions. If they detect it’s too dry, they initiate irrigation via sprayers and misters attached to a rainwater collection pump or hose connection.  The system allows for two separate watering zones to be set up, tailored to different plants’ requirements.
Designed for small polytunnels or greenhouses (up to 10 metres of irrigation hose and 30 sprayers), once the kit is installed, all that’s needed is a Wi-Fi connection so that the grower can connect Harvst’s clever self-watering system to their online Harvst account and app.
Each retrofit Harvst smart garden kit costs £450 and contains:
- Control unit (approx. 220mm x 170mm)
- Two dual-purpose soil moisture and temperature sensors on 1.5m of cable.
- An ambient / air temperature sensor on 1m of cable.
- Twin solenoid (water valve).
- Snap-on hose fitting for water input.
- Inline water filter for 13mm pipe.
- 10m of 13mm LDPE irrigation pipe.
- A selection of sprayers and drippers.
For mains powered systems, grow lights and heaters for seed trays are also available as add-ons.
Gardeners can also buy the complete Harvst’s mini-greenhouse system which also includes a self-ventilating cold frame.  Suitable for garden spaces both big and small The Yard and The Terrace start from £640.  Flat packed, each model comes with a premium cold frame, Harvst automation kit, mains power supply or solar panel, enabling the greenhouse to be assembled and connected to the house Wi-Fi in around 60 minutes.
The £640 Terrace model is designed to sit against a wall in a back yard or garden. Dimension: 2m wide, 0.6m deep and 1m high.
The £640 Yard is great for growing taller vegetables (such as cordon tomatoes) and ideal for small spaces. Dimension: 1.2m wide, 0.6m deep, and 1.4m tall.
