Irrigation for Vegetable Gardens

Our irrigation system for vegetable gardens helps gardeners grow more with less effort. Whether you're tending a polytunnel, allotment plot, greenhouse or flower bed, we have a solution that fits. Choose between mains-powered or solar-powered irrigation, and install WaterMate to transform your growing experience.

Why Smart Irrigation is Essential for Vegetable Gardens

Vegetable gardens need consistent care, and watering plays a big part in that. For instance, leafy crops grow best with light and frequent watering, whereas other crops, such as root vegetables, require slower and deeper soaking. Not meeting the individual needs of the veg you’re growing can cause the plants to wilt or weaken over time.

That’s where Harvst’s WaterMate makes a significant difference to your yield. It keeps your vegetable garden irrigation consistent by using smart sensors and watering only when required. Rest assured, each raised bed in your garden, or at your allotment will receive the right amount of care.

  • Up to 80% Less Water Used

  • Targeted Watering = Zero Waste

  • Reduces Runoff and Overwatering

How WaterMate Works for Vegetable Gardens

WaterMate is a smart, sensor-based watering system that helps your veg garden thrive with minimal effort. It’s designed to keep soil conditions balanced and nourish your crops consistently, no matter the weather or season.

Our system uses precise timers and sensors to manage when and how your plants receive water, ensuring each area of your vegetable plot gets the water that it needs to stay healthy and productive.

It’s an ideal solution for home plots, allotments, raised beds or container gardens, and it connects easily to a tap or tank. It also runs on solar power for those without mains power.

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Challenges That Automatic Watering Solves

  • Dry Spells: Keeps shallow-rooted vegetables hydrated during both warm and dry weather conditions

  • Overwatering: Prevents soggy soil and fungal growth with controlled water flow

  • Seasonal Shifts: Adjusts watering to match changes in temperature and rainfall

  • Busy Days: Keeps your veg garden hydrated automatically, even when you’re away 

The Benefits of Automated Watering for Vegetable Gardens

Smart irrigation gives your vegetable garden the steady care it needs for better harvests. By keeping soil moisture consistent, WaterMate helps reduce stress on plants and supports healthy growth across crops like courgettes, carrots, salad leaves, beans, and more.

For instance, consistent irrigation is especially important in raised garden beds, where soil can dry out faster. WaterMate acts as a self-sufficient raised garden bed watering system, keeping your crops hydrated even in secluded corners of the garden.

WaterMate’s sensors and timers work together to deliver precise watering, reacting to changes in weather and soil conditions automatically.

Why Upgrade to Automated Watering? 

Growers using our drip irrigation system for vegetable gardens often see:

  • Higher yields, even during hot or dry months
  • More uniform size and colour among vegetables
  • Stronger roots and faster recovery after moving a plant
  • Less water waste due to overwatering or runoff
  • Healthier plants with fewer losses in young seedlings

How Smart Irrigation Improves Greenhouse Results

Whether you’re growing tomatoes or exotic flowers, smart irrigation gives you better results with less stress.

Instead of relying on fixed schedules, an automated greenhouse watering system like WaterMate uses sensor data to maintain ideal soil conditions and protect crops from water stress or fungal issues.

When set up correctly, here’s how growers can improve yield quality in their greenhouse using WaterMate:

  • Prevents waterlogging in seedlings
  • Supports high-yield crops like tomatoes
  • Enables reliable propagation from seed
  • Improves flowering consistency

By maintaining balanced moisture and timing each watering cycle accurately, a greenhouse watering system with a timer encourages stronger yields with fewer adjustments.

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What Sets Our Watermate Range Apart?

  • Automated sensor-based irrigation system

  • Genuinely ‘smart’, responding to live conditions

  • Works off-grid - no mains power required

  • The only ‘everything you need in one box’ complete kit

  • Responds to temperature changes, adjusting watering frequency on hot or cool days

  • Uses industry-standard irrigation fittings

  • Most customisable and powerful (WaterMate Pro), irrigation system available 

  • The only system designed and Made in Britain
Buy Your Automatic Irrigation System

Off-Grid and Solar Power Use in Vegetable Gardens

Some vegetable gardens are located far from a tap or power outlet, but they still need consistent care. That’s where our solar-powered irrigation system comes in, as it keeps your crops hydrated using stored solar energy.

A compact 10W solar panel charges an onboard battery, giving the controller enough power to water for 10 minutes / day during an averagely sunny day in the UK, which equates to 120 litres. Additional solar panels can be added for shady locations, or connected to mains power where available.

Once it is set up, it runs automatically, taking the guesswork and extra effort out of daily watering.

Benefits of a Solar-Powered Irrigation System:

  • Set-and-forget irrigation that runs on stored energy
  • Multi-day battery capacity for continuous use without mains power supply
  • Perfect for tank-fed or off-grid vegetable patches

Learn more about Harvst’s solar-powered systems on our smart automatic solar watering systems page.

Which Vegetable Garden Growers Use WaterMate?

WaterMate supports a wide range of growers who want reliable watering without daily effort. Our system adapts easily to different setups and skill levels, making vegetable growing simpler and more consistent throughout every season.

Typical WaterMate Users:

Kitchen gardeners

Keep herbs and other fast-growing crops well watered, even when away from home.

Busy Individuals

Enjoy worry-free holidays while WaterMate keeps the garden green and thriving for children to enjoy.

Allotment Growers

Maintain consistent soil moisture across multiple plots, ensuring even growth and healthy harvests.

Raised Bed Gardeners

Use WaterMate as a reliable raised bed watering system that promotes deep root growth and steady yields.

WaterMate Models & Kit Options For Every Garden Size

No matter how big or small your growing space is, there’s a WaterMate kit made to fit. All our models use smart sensors and support dual zones to provide efficient watering across any setup - whether that’s a compact flower bed or a larger mixed-crop plot. It’s easy to DIY your own set up, or add on extra zones, too.

  • WaterMate Mini

    Dual zone | Up to 6 m²

    The WaterMate Mini is ideal for small veg plots, cold frames, outdoor plots, and allotments. It offers dual-zone control (about 3m2 per zone) and supports up to 40 drippers.

    This setup is perfect for quick-growing vegetables, like herbs and salad leaves, that benefit from regular and precise watering. You can power it using either solar or mains options, depending on your setup.

    Buy WaterMate Mini 

  • WaterMate Pro

    Expandable Multi-Zone | Up to 6 zones

    The WaterMate Pro is built for larger or mixed-crop gardens and can be expanded with extra zone kits to handle up to 6 separate watering zones (around 20m2 per zone).

    It suits indoor growing environments, like polytunnels and greenhouses, as well as gardens and allotments. This model offers flexibility that experienced growers need for reliable irrigation.

    Buy WaterMate Pro 

Product specifications and features are subject to ongoing improvement. For the latest details, please see individual product listings.

FAQs

Can I connect it to a water butt?

Yes, you can. WaterMate connects easily to a water butt, garden hose, tank, or solar panel, making it a flexible option for various garden setups.

How long does installation take?

Not long at all. Each greenhouse watering kit includes clear, step-by-step instructions, all tools required and most users have their system up and running in a morning or afternoon. The pipework is flexible and a top tip is to put the ends into hot water for easy connection to various fittings.

What if I don’t have WiFi in my tunnel?

Our WaterMate models are fully functional without an active WiFi connection. However, if it’s connected to WiFi you can check up on the watering schedules and amend them remotely.

Does it work in heatwaves?

It definitely does. Our vegetable garden irrigation system adjusts watering based on soil moisture and temperature, helping your veggies stay consistently watered, even during dry spells.

Will it water salad leaves and root crops the same?

WaterMate tailors watering to different plant types, no matter the diversity of your vegetable patch. Your plants will receive the right level of moisture at the right time.

What’s the best time of the day to water vegetable gardens?

Early morning is ideal, as the soil can absorb moisture before the day heats up. WaterMate’s smart controls take care of this automatically.

Can it handle winters?

WaterMate is built for year-round use, so you can use it normally during winter. Just make sure to keep the control unit covered.

Automate Your Vegetable Garden Watering with WaterMate

Keep your vegetable garden healthy and increase productivity with WaterMate, Harvst’s smart watering system. Designed to work effectively in a variety of growing environments, all our kits provide steady and accurate watering to help your plants grow stronger while saving you time and effort.

Growers worldwise trust Harvst’s vegetable garden irrigation system to maintain consistent care and reduce water waste across different garden setups.

Order your WaterMate today and find the best kit for your growing space!