Nursery water tanks from totes

Where totes go in a nursery

• Beside a bench or a row, as a local supply.
• At the head of a mist line in a propagation house.
• In a wash area for pots and trays.
• At a loading area for dust control.
• By the road as an emergency store.

A tote is movable. When the crop moves, the tank can go with it.

Cleanliness

A nursery cares about disease. Algae and bacteria in a tank can reach the plants through the misters and the hose. Keep the tote shaded and screened, drain and rinse it between crops, and avoid connecting a hose that has lain on soil to the tote without a flush.

Shade and heat

Water warmed in a tote on a hot afternoon can scald young cuttings. Put totes in shade or under shade cloth, and let the water cool before you use it on propagation.

Bases and drainage

A nursery floor is usually gravel or ground cloth. A tote of water needs a firm pad, so put pavers or a slab under it and drain the overflow away from the benches. A soggy floor invites disease.

Planning the layout

Sketch the nursery on paper and mark the water points: every bench cluster, every mist house, every wash station. Count the weekly gallons used at each. Divide by 275 and round up to find how many totes each station needs, then add one spare for cleaning rotation. Place the first tote where it saves the longest hose run, and the rest follow the benches. A rough plan before you buy beats a crowded yard afterward.

Biosecurity and clean tanks

A tank can spread disease. Rinse hoses before connecting them, never drop a hose end into a tote, and keep a dedicated tote for propagation water. After a disease outbreak, drain and scrub the tanks before refilling. Keep records of what was cleaned, when and with what.