Peace of mind, productive growing, and less time spent watering.
Buy as a complete irrigation kit in a box
Harvst WaterMate is a smart, solar powered automatic watering system designed for greenhouses.
- Spend less time watering
- Install anywhere
- Solar powered
- Dual zone irrigation
- Pump from a water tank
- Environmentally responsive
- App controlled
- Manage and monitor remotely
- Pipes & fixings included
- Sprayers and drippers included
… or build your own using the WaterMate core pack and extras
The core pack contains:
- Smart control unit with built in battery
- Solar panel
- Dual water valves
- Temperature sensor
Then choose to add what you need:
- Hose connector, mini pump or pro pump
- One or more irrigation pipe kits, or your own pipe
- Soil moisture sensors
- A second pump for tank-to-tank transfer
How does the Harvst solar greenhouse watering system work?
A solar powered electronic control system uses environmental sensors, coupled with your choice of timer program, to water plants in two separate irrigation zones. Water can be provided by a pump, or you can use a tap. Settings are managed using an app which runs on Android and iPhone. If you have WiFi in your greenhouse, WaterMate can connect to the internet to allow you to manage & monitor your greenhouse watering system from anywhere. You can also set it up to send you email alerts.
WaterMate is designed and built by Harvst, in the UK.
Designed for greenhouses
WaterMate has been developed specifically with greenhouses in mind; from micro greenhouses all the way up to large greenhouses.
Fixings are supplied to attach the LDPE distribution pipe, control unit and solar panel to the slots in an aluminium framed greenhouse, or screwed to a wooden frame.
Setup videos consider the installation in typical greenhouses.
Smart watering
The control unit uses a combination of soil moisture, heat and light, coupled with a timer routine, to water two zones independently via electric water valves.
You can choose the settings that work best for your layout or plants, using a smartphone app.
When it’s hot, or the soil is too dry, WaterMate can water more to keep your plants growing well. When it’s cooler, or if the soil is already damp, WaterMate can water less, to help your water tank last longer.
Dual zone watering
WaterMate supports two independent watering zones, using an electric water valve. Each can be controlled using a completely different program, and different sensor inputs. Or, use the two zones to cover a larger area with the one pump.
You could set one zone up for misting/spraying (great for seedlings or salads) and the other zone for drippers (great for plants like tomatoes).
Versatile, flexible, powerful.
The WaterMate automatic greenhouse watering system is available as two ready-to-go kits:
- WaterMate Mini for smaller greenhouses
- WaterMate Pro for larger greenhouses and poylytunnels.
Or as a modular system, so you can pick and choose the parts that work for your situation.
Greenhouse watering system FAQs
How does the automatic greenhouse watering work?
The greenhouse watering system can be programmed to use any combination of timers, soil moisture readings, or a “solar boost” for hot days. Each of the two watering zones can be controlled independently.
- A timer lets you choose to water from 1 second to 5 minutes, from a maximum of twice a day at your chosen time(s) to once a week.
- Soil moisture readings can be used to give extra water when it’s dry, and prevent timer watering when soil is damp; saving you water and preventing over watering.
- Sunlight and heat data is used to give extra water on a hot sunny day; based on your choice of “solar boost” level.
Any of the three methods above can be used independently, or combined.
Will it run off grid?
Yes! Harvst WaterMate is a battery powered solar watering system, with a long-life litium ion battery and solar panel. Use it in the garden or at the allotment.
How do I change the watering settings?
Log on to the Harvst control app (a web app compatible with any smartphone, tablet or laptop), choose the watering zone, and edit your settings. You can do this remotely if your greenhouse has a WiFi connection. If not, you need to be near the control box to access the dashboard via the app.
How do I use the tank-to-tank transfer system?
Add an extra pump to the output on the left side of the control box. This pump can be controlled on a timer, for up to 5 minutes at a time. Use it daily to keep your greenhouse or polytunnel tank topped up. In the future we will add sensors so that the pump can be run only when water is needed.
What irrigation parts are compatible with WaterMate?
We’ve designed the system to work with any off-the-shelf irrigation and micro-irrigation parts. The kits are provided with 13mm LDPE pipe, 4mm micro irrigation kits, and a selection of spray nozzles for you to experiment with. When you have decided what you like, you can add more.
How do I control greenhouse humidity with WaterMate?
A combined temperature and humidity sensor is available as an optional extra. You can use the humidity reading (or temperature reading) to turn on the auxiliary output; into which you connect the Harvst pro pump and mister system.
How do I install the greenhouse irrigation system?
Harvst WaterMate is supplied with all the fittings and fixings you need to install into a common aluminium framed greenhouse. Using M6 cropped head aluminium bolts, pipe clips and brackets, you mount 13mm LDPE irrigation pipe to the perimiter of the greenhouse. Into this distribution pipe, you either fit sprayers, or dripper lines.
The control box, water valves and solar panel also fit to the greenhouse using M6 cropped head bolts in the frame slots.
Where does the water come from?
You have two options: water tank, or garden tap.
The Mini and the Pro kits pump water from a tank or water butt next to, or inside, your greenhouse or polytunnel. The mini pump is submersible (placed inside the tank) and can be up to 4m away from the water valves. The pro pump is placed inline with the inlet hose, with a dual intake filter to keep debris out.
For the tap option, just connect a hose directly to the inlet of the dual water valves. It uses a Hoze-lock style snap on connector.
How do the alerts work?
If you have a WiFi network within range of your greenhouse, the control system can connect to it, and will send data to the Harvst servers every half hour. If you’ve set your account up to receive email notifications, you can stay in touch wherever you are.
Do I need soil moisture sensors for my automatic greenhouse watering system?
No, the Harvst WaterMate will run fine without soil moisture sensors. It will still respond to environmental conditions using heat and light. You can add sensors at a later date.
Can I run greenhouse heaters and greenhouse lighting with WaterMate?
WaterMate Mini and WaterMate Pro are solar powered, which means you cannot directly run heaters or lights. The core pack is available in a mains powered version (UK 240V) which supports Harvst LED grow lights, Harvst heated seed trays and Harvst soil warming cable.
