Soaker hoses - how often and for how long?

[Koulibiak]

I have just finished setting up a soaker hose system in my garden. I’m confused as to what are the right settings. Online guidance ranges from 10 minutes, 3 times a week, to several hours every day. 🤨

I’m happy to do some trial and error, but would like to reduce the range a bit.

If you have soaker hoses, what settings do you have them on?

For context, my garden is sunny, SW exposure, and I have a lot of thirsty plants like cannas and bananas. The soil is clay (though I’m gradually improving it). I will be watering in the early morning (before 6am).

Where do you live?

Where I live it rains most days at 6am, bananas aren't particularly common and water is expensive.

thanks - I’m in London, it has barely rained in two months, and bananas are hardy.

We’re in London and have just bumped up our drip hose system from one hour a day (which definitely wasn’t cutting it) to two. Might even need more if it doesn’t rain soon.

@minipie thank you! That’s really helpful. I currently have it on one hour, but I find myself doing some ad hoc watering. I think I will be bumping it up and see how it goes.

It really is a how long is a piece of string question, how sunny/shady is the garden, how easily draining is the soil, do the plants like wet or dry conditions, trial and error is probably the way to go.