Watering Cans

[sg31]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this, if not, please move it.

I want to buy a galvanised steel watering can for a friend. I've had several in the past but they don't seem to last for very long. I would like to find one that is well made and properly galvanised. I've looked at several at garden centres and places like B & Q but they seem flimsy and 'cheap'. I've been on line and searched for reviews but for each one that gets good reviews there's several reviews that say they are poor quality and don't last.

Can anyone recommend a robust, watering can that will last? Something around 9-10 litres would be ideal.

I'm not interested in anything made of plastic

[bungeejumper]

No idea, but my first move would be to go down to the local plant nursery and ask the staff? I imagine there's a whole tier of professional gardening equipment that's too good for the retail sheds.

BJ

[Dod101]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this, if not, please move it.

I want to buy a galvanised steel watering can for a friend. I've had several in the past but they don't seem to last for very long. I would like to find one that is well made and properly galvanised. I've looked at several at garden centres and places like B & Q but they seem flimsy and 'cheap'. I've been on line and searched for reviews but for each one that gets good reviews there's several reviews that say they are poor quality and don't last.

Can anyone recommend a robust, watering can that will last? Something around 9-10 litres would be ideal.

I'm not interested in anything made of plastic

Why not plastic? It will almost certainly last longer than any galvanised one. I have one now getting to the end of its life that I have had for more than 30 years.

Dod

[DrFfybes]

Can anyone recommend a robust, watering can that will last? Something around 9-10 litres would be ideal.

I'm not interested in anything made of plastic

Why not plastic? It will almost certainly last longer than any galvanised one. I have one now getting to the end of its life that I have had for more than 30 years.

Dod

Plastic ones last much better if not allowed to get hot or left in direct sunlight, where they tend to go brittle. I used to work in an agrochemicals place and they had a LOT of glasshouses, all the cans were plastic and shoved under the staging after use.

Paul

[bungeejumper]

I've been on line and searched for reviews but for each one that gets good reviews there's several reviews that say they are poor quality and don't last.

Can anyone recommend a robust, watering can that will last? Something around 9-10 litres would be ideal.

I suspect that a 'proper' watering can that carries 10 litres of water (or shall we call it 22 pounds?) won't appeal to Mrs Chintzy Chelsea-Gardener, who wouldn't/couldn't want to deal with that kind of weight. (And, truthfully, nor would I - I ripped a tendon lifting a nine-litre pack of mineral water a few years back, and it took almost a year to heal.) /

No, what Mrs CC-G wants is something that looks ever so traditional and authentic, but half the weight, or ideally less. No wonder there are so many manufacturers turning out 4.5 litre cans made of retro-looking bent tinfoil, with absurd price tags! Whereas the properly meaty sizes won't feature so often in the sheds and the garden centres. A self-selecting product category, then?

I've suggested asking your local grower, but farmers also need this kind of stuff. Find the vendors who supply that end of the sector, and you'll find the quality?

BJ

[sg31]

Whereas the properly meaty sizes won't feature so often in the sheds and the garden centres. A self-selecting product category, then?

I've suggested asking your local grower, but farmers also need this kind of stuff. Find the vendors who supply that end of the sector, and you'll find the quality?

BJ

Thank you. I know just the place which is only about 15 miles away. They are very competetive on price and they do have watering cans in stock at £26.50. Hopefully it will be properly made. It's not somewhere I frequent but local farmers use it.

[mutantpoodle]

coming back to orig request

as with most things...the old ones are the ones to go for

try junk yards/boot sales..even antique shops...but do expect to pay for it

cheap modern ones are stil £5+...I doubt you will get a good old one less than £20

[Lanark]

Manufactum have some nice options, but not cheap (£50+)
https://www.manufactum.co.uk/watering-c ... s-a202863/

[Nimrod103]

From what I have seen, builders and bricklayers often prefer metal watering cans. I bought a 2 gallon (10 litre) can a couple of years ago in Wickes. The larger sizes seem to be more robust than the 1 gallon ones.

[Dod101]

From what I have seen, builders and bricklayers often prefer metal watering cans. I bought a 2 gallon (10 litre) can a couple of years ago in Wickes. The larger sizes seem to be more robust than the 1 gallon ones.

Quite probably. But they are also a lot heavier and less useful for watering plants and seed trays at waist height and higher.

Dod

[Mike4]

Manufactum have some nice options, but not cheap (£50+)
https://www.manufactum.co.uk/watering-c ... s-a202863/

Slight problem with the above. On the page flogging their rather sturdy looking 9L traditional galvanised watering can, it says:

"We regret to inform you that, due to Brexit, we are unable to accept orders from our UK customers."

[88V8]

2 gallon can.... eBay is your friend... OK this one is 1.5 gallon which is unusual. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255445407532?hash=item3b79bb972c:g:e8EAAOSwT3ZiNvdw

For others, look under 'watering can' in Antiques, like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/20081/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=watering+can

New ones?? Pfft

V8

[stevensfo]

Over the years, I've noticed that the larger the watering can, the sooner it springs a leak. What I tend to do these days is keep an assortment of smaller plastic watering cans and fill them with a bucket. We rarely have to use a tap, since, like lots of people, we collect rainwater in large tubs that last for ages.

Much easier for my wife as well.

Steve

PS My sister and brother-in-law have a tiny garden, yet bought the house complete with enormous rain tubs that could serve the whole bleedin' street! What made it worse was that the previous owners had paved over most of the back garden, yet left the rain tubs. I keep urging them to set up their own water utilities company, but computer says no!