A quick summary of the DIY irrigation system connected to a water barrel (https://fryd.link/Zwshv6RKt3b): The tomatoes did well with it and grew with fine roots all around it. During my summer vacation, the barrel ran dry once; unlike with Blumat drippers, all I had to do was refill the barrel. I also used Blumat. With that system, I had to refill each dripper individually. Other than that, though, they worked just fine.