An electronic control unit with one or two ways controlled by electrovalves for programmed watering of lawns, gardens, flower boxes and similar spaces, comprising a front panel, a display, watering program selection push-buttons for selecting the watering duration and repetition frequency and an electronic micro controller controlled by said selection push-buttons and connected to said display so that, in response to the operation of said selection push-buttons, the micro controller controls the visualization of the duration and the frequency of the selected program, characterized by further comprising at least one start push-button for immediate or delayed starting of the selected program, said start push-button being associated to said micro controller so that, in response to a single operation of said start push-button, the micro controller controls the immediate start of the selected watering program, while in case of operation of the start push-button for a variable number of times programs the delayed start of the selected program.