How Much Should You Water a Vegetable Garden?
Water is vital to a vegetable garden.
Without any water the plants die.
Without enough water the plants will not thrive.
On the other hand, too much water prevents oxygen from reaching the roots of the vegetables and they'll fail to grow.
Most vegetables require 1 1/2 inches of water per week but there are other factors that make watering a little more complicated.
Humidity and Wind High humidity keeps the air around the plant's leaves moist so there isn't as much moisture lost through evaporation as during dry spells.
The humidity also keeps the ground wetter for a longer period of time.
Low humidity dries out the plant and soil faster.
Moving air dries out plants faster than still air.
Temperature High temperatures increase the rate of evaporation.
Warm season vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, corn and beans grow faster during warmer weather so require more water.
The plant may wilt during periods of very high temperatures -- over 95 degrees Fahrenheit -- even though the ground is still moist.
Check the soil before watering by digging down with a screwdriver.
If the soil is damp 3 or 4 inches down, wait to water.
The plant should recover during the cooler evening hours.
Type of Vegetable Large vegetable plants such as corn and pole beans require more water than smaller vegetables such as lettuces.
Tomatoes are susceptible to fruit cracking if the watering is sporadic.
The fruit shrinks a bit when the plant is dry.
When water is provided the fruit expands beyond its skin and cracks.
Bottom rot is a soft brown spot on the bottom of the ripening tomato caused by over watering.
Overhead Versus Irrigation Rain obviously falls from above the plants, so you might think that would be the best way to water because it mimics nature.
However sprinkling wastes water because it evaporates before it reaches the ground.
It's difficult to gauge the amount of water the plant actually receives.
If you must use a sprinkler, time how long it must be on to deliver an inch of water.
You'll then know how long to water in the future.
The most effective way to water vegetables is through an irrigation system of tubing and emitters.
The water is delivered directly to the soil above the plants roots.
Water doesn't splash up on ripening vegetables.
Hydroponics Gardening Add water to a hydroponics garden -- vegetables growing in nutrient enriched water rather than soil -- when the water level drops too far below the roots of the plants.
When you add water add the appropriate amount of nutrients to keep the plant's nutrition properly balanced.
Without any water the plants die.
Without enough water the plants will not thrive.
On the other hand, too much water prevents oxygen from reaching the roots of the vegetables and they'll fail to grow.
Most vegetables require 1 1/2 inches of water per week but there are other factors that make watering a little more complicated.
Humidity and Wind High humidity keeps the air around the plant's leaves moist so there isn't as much moisture lost through evaporation as during dry spells.
The humidity also keeps the ground wetter for a longer period of time.
Low humidity dries out the plant and soil faster.
Moving air dries out plants faster than still air.
Temperature High temperatures increase the rate of evaporation.
Warm season vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, corn and beans grow faster during warmer weather so require more water.
The plant may wilt during periods of very high temperatures -- over 95 degrees Fahrenheit -- even though the ground is still moist.
Check the soil before watering by digging down with a screwdriver.
If the soil is damp 3 or 4 inches down, wait to water.
The plant should recover during the cooler evening hours.
Type of Vegetable Large vegetable plants such as corn and pole beans require more water than smaller vegetables such as lettuces.
Tomatoes are susceptible to fruit cracking if the watering is sporadic.
The fruit shrinks a bit when the plant is dry.
When water is provided the fruit expands beyond its skin and cracks.
Bottom rot is a soft brown spot on the bottom of the ripening tomato caused by over watering.
Overhead Versus Irrigation Rain obviously falls from above the plants, so you might think that would be the best way to water because it mimics nature.
However sprinkling wastes water because it evaporates before it reaches the ground.
It's difficult to gauge the amount of water the plant actually receives.
If you must use a sprinkler, time how long it must be on to deliver an inch of water.
You'll then know how long to water in the future.
The most effective way to water vegetables is through an irrigation system of tubing and emitters.
The water is delivered directly to the soil above the plants roots.
Water doesn't splash up on ripening vegetables.
Hydroponics Gardening Add water to a hydroponics garden -- vegetables growing in nutrient enriched water rather than soil -- when the water level drops too far below the roots of the plants.
When you add water add the appropriate amount of nutrients to keep the plant's nutrition properly balanced.
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