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Tips For Watering Your Garden

Adequate soil moisture is essential for good crop growth. A healthy plant is composed of 75 to 90% water, which is used for the plant's vital functions, including photosynthesis, support (rigidity), and transportation of nutrients and sugars to various parts of the plant. During the first few weeks of growth, plants are becoming established and must have water to build their root systems.

While growing, vegetable crops need about 1 to 2 inches of water per week in the form of rainwater or irrigation water depending on the type of soil. One thorough watering each week is usually enough for most soils. The soil should be wetted to a depth of 5 to 6 inches each time you water and not watered again until the top few inches begin to dry out. An average garden soil will store 2 to 4 inches of water per foot of depth. Keep a rain gauge near your garden, then supplement rainfall with irrigation water if needed. In addition, there are ways to reduce the amount of water you have to add.

Basic Techniques and Principles for Watering

For overhead or sprinkler watering, adjust the rate of water application to about 1/2 inch per hour. A faster rate will cause run-off unless your soil has exceptionally good drainage. To determine the rate for a sprinkler, place small cans at various places within the sprinkler's reach, and check the level of water in the cans at 15-minute intervals.

When using the oscillating type of lawn sprinkler, place the sprinkler on a platform higher than the crop (to prevent water from being diverted by plant leaves), and try to keep the watering pattern even by frequently moving the sprinkler and overlapping about half of each pattern.

Wet foliage overnight can encourage diseases, so do not use sprinkle irrigation in the evening. Morning watering is preferred as there will be less water lost to evaporation than in the heat of the day. Add enough water to soak the soil to a depth of 5 to 6 inches. The amount required varies with the nature of your soil. Frequent, light waterings will encourage shallow rooting which will cause plants to suffer more during drought periods, especially if mulches are not used. On the other hand, too much water, especially in poorly drained soils, can be as damaging to plant growth as too little water; it deprives the roots of oxygen needed to grow.

By knowing the critical watering periods for selected vegetables or vegetable types, you can reduce the amount of supplemental water you add. This can be important, especially where water supplies are limited. In general, water is most needed.



Soil Nutrients

Critical Watering Times

  • during the first few weeks of development
  • immediately after transplant
  • during development of fruits

 

For selected vegetables the critical watering times are:

Asparagus

Spear production, fern development

Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower

Head development

Beans, peas

Pod filling

Carrot

Seed emergence, root development

Corn

Silking, tasseling, ear development

Cucumber, Melon

Flowering, fruit development

Eggplant, Tomato

Flowering, fruiting

Lettuce

Head development; moisture should be constant



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