How much water?

**tootles** · 21-06-2009, 11:17 AM

I live in a very dry area (well in the summer anyway) and this year have decided to make everything a bit more hardy. I have yet to water my brassicas at all. I shall be giving the fruiting veg (ie toms cues courgettes etc) more water when they start to form fruit but have tried not to give them too much until now. Salads I am giving water and shallow roots such as beetroot and turnip/swede. My beans may have their first watering soon as the flowers give way to beans. The mangetout haven't had water at all and have given me a huge harvest (3-4kg from a 3m single row)
my theory is that unless you have had an extended dry period the plants should have a root system capable of finding water - if they don't have to go looking for it then the roots will be shallow and the plant less strong.

We have had the odd rainy day with high temps in between (30+). So long as the earth is dark and damp below the surface I don't water. Surely NI gets above average rainfall anyway.....

**starloc** · 21-06-2009, 12:28 PM

it is usualy better to water in the early morning, then the surface drys quicker, you need the surface to dry a bit to prevent diesiese forming/spreading due to damp conditions, as to how much and how often , it depends on the plant type, some like it dry some wet and depending on the type of soil some drys out faster some stays wet longer

**bobleponge** · 21-06-2009, 12:46 PM

Having spent many many months in your part of the world over the years, I dont remember one without rain. Ok maybe 1.
I almost never water my veggies that are in the garden, the only glaring exception is celery, which you almost cant water too much.
All my veg is in raised beds, consisting predominantly of rotted manure, horse and cow, and layered with compost every year to fill them back up. This gives really good water retention, even in a raised bed, thus negating the need to water.
In the 3 years that I have been growing in my garden we havent had particularly hot summers, quite the opposite in fact, thus its not been needed.
Thus summer is (apparently) being forecast as a hot one, which if it happens will mean a change in plan.

**Two_Sheds** · 21-06-2009, 02:50 PM

this older thread might help you ... http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_15498.html

**Storming Norman** · 22-06-2009, 09:49 PM

I water about once a week at this time of year, including the greenhouse, but I give them loads, and ensure there is water storage available to the plants.

A bit more water in hot weather for the outside containers that are full of broad beans, but that is it, that includes all my hanging flower baskets.

I did not water this much for my outside veg in past years but this year it is clearly paying dividends with much higher yields.

However I do it by hand held hose, not a sprinkler - so the water goes in deeply where it is wanted only, and only until I get bored with the watering.

Some plants manage with much less, unless flowering and fruiting.

Mulching after a heavy watering is very effective, it is really worth doing for beans at least at this time of year.

**solway cropper** · 22-06-2009, 10:21 PM

Far too many people over-water their plants. If growing in the ground they can last weeks without rain and it's much better to give a real good soaking every now and then rather than a sprinkle every day. It helps a bit if things are fruiting but you'd have to do some sort of test and compare yields to see if watering made much of a difference. Scratch down a few inches on a piece of dry ground and you'll see how damp it can be underneath.

**colser** · 22-06-2009, 11:15 PM

i'm still very much a novice compared to most on this site but i've been doing the following

pots and baskets -- sticking my finger in each day, if it's not moist they get a soaking
plants in the ground -- best left to their own devices (helps grow strong/deep roots etc) and occasionaly soaked during dry weather. i've split my plot into 6 sections and will drench one section a day during really dry weather

**Two_Sheds** · 23-06-2009, 06:04 AM

Originally posted by colser View Post

pots and baskets -- sticking my finger in each day, if it's not moist they get a soaking

Keep your finger clean ... just lift the pot and if it feels light, water it. If it's heavy - don't.

**zazen999** · 23-06-2009, 06:07 AM

Once things are in their final position - we water things in pots and celery. We are not very good at remembering - so it is a good thing we don't water the garden or lottie.

We would in a drought - if we had any water but I'm guessing that if we had a drought the water butt would be as dry as a bone.

**Snadger** · 23-06-2009, 06:14 AM

The victorians only had ceramic pots........no plastic! They used a tapping stick with a wad of cloth tied tightly around the top to tap the pots. If the pot rang they new it needed water.

Must have been like listening to a zylaphone in the greenhouses in the morning.

Don't know why I mentioned this

!

**Florence Fennel** · 23-06-2009, 07:01 AM

Good Morning - I'm trying to restrict my watering to when the ground is dry. I went out with the hose last night, directed at the roots of all the veg. Took me about three quarters of an hour. Checked out the toms, etc., in buckets and put water in their plastic bottle feeders. Wound up the hose, put it back in the shed and then guess what? You've got it - we had heavy rain. Again. Wish I'd got a crystal ball. What a nice story for a Tuesday morning Snadger, very musical those Victorians.

**potty_pete** · 24-06-2009, 09:54 AM

Thanks all for the pointers. Have stopped watering so much, except for the stuff in the GH. Have been keeping a very close eye on them but have decided everything outside will be left to fend for themselves...

**Mac** · 24-06-2009, 03:24 PM

Hey all, very useful thread. Quick question - what about tomatoes? I've got a few different varieties at various stages in containers. How often would anyone advise on watering them? They are in a greenhouse.. Thanks

**squashman** · 24-06-2009, 06:46 PM

Originally posted by Snadger View Post

Don't know why I mentioned this

!

Because it's interesting and interesting things are always worth mentioning.

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