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Watering your veg

• Message 1. 

  Posted by wendy (U14838922) on Thursday, 28th April 2011

  Hello,
  I know I'am asking alot of questions just new to this growing your own and getting all different advice so thought on this matter would come to the people that know for real.
  
  Watering I have carrots, onions, spring onions, brassicas and sweetcorn in the ground. In tubs variety of early 2nd early and main crop potatoes, courgettes, marrows, tomatoes, leeks, onions, spring onions, abergines, peppers and cucumbers.
  
  I water them especially in this weather every 3-4 days making sure that it is like they had rain (so i dont bog them down) but my neighbour said you dont see farmers watering their products but that is in the ground. Am I doing the right thing, I can understand limited water for items in the ground but not in tubs.
  
  Any help would be grateful.
  
  many thanks
  wendy

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by cufcskim (U14483815) on Thursday, 28th April 2011

  Farmers do water some crops in dry weather.
  
  There's no hard and fast rules for watering (or anything in gardening).
  
  In the ground, probably a good soak once a week, a bit more in dry weather, less in wet. Plants in the ground are more forgiving, they have the independence to fend for themselves.
  
  The pots however are more dependant on you and it's anywhere between, 2-3times a week through to 2-3 times a day depending on size of pot, what's growing and the stage of growth. Feed veg in pots around every ten days.
  
  As with most things, knowing when and how much to water will come with experience.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by yipeekiyeah (U14278245) on Thursday, 28th April 2011

  With spuds I've heard to check that the soil is still moist 4in below, if not water them. With onions and that family I've read you only water in very dry conditions.

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Thursday, 28th April 2011

  If yer gonna water, then WATER ! nothing is worse for a plant than to have the surface moistened but non permeating down to the roots. Cheers, Tony.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Thursday, 28th April 2011

  This is my slant on watering;
  
  

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• Message 6

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  Posted by compostpope (U13912010) on Thursday, 28th April 2011

  My problem with giving my veg a really good soak is that if I do, then I tend to end up with with a very hard cap on the surface when it dries out, so I water less but more frequently - which I know is not good for good deep root growth!
  
  I suspect this is because of my soil type, I have a clayey soil now and never had this problem on lighter soils.
  
  Does anybody have any suggestions reg watering clay soils?

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Thursday, 28th April 2011

  If it's seriously clay, the shallow watering isn't helping your plants because it's doubtful the water is even reaching the roots. So in those terms you're better going the deep soak.
  
  That said, why not amend your soil? Dig in sand and manure (or compost) down to about three or four inches. Save water and your plants will thank you too!

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• Message 8

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  Posted by whatalottie (U9072847) on Saturday, 30th April 2011

  We have light sandy soil and we can get a crust too.
  
  As I was watering profusely yesterday I was considering the problem of a crust forming, and I wondered if it was such a bad thing in this weather? It'll stop some of the moisure evaporating.
  
  As soon as it's likely to rain, or next time you water, you'd have to make sure you broke up the crust so that water could reach the roots. I'd be like a dust mulch.
  
  There must be some reason why it's not a good idea, but I can't think of it.
  
  Any comments?
  
  Lottie

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by compostpope (U13912010) on Sunday, 1st May 2011

  I'm not convinced that the crust would stop evaporation though others might know for sure....
  
  My concerns about the formation of a crust are threefold
  
  1) Surely seedlings can't poke their heads through it?
  
  2)Does it not block subsequent irrigation - requiring me to spend time breaking it up and perhaps damaging soil structure and disrupting the soil life in the process?
  
  3)It just looks horrible!
  
  That said, I have seemed to have less of a problem with it this year - possibly due to all the organic matter I've been adding. I've also tried spreading a very thin layer of grass clippings on the surface in the hope thst this might somehow dissipate the force of the water as it hits the ground and protect the crumb structure of the soil surface - has anybody else tried this?
  
  Once we get some serious rainfall I plan to mulch established plants heavily with compost which I hope will stop the capping all together and negate the need for additional watering...
  
  Thanks to both of you for your input

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by figrat (U3054696) on Sunday, 1st May 2011

  I've used 2 litre plastic bottles with the bottoms cut out and inserted top down next to plants, which acts like a funnel so that water goes directly to the roots. My soil is however very free draining, so I don't know if this would help your crusty clay problem.
  It doesn't look very pretty, but you can try and put them in a position where they will be hidden behind foliage.

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• Message 11

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