Water conservation in home vegetable gardens
As we move into February, we need to start preparing for vegetable gardening season. If you have not conducted a soil test in several years, now would be a great time. Soil testing is not the main topic of this article, but checking the soil pH and obtaining fertilization recommendations can get you ready for planting time in spring. If the pH is low, you can get that recommended lime amount now and hopefully you will see a pH improvement soon.
Today, I will like to discuss water conservation in your vegetable garden. Water can be a key and limiting factor in vegetable gardening success. Without proper soil moisture, your production will be reduced and your gardening efforts can even be a failure. I will be sharing information from a UGA publication by Bob Westerfield, UGA Extension Horticulturist.
The first tip that I will add is that you really need to have a clean water source handy for your gardening efforts. Ideally, the garden will be planted in a sunny spot close to a water source. All vegetables need water and you need to be able to have a constant supply when needed. You can make vegetable gardening more difficult if you have to haul water from a great distance. You can do it, but it will be more work on your part. Learning how to conserve water is also critical if watering restrictions or even water bans are implemented in times of drought.
One step you can add to your gardening efforts to conserve soil moisture is mulching. Mulching can bring a lot to the table in vegetable gardening situations. Mulching can reduce moisture loss from evaporation so will reduce variations in soil moisture levels. Mulching can keep the soil temperatures cooler in the summer too. Mulch can also work as a barrier between the soil and the actual plant and reduce the incidence of soil- borne diseases. You can use leaves, bark or weedfree hay 3- 4 inches in depth in the garden spot. You can even put down three sheets of newspaper on the soil with the mulch on top to also help in water conservation and also as a weed barrier. If you use hay, you must make sure the hay is from a herbicide free source so you do not run into herbicide injury in your vegetables from the hay.
You can also use milk jugs to help conserve moisture in the vegetable garden. Westerfield suggests to cut the top from a gallon milk jug or use a large can. You will need to punch very small holes in the bottom and then set in the ground with only the neck showing above the soil surface. Place one jug either near or between each large plant such as tomatoes or squash. You can fill the jug once or twice per week or more often if needed. When the plants start making fruit about the size of a quarter in this scenario, you can add 1- 2 teaspoons of a complete fertilizer such as 5- 10- 10 to the water in the jug once a week.
When you do supplement water, soaker hoses or drip hoses are the best. You want to keep the foliage of vegetable plants as dry as possible to reduce chance of disease. If you have to use a sprinkler, only do so late in the evening or early in the morning to limit the time foliage is wet. Using a sprinkler midday or in the afternoon can keep plants wet for an extended amount of time and can be that last key ingredient to start disease in the garden. One of the worst things you can do is to stand in the garden with a hose and spray the plant lightly every day. This is the least desirable way to water. Ideally, the soil should be soaked to a depth of 6- 8 inches. This will aid roots growing deep not only to obtain water, but nutrients deeper in the soil. Plants are then more prepared to handle drought situations.
Sandy ground can be watered deeply every 4- 5 days and the more heavy clay soils about ever seven to ten days if needed. Please note that just do not water for the sake of watering because overwatering can cause plant issues too. Overwatering is not keeping conservation in mind and can damage roots.
It is normal for plants to look wilted in the afternoon heat. Those plants should look better by the morning. If plants have a wilted appearance in the morning, you probably need to irrigate. Another tip is to not water when we have strong winds. You can lose half of your water in this situation. Also, in regards to conserving moisture, do not cultivate the soil unless necessary. Cultivation can increase loss of moisture.
For more information contact UGA ExtensionGordon County at 706- 629- 8685 or email gbowman@uga.edu.