When is it time to water?
It’s time to water the garden, especially if you spent time and money planting a vegetable and fruit garden. If your edible garden does not receive adequate water, the harvest will be limited and maybe not so tasty.
How important is watering fruits and vegetables? Did you know a strawberry fruit is 92% water? So are asparagus, beet greens, red cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant and green onions. Topping the list are cucumber, butterhead lettuce, crisphead lettuce and zucchini at 96%. If these fruits and vegetables do not get enough water during the growing season, they will be small and bitter at harvest. Too much water will make certain fruits and vegetables bland and watery.
Now the question is, “How much and when does one water?” Keeping even, consistent moisture levels in the soil is the most efficient way to irrigate. This means coastal gardeners usually need to apply about an inch of water per week, depending on weather. This averages out to about ½ gallon of water per square foot of garden space. Inland gardeners, where temperatures often rise into the 90s, need just as much water, but more often. Mulching will definitely conserve moisture.
The main thing to remember is don’t allow soil to get too dry, but not too wet, either. Think of the soil always being like a moist sponge during the growing season. Again, mulching will help with this.
There are three approaches to determining when to water. The cheapest, easiest way is to get a thin piece of dowel or a cheap bamboo stake and poke it into the soil about 8 inches down. If the top of soil is dry, but the root zone is still moist, it’s time to irrigate with enough water equivalent to an inch of rain.
Moisture meters are available to determine soil moisture levels. Another test is to dig into the soil a couple of inches down, putting a scoop of soil into the palm of your hand. Squeeze the soil into a little ball. If it forms a ball and then crumbles to the touch, it’s time to water. This is easier to do with clay soils compared to sandy ones.
How much to water and when also depends on soil type. Sandy soils drain quickly and hold less moisture. Clay soils retain water for a longer time. Temperature and humidity also have an effect on irrigation scheduling.
The easiest thing you can do is poke a stick into the soil and check. Then, soak the plants deeply to about 12 inches. Check a few days later, then water again.
How much to water and when also depends on soil type. Sandy soils drain quickly and hold less moisture. Clay soils retain water for a longer time. Temperature and humidity also have an effect on irrigation scheduling.