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  • Should I be watering?

    Hi
    Just wondering, should I be watering my planted onion sets and garlic?
    AKA Angie

  • #2
    Well I am watering mine!
    Hasnt rained in ages
    WPC F Hobbit, Shire police

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    • #3
      Depends on how dry your soil is!!

      If you wiggle your finger into the surface by about 2cm , and it's still dry- then a watering won't do them any harm.
      "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

      Location....Normandy France

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      • #4
        Right, thanks Nicos, I will go out right now and do the finger test!
        AKA Angie

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        • #5
          Okay, i've done the test. The top inch was dry but was moist further down so I gave them a bit of a watering anyway. As I have a habit of overwatering things, I didn't want them to end up rotting.
          AKA Angie

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          • #6
            The top of the soil is "meant" to be dry ... it acts as a mulch, trapping moisture down underground.

            I'm not watering mine unless we have a serious drought ... I want them to put roots DOWN into the soil. Frequent surface watering encourages roots to stay near the surface - leading to further drying out. You'd be creating a rod for your own back.
            All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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            • #7
              Thanks Two Sheds. Will put a halt to the watering for now unless, as you say, we get a drought.
              AKA Angie

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
                I'm not watering mine unless we have a serious drought ... I want them to put roots DOWN into the soil. Frequent surface watering encourages roots to stay near the surface - leading to further drying out. You'd be creating a rod for your own back.
                This is a wise lesson learned.

                Most plants will grow quite happily in their natural environment. Let them find their own water and only in extreme summer will you need to offer a bit of help. Put your effort to removing weeds which are competing with your plants for the water available.
                http://plot62.blogspot.com/

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                • #9
                  Great thread. I have been wondering if I should water the potatoes I planted on Sunday. Now I have the good advice of "Grapes in the know" I can sleep at night. First year on allotment. Great innit!
                  Do it! Life's too short

                  http://for-you-dad.blogspot.com/

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                  • #10
                    Very good point TS which i will keep in mind. However mine are in containers which will dry out quicker than ordinary beds so I keep a closer eye on them as they dry out far quicker
                    WPC F Hobbit, Shire police

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by FionaH View Post
                      Very good point TS which i will keep in mind. However mine are in containers which will dry out quicker than ordinary beds so I keep a closer eye on them as they dry out far quicker
                      Hmmm thats a point, wonder if that applies to my raised beds too
                      AKA Angie

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by sallym View Post
                        Great thread. I have been wondering if I should water the potatoes I planted on Sunday. Now I have the good advice of "Grapes in the know" I can sleep at night. First year on allotment. Great innit!
                        If the spuds are in containers, you shouldn't water them for the first week (that's a tip from tattieman, not me!). If they're in the ground, I wouldn't water them at all except:

                        1. If we have an extended spell of really dry weather and they start to look thirsty

                        2. Bob Flowerdew reckons that if you give them a good soak when they start to flower, that will improve the crop more than anything else you can do.

                        For the last two years the only crops I've watered on my lottie have been the celeriac, which likes it wet, and the squash.

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                        • #13
                          I gave my onions and garlic a seaweed feed last Sunday and the way they've picked up this week is inspiring. I read a recommendation for this somewhere and while I was at it fed my peas and strawberries as well. The peas have gone barmy since
                          Hayley B

                          John Wayne's daughter, Marisa Wayne, will be competing with my Other Half, in the Macmillan 4x4 Challenge (in its 10th year) in March 2011, all sponsorship money goes to Macmillan Cancer Support, please sponsor them at http://www.justgiving.com/Mac4x4TeamDuke'

                          An Egg is for breakfast, a chook is for life

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by HayleyB View Post
                            I gave my onions and garlic a seaweed feed last Sunday and the way they've picked up this week is inspiring. I read a recommendation for this somewhere and while I was at it fed my peas and strawberries as well. The peas have gone barmy since
                            I've got some of that too but thought you could only feed when they start flowering (obviously not garlic and onions).
                            AKA Angie

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                            • #15
                              I only used it the once to give a bit of a boost to their systems as they have been out all winter, I will feed regularly once the peas and the broadies start to flower, they're both earlies and have suffered two coverings of snow and many long frosts
                              Hayley B

                              John Wayne's daughter, Marisa Wayne, will be competing with my Other Half, in the Macmillan 4x4 Challenge (in its 10th year) in March 2011, all sponsorship money goes to Macmillan Cancer Support, please sponsor them at http://www.justgiving.com/Mac4x4TeamDuke'

                              An Egg is for breakfast, a chook is for life

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