Watering query...

[Herbsandveg]

Right then, I know I've posted a lot of very simplistic questions on here, and here's another one to maintain the form: The query is; How often do you water, and slightly more specifically still, exactly when?

I have a vegetable bed with Sweetcorn and Tomatilloes and Celeriac and Peas (lots and lots of 'em), Cabbage, Spinach, Broad Beans and Butternut squash, and then I've got loads of pots of various sizes with Cucamelons, Runner Beans, Lettuce, Carrots, Herbs, Chard and a few that have just slipped out of my mind: Oh, yes, plus the Tomatoes and Cucumbers and another two Tomatilloes (bizarrely) in the greenhouse, plus all the taties growing in the bags. I usually water these around 8pm with the hosepipe, but am wondering if it should really be done in the early morning (the NHS would just have to twiddle their thumbs if that's the case) so that they have something to go on throughout the day.

Could anyone advise me on this one, please? Am just ever so slightly worried that I might be doing something wrong...

[veggiechicken]

I only water plants in pots, under cover or newly planted. After that, they're on their own - whatever the weather.
If you water in the evening you'll tempt the slugs, if you water in the morning the plants don't have much time to suck it up before it gets hot.
You pays your money and you takes your choice..........
Someone who knows what they're doing will be along soon........

[WendyC]

I water in the evening as like you I can't leave my class waiting! I think the evening is better as the plants have time to get all the moisture they need overnight and be able to cope with the heat of the day. Depending on how early you are if you water in the morning there's a chance they are not fully revived before the heat of the day which seems to build very quickly at the moment.
Anything in a pot is watered every day. If it is newly planted it gets more. Established plants rarely get a look in unless they are producing fruit or are peas and beans.

[taff]

I water the greenhouse stuff in the evening, but i fill the things they stand in again and leave more again because i only water every other day.
I don't water anything in the ground.

[Alison]

I too only water stuff in the ground when I first plant out, other things usually get watered in the evening as that's when I have time but that's the key thing really, time, it has to fit in round the rest of my life

[Two_Sheds]

simplistic questions...How often do you water, and ...exactly when?

Watering is a skill that you need to learn, by doing it. Most beginners (and old hands too) water far too much, leaving a hose pipe running for hours several times a week.

In the ground
My rule of thumb now (because people like numbers) is 12 litres per week, per square metre for most things, going up to 22 litres for veg that are actively flowering or producing a crop.


So, for example, spuds only need the 12 per week, until they start flowering and/or forming tubers, then it goes up to 22 .

In the greenhouse
A can or two per evening in this heatwave. Less if it's cloudy and cool

In containers
As per greenhouse. Plus, if they dry out really quickly I put the containers in the shade and/or pot the plants up into a larger container

[Herbsandveg]

Every post totally fascinating, and very, very helpful. Many thanks to all who have replied...

[veggiechicken]

So, having read them all, what are YOU going to do Herbs

[Alison]

Watering is a skill that you need to learn, by doing it. Most beginners (and old hands too) water far too much, leaving a hose pipe running for hours several times a week.

In the ground
My rule of thumb now (because people like numbers) is 12 litres per week, per square metre for most things, going up to 22 litres for veg that are actively flowering or producing a crop.


So, for example, spuds only need the 12 per week, until they start flowering and/or forming tubers, then it goes up to 22 .

In the greenhouse
A can or two per evening in this heatwave. Less if it's cloudy and cool

In containers
As per greenhouse. Plus, if they dry out really quickly I put the containers in the shade and/or pot the plants up into a larger container

Although that is perfected for Two Shed's conditions it might be totally wrong in another location - it all depends on the weather (wind and sun as well as rain), soil type and geography of the site ie exposed, sheltered etc. So many variables so you have to work out what is right for you.

[out in the cold]

We water pots at least once per day at the moment. Spuds are getting about a quarter of a watering can per growbag in the evening plus the same every other morning. Beans are so getting a good soak every day, as is my rhubarb.

Almost stopped watering the cabbages, checking the soil for moisture before watering and the garlic is on it's own, though the onions are getting soaked every other day.

The kholrabi is being helped along by some upturned bottles.

No doubt some of this will be wrong though....

[Herbsandveg]

Well, that's the big question...

So, having read them all, what are YOU going to do Herbs

I think I'm about on par with his estimation on watering, and I've certainly increased it all in about the last month or so. I think I used to theorize that so long as the plants were planted in the earth - or the vegetable plot - then they were somehow 'OK' and didn't need quite the same care as the plants in pots and bags and things like that (He means pots and bags - Ed), so I've had a heck of a lot of learning to do in really a very short time.

I joined this Forum earlier this year after subscribing to the magazine, and it's been a really steep learning curve for me in terms of really getting to grips with the basic mechanics of gardening - something I often feel I'm only just beginning to scratch the outer surface of - and learning the individual 'likes and dislikes' of every group of plants and every individual plant within their species. It's been bewildering at times, but for every minor setback there's been a lovely revelation, and new encouragements have always arrived when most needed - and I count my friends on here amongst the very dearest 'gains'.

I shall continue to plod on and hugely enjoy this wonderful pastime, and I'll even keep my eye in with a bit of real gardening, too!...

[out in the cold]

Don't feel too bad about asking loads of questions. My old man is still asking about stuff (and sharing what he knows too) and has been gardening since him and my mum got married nearly 50 years ago...

I think it helps to accept that you might get some stuff wrong from time to time and then change what you did next time

[Herbsandveg]

Don't feel too bad about asking loads of questions. My old man is still asking about stuff (and sharing what he knows too) and has been gardening since him and my mum got married nearly 50 years ago...

I think it helps to accept that you might get some stuff wrong from time to time and then change what you did next time

You're point about getting things wrong sometimes has been a tough one to learn for me. I really quite strongly upbraid myself for any gormless errors I commit in life in general, so you'll appreciate how I'm learning to for errors in this pastime, nay 'area of total absorption' that I've come to love so much...

[veggiechicken]

I'll tell you something Herbs - you never stop learning about gardening - and one of the key things to know is that over time, you develop your own ways of doing things. So if you sat us all down and asked us one question, we'll probably all give you a slightly different answer. Most of the things you learn come from experience - from making mistakes - and sometimes from doing something that actually works out the way you hoped.
Pick and mix from the answers you receive here and come up with something that suits you and your lifestyle.
Once you have gardening in your soul, it will always be there for you - so enjoy it

[out in the cold]

You're point about getting things wrong sometimes has been a tough one to learn for me. I really quite strongly upbraid myself for any gormless errors I commit in life in general, so you'll appreciate how I'm learning to for errors in this pastime, nay 'area of total absorption' that I've come to love so much...

Addictive innit...

My mum was saying to KCN just the other week about how she had never had me down as a gardener, ever.