Watering

[BimblingBob]

Hello,

I've just taken a 3rd of a plot on to try my hand.

Currently I've got some tomato plants, chillis, some herb and some spuds and peas in.

What advice could I get on how to water these? I can't really make it in a morning but can get down each night.

Should I be watering each evening (maybe alternate evenings) or should I do one big watering once/twice a week when it hasn't rained ?

Many thanks,

bob

[muddled]

Hello Bob, welcome to the vine!

I don't water herbs except when I plant them and in times of serious drought.

You don't say whereabouts you are but here in the south of England, I would say that its way too early for chillis and very risky for tomatoes to be outside yet.

Spuds though, I water on planting and then leave untill flowering unless they get so dry that very deep cracks appear in the soil.

One thing that will help you later in the year, is a good mulch. You'll be amazed at how much moisture it retains in the soil...it lessens the requirement for watering to a ridiculous degree!

[Alison]

Apart from when I plant out I don't water anything in the ground as I think the plants are much stronger if they search for water deeply rather than rely on surface watering. Obviously I do water things in the tunnel / greenhouse and also in pots but it depends on how big the pot in, how warm it is and when it last rained.

[Baldy]

I concur.



.... our allotment site has no piped water but we do have a load of tanks, water butts, buckets etc. We've a minority who use most of the stored water over the summer on their ground planted crops - annoys everyone else and doesn't seem to ake any difference to the quality and quantity of crops compared with those of us who leave our ground planted plants to it... Just means there's no water for the GH and potted crops...
You don't spell it out but I assume that your stuff is out in the open ground. In which case I'd not worry too much about the spuds or herbs/peas - occasional watering if its very dry. Toms and chillis a little more demanding but I'd suggest they don't need molicoddling to the extent of a daily watering - particularly at this time of year. Maybe in the middle of a 1976 type August...

Anyhow, good luck with 'em.

Balders

[Baldy]

oh - and welcome to the Vine

Balders

[BimblingBob]

Yep sorry. All in open ground. Sorry two week veg gardener

I live in a flat and have no outdoor space, ten minute walk away is some allotments so I approached the parish council to see what the score was. They offered me a 3rd of a plot, roughly 8m x 10m and I'm having a go and seeing what happens.

Half the plot I've cleared (although this is a great beginners plot, its basically clear apart from some grass etc.)

Couple of rows of peas sowed directly outdoors
Two rows of potatoes
Some herbs from my kitchen window

All of these were on offer at b & q so thought why not
Some strawberry plants
Some chillis
Some tomatos

Turned over the ground, removed weeds (roots) I could see, get to, raked, hoe'd.

Lets see what happens.

It's interesting that you don't water in open soil. That makes sense to me, making the plants stronger. Yes I probably was too eager with tomatoes and chillis. After doing some reading they should, I guess, be in a greenhouse. Next year I'll probably get a cheap plastic one and move the bins around and take over the bin enclosure heh.

Thanks all

[muddled]

well it sounds like you're off to a really good start!

If the chillis are small enough you could oik them out and keep them in a pot on a windowsil for a while. The tomatoes might be okay but if you're passing a cheapo shop like wikos or poundland, pop in and buy some garderners fleece...thin papery material that you can wrap round your tomatoes if cold weather is forcast.

[PyreneesPlot]

Hello and welcome!
You could always make a little pastic tunnel to go over the tomatoes and chillies until the weather improves. I made one from bending some rebar left by the builders and a load of plastic sheets, yup left by the builders!
As for watering, I only water when things first go in and then once a week when (if) it is very hot. And I do try to water in the mornings as waterng at night makes a slug/snail problem worse.
If you can mulch - I use grass clippings as we have lots of them - it will keep the moisture in and reduce the amount of watering.

[SusieG]

Morning Bimblingbob! A very warm welcome to the Vine from me!

Hope you enjoy your new 'lottie' venture, sounds like you've already been bitten by the 'bug' ...
As you can see, you'll get your questions answered here with heaps of useful advice along the way.
Don't forget your 'before' and 'after' photos, it's great to see just how much work you've accomplished over the months ...

If you're putting toms outside look for a variety (perhaps a bush variety.?) that is specifically meant to go outdoors.
As for chillis, I have never grown them outside, although I'm pretty new to the chilli growing, I intend only to get them as far as the GH when they're a bit bigger/weather warmer ...

Happy growing!

[BimblingBob]

Thank you all for your advice.

In the end I decided to leave everything as is and see what happens

The chillis look a little bit bruised from the weather but I think they'll bounce back. the toms are _growing_ Four of the six are getting quite big now. Spuds are coming up and so are the beans.

Alongside a whole lot of weeds, booo hisss! The plot was rotovated prior to me getting it so I think there is lots of weed roots in the soil. Grassy things and thistles are the main bug bear. I'll deal with those by hoeing for now, the other side of the plot I put down some matting from B&M Bargains.... Cheap yes, worked.. .NO! hehe the weeds are growing underneath so I'll rethink that bit.

All good fun right!

Happy gardening ladies, gents

[sandspider]

Any update, BB?

[happyhumph]

If weeds are growing under your membrane light could be getting through. Try covering with something like cardboard /woodchip to exclude light until you're ready to plant.