Watering warm water lengthens growing season - says Chris Beardshaw

[Babru]

I was listening to a Radio 4 Gardener's Question Time podcast from Swindon a week or two ago (broadcast in October) when a questioner asked about their new greenhouse. Chris Beardshaw, a generally knowledgeable chap, said that as a child he regularly helped his grandfather by filling receptacles with water, which were used to water the plants once the water had warmed up. He was told it helped the plants if the water was warm.

Then, later, as a horticulture student, Chris reviewed research which showed watering with warm water increased plants' metabolic rate, and lengthened the growing season by up to a month at either end.

A month either end is a lot of extra growing! Did anyone else hear this, and do people already do this?

Presumably this wouldn't just apply to greenhouse plants either.

I've seen lots of forum chat, with people working to get earlier tomatoes and chillies - this might help!

I will certainly be following this advice in my new greenhouse next year. Especially up here in the frozen north (!) this could make a big difference.

[veggiechicken]

Didn't hear this but i always leave full watering cans in the GH to warm up ready - purely on the basis that warm water will be less of a shock to the plants than using water straight from the water butts.

[jackarmy]

yep me too, same as VC basically. I keep a waterbutt in the greenhouse (100L) just for watering inside the greenhouse and top up the watering cans a good few hours before watering.

[Bren In Pots]

Didn't hear this but i always leave full watering cans in the GH to warm up ready - purely on the basis that warm water will be less of a shock to the plants than using water straight from the water butts.

I do it also for the same reason.

[bario1]

Me too, filling a couple of watering cans from the butt is always the last thing I do before shutting up the tunnel.

[Snadger]

Its like red wine...….best served at room temperature.

[Greenleaves]

Same answer as the others, same reason I warm my compost before sowing

[4Shoes]

And again.

The water butt in the greenhouse will also help to retain heat as cold night draw in. And help reduce air getting too dry in the summer

[Mark_Riga]

Well I think I might just put the kettle on.

[Jungle Jane]

What about seeds,I don’t know if I’m the only one that does this but I don’t like to water my indoor germinating seeds & seedlings with cold water,I always add a bit of boiled water to make it tepid,cold water wouldn’t be nice,I want the temperature to be like summer rain. Once the plants have hardened up they can have cold water.

[veggiechicken]

And again.

The water butt in the greenhouse will also help to retain heat as cold night draw in. And help reduce air getting too dry in the summer

But not if you keep a lid on the waterbutt to stop anything falling in.

[4Shoes]

But not if you keep a lid on the waterbutt to stop anything falling in.

No lid inside. Don't like the earwigs falling in.

[bramble]

I fill empty 2 litre bottles with rain water and keep them in the greenhouse for watering the seedlings.
That way everything is at the same temperature.

[Babru]

Is this a forum first - everyone is in agreement about watering warm! I will too - but it's good to know there is a scientific basis for doing so.

[B Porcupine]

I agree - nice to know what I have been doing has a scientific basis. I just thought that I don't like cold showers/baths and so my plants wouldn't either! Brrrr...