Watering tips!!

[C Murphy]

As it is my first season growing under glass I would appreciate any tips you may all have on watering my fledgling crops.

I have Benn using a mist spray and while this has effectively dampened the top of the pots, an hour or two later they are dry.

I have starrted to water direct onto seedlings when they appear (cabbage, cauliflower, aubergine, beans etc) and this seems to be going ok.

Is it rule of thumb to mist until shoots appear and then water direct?

Any advice appreciated.

Best wishes...

[lynda66]

it is actually better to water from below

[zazen999]

Misting can encourage damping off which can clear a pot or seed tray in hours.

Pop them into a tray of water until they have soaked up as much as they can take, then don't water again until the compost is dry. More plants die through over watering than underwatering...you'll know when they are thirsty as they droop. You don't know when they are too wet until they die.

[C Murphy]

That's great advice, thanks...might explain why my toms didn't take. I re-set yesterday so will give it a go!

[selfraising]

As Zazen says, I put mine in a tray with water and top up occasionally. You can also buy matting which soaks up water like a sponge and the roots of plants draw it up. I also use this sometimes.