should I be watering stuff outside?

[queen of the cobs]

I've not planted much out yet, but wondered if I should be watering my garlic, onions, shallots and potatoes?

[JO,JO]

apparently garlic does not like to be too wet.so i water mine when it seems a little dry.also just touch the soils or stick your finger in deep.if it is dry water

[Two_Sheds]

Watering is quite complicated. Watering Your Vegetables: VegetableExpert I dislike hard work and I hate waste, so I water as little as I can get away with.
Using a hosepipe to water the surface of the soil is just a ridiculous waste of time, money and water. It also encourages plants to put their roots towards the surface instead of down into the soil - and then they dry out quicker and need more watering.
Over-watering also encourages slugs and snails.

When I plant my crops, I also plant some upturned milk bottles, and water into these. This way the water goes straight to the roots, instead of sitting on the surface to evaporate. Mulches are brilliant too, for keeping water in the soil - grass clippings, cardboard, shredded newspaper, compost ... use as much as you can.

[Two_Sheds]

I like this easy to read table on watering and feeding: http://www.which.co.uk/files/applica...-445-90877.PDF

[francesbean]

I rarely water - only when extremely dry. Last year my neighbour was watering all the time, and I saw no difference between his veg and mine. In fact he had more problems with his potatoes getting blight- and also suffered with his carrots and courgettes. Also depends on your soil, mine is a good loamy soil with added manure and homemade compost.

[Two_Sheds]

I agree with you FrancesBean - some of my lottie neighbours are up there every evening hosing down the soil - utter waste of beer-time.

[Flummery]

You can actually create a damp microclimate under your veg which encourages mould and mildews. Who needs that? Things wilt a bit if they're thirsty (including me!)

[moggssue]

What about seedlings just showing through? Since they dont have much of a root system yet would they appreciate a drink, or is too much of a good thing bad for them as well?!

Two-Sheds - do you give each row a bottle or two, and let the water seep away into the soil, or are you more specific in targetting individual plants?

[Two_Sheds]

Two-Sheds - do you give each row a bottle or two, and let the water seep away into the soil, or are you more specific in targetting individual plants?

I'm not precise about it ... I just have a bottle every couple of feet or so, and I water it once a week or so. The water goes right to the roots, and the top dry soil acts as a mulch keeping it in the ground - whereas if you water the surface, a lot of the water just evaporates.

Seedlings and new transplants need a little extra attention - I watered everything today (first time since I sowed the seed - things are starting to germinate). The only things that were looking floppy was the Comfrey which I have put in the wrong place (dry stony soil instead of a nice shady damp spot)

[moggssue]

Well, I've been saving bottles the last week or so, guess what's happening on my plot this weekend - if it doesnt rain haha!! Thanks Two-Sheds