Reducing the watering...

[cptncrackoff]

Hi peeps!

This year I have made a concerted effort to dramatically reduce the amount of watering up the lottie, partly through feeling like I'm overwatering and partly through having no time! Lol

I'm amazed how well all the crops are doing, sweet corn is nearly ready, marrows galore.. but the most surprising thing for me so far are the pumpkins..

They were watered when they were planted, then that's it!
Entirely as nature intended..and I'm feeling pretty excited!


I've watered around 10% of what I normally would, I feel the roots are searching down much more rather than staying shallow and relying on me.

Just thought I'd share!

[Alison]

I've only ever watered things in open ground when planted out at which point I puddle in. Obviously things under cover or in pots need watering but no need otherwise.

[Containergardener]

Not watered anything in ground other than with feed (Clem's and roses) ...tbh though here ground is still claggy wet clay anyway and with the rain we have.
Parents gardens of sandy dry soil , plants are wilting this week. (Same Amount of rain)

Interesting how less they do well, fighting to survive

[cptncrackoff]

I've only ever watered things in open ground when planted out at which point I puddle in. Obviously things under cover or in pots need watering but no need otherwise.

I think I recall in the back of my mind reading on another thread that you don't water things in open ground Alison! You might have added to my inspiration!

The ground on our allotments doesn't hold the moisture, although this year I tried green manures for the first time this year and it really has helped add a bit of 'body' to the soil!

[ESBkevin]

This year we are watering a lot less but not allowing anything to stress and bolt (if that makes sense).

Toms, cucumbers and courgets have been attended to and fed, young tender plants too, but I have heavily mulched the ground and in some cases planted through woodchip/cardboard which renders the soil moist all the time (so far).

Soil started off as clay but 15 years of allotmenting by the previous tennant has improved it and we continue with compost/muck/woodchip to give good texture and water retention.

In another thread i did state that the house front garden got a hose soak last night for the first time this year (since planting) but is is south facing and some plants were flagging. Again the soil is covered with chip mulch and homemade compost so should now be good for a couple of weeks or more.

Edit.

I should add that we tried a quantity of the transplanting with mycorrhizae fungus innoculation at planting, the idea being that the fungus expands huge areas and brings the nutrients and water to the plant roots in exchange for the starches etc from the sun/plant foilage. There are some signs that those samples innoculated are slightly better or more developed than those not but it is far from scientific and a proper draught like situaton might be better at sorting a conclusion.

[Penellype]

My previous garden was extremely sandy and required watering on any day when there had not been significant rain in the summer. Mulches helped a little, but I was out with the hosepipe for hours when it was warm.

Now I have heavy clay that has been improved by 20 years of compost, except in the veg area which was built on the sandy base of an old patio. The difference is startling, and while the only plants that get any attention in the clay area are the tomatoes, everything in the old patio area gets a good soaking every night in summer unless there has been a deluge. It isn't helped by being next to a 10ft high leylandii hedge either.

Watering is something that is different in every garden, and to some degree every year. Today is roasting hot and quite breezy which makes the best drying conditions possible. I have had to cover the cucumber in my growhouse with green fleece as it has completely wilted. No idea what's happening to the ones at my friend's.

[cptncrackoff]

I have been in previous years watering every night, and some mornings!

I think as the years go on, the soil has improved at the allotment.

You can see the difference between our soil, and a neighbour who adds nothing.
I'm sure the green manures this year has added greatly to the soil though.

Apart from the blueberries, I've only watered a couple of times this year!

It's going to increase now, the runners and french beans are going to need some, I'm also watering the sweet corn now the cobs are growing!

I do suffer greatly from overwatering.. especially things in pots and in the greenhouse, I need to pay more attention to the plants needs rather than watering out of routine!

[MarkPelican]

On our allotment site there is one person who waters all the time (or at least every time I go he's watering). The people further down the slope have been complaining that the ground is too wet for them to cultivate. I wonder if its related

[cptncrackoff]

no watering update... Slow , steady progress!