Water is an important feature to a healthy crop in the garden. If you can choose where your garden is going to be, have the water source close-by for easy usability and efficiency. An outside tap is the perfect solution but if you don't one available, it's easy enough to fix. Yes, a hose connected to a tap is a faster way to water the garden but not always available. Using a watering can works well. Another way of transporting water to your garden is filling plastic bottles that you might have stored by the recycling bin. Don't use plastic bottles that have stored chemicals. Any large contain would be helpful in watering the vegetables, herbs and flowers that grow in your organic garden.
Keep your organic vegetable garden watered regularly. If starting a garden from the beginning, it is important to keep the soil wet as you put the seed and seedling into the soil. The soil must stay damp to allow the seed to push through the soil easily enough to make it through the germination process. Don't over water the soil. This could lead to seed rot. Keep an eye on the soil at all times to gage when it's time to water.
I have just gone through a heatwave. I watered the garden ever evening when the sun went down. If it rains that day, you get lucky with no watering that night. With diligent watering of the seeds and seedlings, this will ensure a crop that starts to grow.
Once the crop gets established, deep watering is suggested. This means that the soil gets wet to a depth of 1 inch (2.5cm). This should be done approximately once a week. The reason for deep watering is that it allows the plants to grow strong and encourages a deep rooting system that prepares the vegetable to be drought, weeds, disease and insect resistant.
Allow the rainy weather to guide when and
how to water your organic vegetable garden but keep an eye on the moisture content of the soil when it is dry, when there is not enough rain or extremely hot weather. Water only when the soil needs it. It's not how dry the surface of the soil looks, it's below the surface that should determine if the soil needs to be watered or not.
In extreme hot weather, the garden will need some extra water care. Also be aware that with high winds come dry soil so water appropriately.
To save yourself time, keep the soil mulched. Mulch is organic matter that is placed on the soil, around the plant to keep the surrounding area covered. The
mulch will help hold the water in the soil, keep the weeds away and feed the soil all at the same time.
Remember to weed regularly to allow the seeds and seedlings to grow in the sun. Weeds will rob the area around the vegetable of it's light and moisture so it is best to remove weeds as they appear.
Tips to water your organic vegetable garden:
- Water the garden well the day before you plan to plant the seeds or seedlings.
- Adequate water is extremely important to achieve a good yield when planting a vegetable garden.
- Seeds need adequate water from the time they go into the ground to the moment they break through the soil and produce vegetables.
- If time is a restraint. Instead of lightly sprinkling the whole garden, it's better for your organic vegetable to be watered deeply one section at a time.
- You loose up to 40% of the water droplets in the force of the wind blowing. Water when the wind calms down.
- The depth of moisture for a well watered garden is generally 1 inch (2.5 cm).
- In the summer, water in the early morning or in the later part of the day.
- Watering the middle of the day will burn the leaves.
- Make sure to adjust all watering to suit your local conditions and the prevailing weather.
