[leehr68]

I have recently taken over a plot of my own at my local allotments and have manged to plant a good seletion of veg. I am however, a little unsure how frequently I should water. I have been watering daily whilst we've had dry weather but I don't know if I'm overdoing it a bit. I have planted pots, cabbages, broccoli, sweetcorn, courgettes, onions, carrots, parsnips, leeks, lettuce, spring onions, turnips and runner beans.

Does anybody have any advice?

Lee.

[p00rstudent]

stuff i have planted outside i only water once a week and only if there hasnt been any rain, the greenhouse i water every couple fo days, probably not the ideal but it works for me.

[Trillium]

You should stick your finger into the soil to at least the first knuckle. If the soil is damp to the bottom, there's adequate water. If it's dry, it needs more. But long, deep watering is superior to quick short bursts of watering which don't penetrate deeply regardless of frequency. The short bursts encourage shallow roots which are then at the mercy of dry weather later. Deep, long watering encourages roots to go down deep and you need do it only every week or two.

[mumofstig]

While your plants are small you can try this....Stick your finger into the soil a couple of inches, if it feels dry there then water, and water well or you will encourage roots to the surface, which isn't good
When you think you have watered enough dig a tiny hole and see if the water has got down a few inches....if it has good...if not you need to water a bit more.
This way you'll soon learn how much to apply to your soil. At this time of year there is usually enough moisture a few inches down unless you have very free draining soil, or maybe raised beds.

You beat me to it Trillium:lol:

[leehr68]

That's great thanks. Kinda makes sense when stop and think about it.

Thanks again

[strangerachael]

When I plant out young plants I put plenty of water in the planting hole, before backfilling with soil. Then I usually don't have to water again for ages, as I know there's nice damp soil underneath.

[Sharonx]

What about watering seedlings in pots?
I have sweetcorn, courgettes and runners (courgettes and runners not showing yet) in paper pots in the coldframe. I keep them damp at all times, is this right or do they need less? I have them all standing in a plastic gravel tray to keep the paper pots standing up together so when I water the tray is coping some of it too. Don't want to water log them so how do you get it just right?

[leehr68]

What about watering seedlings in pots?
I have sweetcorn, courgettes and runners (courgettes and runners not showing yet) in paper pots in the coldframe. I keep them damp at all times, is this right or do they need less? I have them all standing in a plastic gravel tray to keep the paper pots standing up together so when I water the tray is coping some of it too. Don't want to water log them so how do you get it just right?

I started off the courgettes and sweetcorn in seed trays and just kept them damp and warm in small clear pvc covered shelves from wilkinsons (like a small greenhouse, £15). I then transferred them into 6 inch pots and put them outside, watch out for frost though and kept them well watered and they've all done really well. I ended up with loads more than expected and have now found myself giving some away to other people on the allotment.

Don't know about the runners yet, I put mine straight into the ground. I'm a newbie, so it's all a bit trial and error at the moment. It is quite addictive though.

[peterjf]

i water my pots when they feel light ,

on the plot i water once each week and feed with comfrey once a week, usually sundays for water and thursdays for comphrey

[Kristen]

I agree with "water when the pots are light".  Pick one up, feel the weight, give it a really good watering, let it drain, and then note how much heavier it is.

When a plant is first potted-on it probably won't need watering very much - every two or three days - depending on how sunny / hot it is.  Once its roots have filled the pot then it will need watering every day, perhaps twice a day, until next potted on.

[David.]

"Soak the thoroughly when you plant them out. Really drench the roots before you settle them into the soil. But after that don't give them another drop of water as long as they live." - talking about tomatoes - Fred Streeter, a radio broadcaster starting in the 1930's.

Because it causes them to send their roots out/waste energy into dry territory.