[Sideshoot]

Im am off to spain in 3 weeks and have hopefully got the mother in law to come and water the plants. At present they all get a drink morning and night, im pretty sure the mother in law will only be able to get up here once a day, will the plants suffer...what im getting at is will going from twice a day to once a day shock the plants?

[DD.]

You'll be suprised how well they cope on their own without being spoon-fed.

We went away for 2 weeks one hot August, (yes it did happen - no rain - no blight), a few years agao and came back to 14 lb marrows.

[Sideshoot]

All my plants are relatively young - sowed on fathers day in my newly built raised bed, although i have jerusalem artichoke, runners, broad beans and sweetcorn growing in a border in the front garden too lol I have noticed the artichokes wilting if they dont get a good drink.

[DD.]

Ah - a raised bed draw back.

[mobilekat]

Have you mulched well- this will really help retain the moisture.

Also sounds daft but work out how much water you use on each bed when watering and let your Mother-in-law know, as one persons good soaking, is another light watering!

Is it worth putting a few large bottles in by your 'chokes so that they gradually get water- I have used 3 litre squash bottles with a small hole in the lid, and the bottom cut out- aiming for it to take about an hour for the water to drain out by the roots, gives the plant a chance to grab the water before it runs off!