The Gardeners Almanac

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My Back Garden

Watering Fruit and Vegetables


Related Links

Week Numbers

Watering Overview

Water Application

Watering Baskets & Planters

Water Conservation

Watering Frequency

Watering Greenhouse

Watering Lawns

Watering Trees & Shrubs

Water Types

Overview:

As with any other crop, fruit and vegetables need a regular supply of moisture to produce good crops.

The need for manual watering can be substantially reduced during summer, if the soil is pre-prepared the previous autumn/winter with the addition of humus in the form of farm yard manure, or home made compost.


Method:

Excavate trench one spit deep
Excavate Trench
View showing added organic matter
Add organic matter to trench
Cover organic matter with soil from the succeeding trench
Cover Organic matter
View of a prepared bed
Prepared Bed


An altenative to the above is to use mulches to reduce evaporation, particularly on light or thin soils.

After planting mulch the area/s with a thick layer of mulching material such as Farmyard manure, Homemade compost, Spent Mushroom compost or Shredded tree/shrubs.

This mulch will conserve moisture and keep weeds at bay, thus reducing the competition for available moisture and nutrients.


Example of a leaking/weeping hose

Seeping/Leaking Hose

Adjustable trigger operated sprayer

Adjustable Spray Gun

Coil of hose plus a few fittings

Hosepipe
Manual Watering:

If manual watering is required, then a hose fitted with a multi- spray head is generally the best method, although it might be worth considering a seep / leaking hose for permanent beds of Currants, Raspberries and Strawberries.


Watering vegetables every 10-14 days should be sufficient for them to cope providing they get a good soaking at each of these occasions.


Drill Soaked prior to Sowing
Seed Sowing

If sowing seeds give the drill a good soaking prior to sowing.

Similarly when planting seedlings flood the planting hole prior to placing the plant in the hole, this will ensure that there is moisture at the point where it is needed most.


Vegetables may need extra watering at the time when they are at their peak of development e.g. ripening or swelling.


Examples: