- How often should it be watered?
- When should it be watered?
- How do I know that it needs to be watered?
- Do automatic irrigation systems make sense?
It's hot and there's no rain in sight - the vegetable patch can't do without additional watering. In particular, plants with flat foliage such as zucchini, melons or aubergines develop a great thirst. But when and how do you water correctly?
Thorough is more important than frequent
How often should it be watered?
It makes more sense to water deeply once a week than just a little bit every day. As a rule of thumb, you should spread out around 20 liters of water per square meter. Since the bed is completely rooted during the growing season, sufficient moisture reaches all root areas.
If it is very hot, you should adjust the watering intervals accordingly and water daily if necessary. If you also mulch the vegetable patch, this will prevent the soil from drying out quickly.
If you have freshly sown or planted young plants, daily but rather economical watering is the order of the day. As a result, the seed sprout quickly and the small plants can grow well.
When should it be watered?
Morning or early evening is the right time to water. Otherwise, on hot days, a large part of the water would immediately evaporate again. In addition, drops of water lying on the leaves act like small magnifying glasses, which lead to burns and leaf damage.
How do I know that it needs to be watered?
Vegetable plants often begin to wither after just a few hot days without watering. The leaves droop limply and growth falters. Do the thumb test, the soil feels dry even in deeper layers.
Do automatic irrigation systems make sense?
For vegetable plants that have a high water requirement, automatic systems save a lot of time and water. Automated irrigation works very simply:
- A pressure reducer with a filter is connected to the water tap.
- Small hoses with sprayers or drippers lead into the vegetable patch.
- Connecting pieces enable branching and thus adjustment to the individual bed shape and size.
- An irrigation computer controls when and how long the water flows.
- A sensor measures the soil moisture and automatically provides the optimal amount of water.
tips
In the summer months in particular, it often only drizzles for a short time. If the rain was too little, it does not penetrate into deeper layers of the earth. Then it makes sense to water additionally, because the moist soil absorbs the water very well.