How to Water A Vegetable Garden

Water is essential for growing a healthy crop in the garden. Have the water source for your organic garden close-by for easy access. An outside tap with a hose is the perfect solution but if you don't have one available, it's easy enough to fix. 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 container would be helpful in watering the vegetables, herbs and flowers that grow in your organic garden.You can harvest rainwater from the roof. You can create small ponds in the garden to help catch water.

• When starting a garden, it is important to keep the soil moist when you put the seed and seedling into the soil.
• Damp soil will allow the seed to push through the soil easily to ensure germination.
• Always use a fine spray when watering.
• The seeds will rot if the soil is too wet.
• It takes 2 - 10 days for most seed to germinate.
• Keep an eye on the soil at all times to gauge when it's time to water.
• Keep your organic vegetable garden watered regularly.

Once the crop gets established, deep watering is suggested. This means that the soil gets wet to a depth of 1 inch (2.5cm). The reason for deep watering is that it allows the plants to grow strong and encourages a deep rooting system that prepares the vegetable for drought, weeds, disease or insect invasion. You need to water the garden less often.

Allow the rainy weather to guide when and how to water your organic vegetable garden. In extreme hot weather, the garden will need some extra water. Be aware that with high winds come dry soil so water appropriately. Also keep an eye on the moisture content of the soil when it is dry or 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.

We went through a heatwave this summer so I watered the garden ever evening when the sun went down. If it rained that day, I got lucky with no watering that night. Diligent watering of the seeds and seedlings will help the seeds/ seedlings break through the soil.

• Water the garden well the day before you plan to plant the seeds or seedlings.
• Lots of water is extremely important to achieve a good yield when planting a vegetable garden.
• Seeds need to be watered everyday from the time the seeds go into the ground to the moment they break through the soil and produce vegetables. Soft soil is the key for the seed to break through once it starts to grow.
• If time is a restraint, even a lightly sprinkling over the whole garden is important.
• 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, even twice a day if it extremely hot.
• Watering during the middle of the day will burn the leaves.
• If you have to water during the day. Make sure to water the plants at the base of the plant.
• Water droplets on the leaves magnifies the sun and causes the leaves to burn.
• Make sure to adjust all watering to suit your local conditions and the prevailing weather.

To save the water in the soil, prevent weeds and improve the soil condition, keep the soil mulched. Mulch (this typeface is different) is organic matter that is placed on the soil, around the plant to keep the surrounding area covered. Mulch is any organic matter including straw, leaves, grass clippings, paper and carboard - any organic matter that will decompose quickly. The Mulch will help hold the water in the soil, keep the weeds away and feed the soil all at the same time.

When growing a garden, remember to weed regularly to allow the seeds and seedlings to grow well. Weeds will rob the area around the vegetable of it's light and moisture so it is best to remove weeds as they appear. The best thing about weeding now is that the weeds become mulch, cutting down the time that is needed to deal with the weeds and cuts down the time to dispose of them.