When is the right time to water vegetable plants

freezspirit

I know it sounds a daft question but I've been watering the plants between 5 in the afternoon and 10 in the evening. But a neighbour over the fence said I've been watering them at the wrong time.

I thought I could water any time apart from 12-3 when the sun is full out.

So do different

Glasshouse

1 mini cucumber in growbag
1 tomato plant
1 aubergine in pot
2 chilli plant
1 sweet pepper
1 courgette
1 melon

Vegetable plot

3 pumkins
4 drawf beans
38 climbing beans

RebekahR

I've always been taught in the evening as the sun can scotch the plants in the full sun when water is on them. Also common sense says watering mid day will give a rise to evaporation before its really been abl to soak in. I drown ;-) mine between 8-10pm.

suisidevw

Agree, about 8-9pm for me so I don't have to do in the morning before work as well!

pinkpig08

I always do mine in the evening - anytime from 7-10pm.

EmptyPockets

We always try to do ours in the early morning, between 6-6.30am, as watering in the evening encourages slug activity. Doing it that early gives a good hour or two before the sun hits the plants. If for whatever reason we don't get time in the morning then we will either leave it 'till the following morning, or, if it's been a very hot day, will do them in the evening once the sun is no longer on them and it has cooled down. Usually between 7.30pm-9pm.

tanith

Early morning and late evening works for me.. if you have to do it in the bright sun then just water the pot/soil as water on the leaves can burn them in hot sunshine..

elsien

I'm another evening person - don't get up early enough to water before the sun comes on the garden.
Any time from 6 onwards depending on how knackered I am when I get home from work, and what's on telly that night!

Zazen999

Greenhouse; morning or evening or if they start to wilt...

Garden; only when transplanting the seedlings. Unless you have very very sandy soil or we have a long long drought it shouldn't really need it.

freezspirit

Thanks everyone you have reassured me that I'm not doing it wrong.

The plants are in the garden of the property I 'm currently purchasing (have current owners permission). Its on a water meter so don't really want to use the hose and I have already emptied the water butt so I go down on my moped with 4 2 ltr bottles to water them each evening. Will be buying 3 more waterbutts in the next week to put on the downpipes. Too late for this year but will be of use for the following years.

ukbill69

Always after the sun has set or not on the plants every night always works with me.

wallbash

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/7823032/Sunburnt-plants-myth-is-debunked.html

Interesting reading, as I am more science interested than gardener.

Are you All wrong :eek: