How often to water

Generali

Mrs Generali, the Generalissimos and I have got an allotment about which I have no idea. I've bunged a load of seeds in the ground (spuds, various greens, lettuces, shallots and herbs) and things appear to be sticking their head above ground. So far so good.

We are not allowed to use a hosepipe at the allotment so have to water with a can. I give each row a pretty decent soaking each time. My question is, how often should I be watering the plants? It's a bit of a pain in the whatsit having to drag all that water up the hill so I don't want to overdo it but at the same time I don't want all my plants to die.

PS I've got some blackcurrent bushes and there are about 5 fruit trees around the edge of the allotment too.

Beamish

At the moment I would say every evening, spuds like water!

As the weather is so dry and the sun is warming up I am watering every night, a pain I know but this is the most important time to bring everything on.

Hopefully we might see some rain next week!

Babs

dmxdave

I have been told that tapwater is not the best for plants of anykind due to the chemicals added. I know rain is in short supply at the moment (even here in Northern Ireland) but could you collect rainwater to water the plants with?

Generali

Beamish wrote: »

At the moment I would say every evening, spuds like water!

As the weather is so dry and the sun is warming up I am watering every night, a pain I know but this is the most important time to bring everything on.

Hopefully we might see some rain next week!

Babs

I thought that might be the case. Not ideal but if it has to be done...

dmxdave wrote: »

I have been told that tapwater is not the best for plants of anykind due to the chemicals added. I know rain is in short supply at the moment (even here in Northern Ireland) but could you collect rainwater to water the plants with?

Not really. There's no way to get it from Generali Towers to the allotment. It's bad enough flogging up and down the hill to the tap, I'm not walking backwards and forwards from my place!

emmaroids

dmxdave wrote: »

I have been told that tapwater is not the best for plants of anykind due to the chemicals added.

yea, our tapwater is rubbish so we have to water it down :rotfl:

anywho i give my plants a good soak every 2-3 days if its dry and there coming on a storm.
a lot depends on how well your soil can hold moisture.

heather38

i don't water unless the soil is really dry, you end up with lazy plants as the roots don't go looking for water. i have watered my onions once since i planted them and they are coming on fine.

kippers

Some allotments don't have water and their plants grow. As a general rule of thumb when sowing seeds, i pull my hoe along to make a small trough for the seeds, i water the bottem of the trough well and then sow my seeds and recover them with soil. I then water again along them and leave well alone...unless it is exceptionally dry. If it is really dry i do water my seeds.

Its best not to water established plants too often as it makes the plants lazy like heather38 said. The roots start to turn upwards towards your water rather than going down to find deep water.

I only water onions at the beginning to get them started, or you can risk white rot.

Beans and legumes need a good watering once a week in summer.

Sweetcorn, courgettes, cucumbers, pumpkins etc are thirsty and need a good watering once a week as do tomatoes. Make sure it is only once a week but give a really good soak..

Hope this helps.