How Much Water for a Vegetable Garden?
- If your garden is outside, it is necessary to know your hardiness zone. Hardiness zones help determine the soil's dryness and how much water you need to apply. Zones are based on the minimum temperature each region experiences each year. Other factors involved include exposure to sunlight and wind, rainfall, high temperatures and temperature fluctuations. The United States Department of Agriculture established the first zones in 1960. Seed packets include labels with that plant's zone to allow the gardener to know where the plant will grow. Find your zone by consulting a hardiness zone map and finding your area on the map.
- Container gardens are ideal for areas with poor soil, for people with limited mobility or for limited outdoor space. Almost any kind of container modified to allow for drainage can be used to container garden. Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service maintains that watering once a day, twice a day if the vegetable has a lot of leaves, is good for the vegetables. Pour the water slowly into the container, evenly around the plant's stem or stalk, working around in circles toward the inside pot edge. Water each container until water drains from the bottom and then stop.
- Raised gardens are preferred in areas with poor soil or for water conservation. The Colorado State University Extension, in the article, "Irrigating the Vegetable Garden," maintains vegetables require about ¼ inch of water daily or 1 inch once every four days. Determine when to water by examining the garden's top 4 inches of soil. Water when the soil is dry. The CSU Extension recommends running a pop-up-style ground sprinkler for 40 minutes to deliver 1 inch of water, or two hours if using a rotary-style sprinkler. Soaker hoses are more difficult to predict because of hose diameter, water pressure and spacing. Run soaker hoses, spaced 1 foot apart, for about 15 minutes and then examine the soil. Adjust running times based on the soil. If still dry, run the water longer.
- To determine when to water a ground vegetable garden, scoop a handful of soil from the garden surface. Squeeze the soil in your fist. Soil that forms a clump has adequate moisture. Soil that doesn't clump needs water. The University of Illinois Extension recommends 1 inch of water per week -- if no rainfall is received that week -- approximately 65 gallons for every 100 square feet of garden. Water until you saturate the top 8 inches of soil. To know the garden is receiving 1inch of water, place five square or rectangular containers throughout the garden plot. Measure up 1 inch from the bottom of each container. Mark the measurement with a permanent marker. Irrigate with a sprinkler until the water is level with the 1-inch marks in each container.
