Watering the Vegetable Garden plot.

This type of watering equipment is not suited to the vegetable garden.

Most vegetable garden plots, will have a wide range of vegetables so - for many reasons - a 'blanket' watering system is not the answer for most of the time.

A small vegetable plot can easily be watered by just having a watering can with a selection of roses and a single hosepipe - preferably with an adjustable nozzle. If you want to opt for 'semi-automatic' watering, then a 'rain-sprinkler' type watering attachment for the hose is best. You can add a watering timer to the tap end quite easily, and happily go away for a holiday, knowing that you vegetable plot will be well looked after.

Lay-flat and perforated hoses that allow water to seep along the length sound good, but in practice they are not easy to move about without damaging plants.

How and When to Water your vegetables

Your vegetable plot will have a lot of 'cultivated', loose soil which can easily be damaged or eroded by heavy watering - including heavy rain. Gentle watering with the correct nozzle or rose is important. If you need to water your vegetables, then make sure that they are thoroughly watered. It is the roots that need the water - not the foliage.

Some vegetables can be well soaked often. Typically beans, Peas, Brassicas will require more water than most other vegetables. Root crops tend to have deeper root systems and are more able to withstand lack of rain than foliage vegetable crops.

Peas, Beans, Tomatoes, Sweet Corn, Cucumbers and Marrows will need extra water in dry periods. Make sure that your watering is thorough. Don't simply moisten the foliage. A drench occasionally is far better than a regular sprinkle!

Reducing watering Requirement

Addition of plenty of organic matter into your soil will help retain moisture in the soli for longer periods.
Mulching with organic materials will help to conserve moisture.
Hoeing - but just the top inch or so - will give a fine loose mulch which will help to stop the soil water from evaporating.
Plant leafy crops a little closer and generally cover the soil with foliage, rather than planting at wide spacings. Although you will have more plants, the 'cover' of the soil will reduce evaporation.
Remove weeds - as they will compete with vegetable plants for the moisture supply.