How Often You Should Water Your Vegetable Garden, According to Experts

A thriving vegetable garden needs more than just sunshine and rich soil. It also requires the right amount of water at the right time. Since weather conditions, soil types, and plant varieties can all affect how much water your garden needs, figuring out the right schedule isn’t always straightforward.

To help you determine how often to water your vegetable garden, we spoke with expert horticulturists to explain everything to know about watering your vegetable garden—from the type of soil you’re working with, to the crops you’re growing, and even the best time of day to water.

Meet Our Expert

Chad Massura, the CEO and founder of Rosy Soil

Related: The Worst Time to Water Your Vegetable Garden—and When to Do It Instead

Natural Rainfall

Most vegetables need about 1 to 2 inches of water each week, which includes both water you provide as well as rainfall. “Weather will ultimately determine the frequency of watering. As a gardener, you need to be aware of the weather conditions and base the frequency of watering on temperature and rainfall,” says Nancy Knauss, state master garden coordinator for Penn State Extension.

This means that some weeks, you may need to water every other day, and others, you might not need to provide extra water at all.

Soil Drainage

Consider what type of soil you have in your garden. “Sandier soils are going to need to be watered more often, just by essence of drainage,” says Robert Westerfield, consumer horticulturist with the University of Georgia. “The particle size is larger, so the water goes out.” Richer, denser soils hold onto moisture longer, and adding 2 to 3 inches of mulch or compost around your plants can help retain moisture, too. “The more organic matter in your soil, the more moisture the soil will hold,” says Knauss.

Soil Dryness

The most effective way to know when it’s time to water is to feel the soil, says Westerfield. Remove mulch from the top of the soil then use a trowel to dig about 2 inches deep. If the soil is completely dry, you should water your vegetable garden.

Time of Day

Watering your vegetable garden at the right time of day is also important, says Chad Massura, the CEO and founder of Rosy Soil. Avoid watering at midday, as this is when the sun is at its peak and will cause the water to evaporate. You should also avoid watering too late in the evening, as this can lead to root rot. Watering your garden first thing in the morning is ideal.

Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Beds

A raised bed will generally lose water quicker than an in-ground bed because you’re using amended soil with good drainage. “Their advantage, which is that they drain well, is also their disadvantage—they drain so fast, you need to keep an eye on them,” says Westerfield. Ideally, you should water an in-ground bed 1 to 2 inches a week, while a raised bed may require more water per week. Feeling the soil frequently is the best way to gauge when a raised vegetable bed needs watering.

Related: Martha Says Raised Beds Are the Only Way She’s Growing Vegetables From Now On—Here’s Why

Watering Method

You can decrease your watering needs by using a drip irrigation system that slowly waters the roots for a deeper, longer-lasting soak. “Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the roots of the plants, reducing water loss due to evaporation and runoff,” says Massura. It also provides homeowners with the ability to turn individual sections on or off, guaranteeing that vegetables in each section of your garden get exactly the amount of water they need.

If possible, avoid overhead watering from a hose or sprinkler, which soaks the plant’s leaves instead of its moisture-hungry roots. “Applying water on the foliage of vegetable plants can increase the occurrence of certain fungal and bacterial diseases, especially when applied late in the day,” says Knauss. “In addition, once you have a diseased plant, overhead watering can splash pathogens from the sick plant to the surrounding healthy ones.”

Vegetable Varieties

Different vegetable varieties have different water requirements. Tomatoes are a prime example of this. “Some varieties will crack when the plants go through a dry period followed by excessive moisture,” Knauss says. “Heavy rainfall or overwatering will cause the tomato to expand faster than the skin can grow, so it splits.”

Additionally, there are some drought-resistant varieties of vegetables that can also help reduce water usage. Do research into each variety you’re growing in your vegetable garden to ensure their watering needs are being met.

Mulching Efforts

Mulching will help you conserve water in your garden, which means you’ll need to water less. And in turn, you’ll save time and money. “Mulching helps to retain moisture in the soil by reducing evaporation and suppressing weed growth,” says Massura.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart