Watering Without Waste
How much, how often, and how to tell
1 min read
Most vegetables want roughly two to three centimetres of water a week, from rain or from you. The aim is deep, infrequent soaks that send roots downward, not daily sprinkles that keep them shallow and vulnerable.
Check before you water
Push a finger a few centimetres into the soil. If it is damp, wait. If it is dry at that depth, water slowly and thoroughly at the base of the plant, ideally in the early morning so leaves dry before night.
Habits that save water
- Mulch every bed to cut evaporation by half or more.
- Group thirsty crops together so you are not watering the whole plot.
- Use a watering can or drip line rather than a sprinkler.
- Fit a water butt to every downpipe you can reach.
A plant watered deeply once a week is tougher than one watered lightly every day.
Container plants are the exception and may need daily water in summer. For the science of how water moves through soil, see soil moisture.
