Watering Wisdom
Having been forced to neglect my allotment for at least two weeks due to a bad back (it must be bad because I even cancelled a fishing trip!), I am presented with enough time to consider watering...
It is hard work, so do as little of it as is necessary, and take long term measures to reduce the need to do it.
I think that watering is needed in two main stages:
When sowing seeds - especially small seeds - it is better to water the seed drill before the seeds are sown, as watering them afterwards will wash many of them too deep and so adversely affect germination. The need to water transplants is not because "they need water", but to wash soil particles around their roots to help continued growth without a "check".
When the plants have reached the stage where they are growing the "bit we want" (whether that is the bean pod or potato tuber or sweet corn kernel), then watering is only beneficial if it is carried out regularly and in sufficient quantities to wet the whole depth of soil in which the plant is growing (usually at least the top foot), and the soil is then kept moist, otherwise the growth will be distorted and the fruit will split.
The best way to reduce the need for watering is to increase the soil's capacity to hold moisture. This can be achieved by the addition of organic matter such as manure, compost, leaf mould etc. Little and often is better than adding a lot one year, then nothing for a few years. If you can, just spread it over the ground when you have finished cropping it for the year, and let nature do the work for you. By spring it will have mostly been taken down in to the soil, improved the soil structure, and be ready to sow straight into.
I am trying a seep hose this year, gravity-fed from two water butts up by the shed. In theory it should help reduce the frequency of visits and the need to use a watering can. We will see…
Here's to a better back, fishing and an easy time when it is dry.
It is hard work, so do as little of it as is necessary, and take long term measures to reduce the need to do it.
I think that watering is needed in two main stages:
- initially to help the seedlings germinate or a transplant establish itself, and then to
- ensure growth of the bit of the plant that we actually intend to eat.
When sowing seeds - especially small seeds - it is better to water the seed drill before the seeds are sown, as watering them afterwards will wash many of them too deep and so adversely affect germination. The need to water transplants is not because "they need water", but to wash soil particles around their roots to help continued growth without a "check".
When the plants have reached the stage where they are growing the "bit we want" (whether that is the bean pod or potato tuber or sweet corn kernel), then watering is only beneficial if it is carried out regularly and in sufficient quantities to wet the whole depth of soil in which the plant is growing (usually at least the top foot), and the soil is then kept moist, otherwise the growth will be distorted and the fruit will split.
The best way to reduce the need for watering is to increase the soil's capacity to hold moisture. This can be achieved by the addition of organic matter such as manure, compost, leaf mould etc. Little and often is better than adding a lot one year, then nothing for a few years. If you can, just spread it over the ground when you have finished cropping it for the year, and let nature do the work for you. By spring it will have mostly been taken down in to the soil, improved the soil structure, and be ready to sow straight into.
I am trying a seep hose this year, gravity-fed from two water butts up by the shed. In theory it should help reduce the frequency of visits and the need to use a watering can. We will see…
Here's to a better back, fishing and an easy time when it is dry.
Submitted by John, plot 16
Comments
Post a Comment