It’s Hot. Our plants are thirsty. Water is a precious resource and every drop counts. So how do you know when to water, how much to water whilst apply it in the most effective way?
There are a few tricks that every gardener needs to know, which Ben reveals in this week’s video, in time for the coming heat wave. Get your watering can at the ready and let’s dive in!
For more information on rain water collection and saving water, see our video on that here: https://youtu.be/tgophFI451Y
If you love growing your own food, why not take a look at our online Garden Planner which is available from several major websites and seed suppliers:
https://www.GrowVeg.com
https://gardenplanner.almanac.com
https://gardenplanner.motherearthnews.com
and many more…
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If you’ve noticed any pests or beneficial insects in your garden lately please report them to us at https://BigBugHunt.com
Thank you for sharing so much on your channel! My 5 year old and I have enjoyed watching the segments and using the techniques in our garden.
Yet another great video. Thanks again.
Could you also make a video about checking for poison in courgettes, pumpkins and watermelons?
I've grown my first ever (round) courgettes frome store bought seeds and they turned out lovely.
Yet crazy as I am, I'm afraid to eat them as I'm not sure if they're poisonous.
I'm also growing a first pumpkin from seed someone gifted to me and read this growing together could make them poisonous.
'd love to hear from you.
Hugs from Holland
I'm growing corn, beans, and squash (the three sisters) in the desert with only rain, and no irrigation. I started by building a series of mounds to plant in and a swale (berm) that captures rain and floods the entire garden area. A small rainstorm completely saturates the ground, and by not irrigating, the plants are forced to seek out water, thus growing deeper roots and making the plant far more drought tolerant. I add about 2 inches of straw to the entire garden surface, and incorporate alfalfa pellets for a nitrogen supplement (will be attempting to grow alfalfa as a cover crop later this year). Everything has to be planted just before and/or just after the first monsoon while the ground is still wet, and relies on multiple storms throughout the grow season, but in some cases, using this method, my plants have gone over a month in 95°F+ with no rain and no problems. The main point to take is that soil has an incredible water storage capacity when treated and conditioned properly, and only rain can provide the quantities of water needed to fill those reserves. Permaculture is a beautiful thing, and is how we can replenish local aquifers and ground water while also reducing our dependence on expansive and expensive irrigation networks.
Thank you.
3 weeks of no rain. Try 3 months and when it does it’s a sprinkle.
I water my garden around 9 or 10 in the morning since I work at night. I get home, feed my cats, eat and do my morning budgeting things, sleep for like 2 or 3 hrs, then water. But I try not to go later than 11. And I also water my garden at night before I go to work. And that keeps most of my plants well. It's only my pumpkins and some watermelons that I've been having problems with the weather. I have to go in the day to just water them a little since they look all droopy.
In South East England we have had very little rain for months…… I've gone through 600L of water vai the tap,in to water butts first so the chemicals can disperse. Plus when we have had had to use hose pipe to direct water. Rather not use that way as it can go everywhere.
I would like to thank you Ben coz if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have managed to grow anything as never have before this year but are doing quite well this year.
So thanks Ben. Keep it all coming to help everyone.
Thank you sharing your excellent experience.
You're in fine fettle today! (I also drink my morning coffee while watering.)
I've been mulching with my grass clippings and it makes a world of difference in terms of moisture retention and soil temperature. It also nearly eliminated soil borne disease and helps with weeds.
Yes, I’ve also found that watering twice is good. I watered one of my plots and thought I’d soaked it but when I went to plant my seeds the soil was dry underneath the very top surface. Now I water twice and I’ve found it works better.
I dug a trench irrigation system, it keeps the slugs and snails away also with each section in its own island kind of thing, I buried my hose and all I do it switch on the tap and it goes around the whole garden and gets to the roots better, I dug them about 6-7 inches deep and about 5 inches wide, its works pretty well! .. I have step planks for access and just tip a few drops of nutrition into the start where the hose is every now n then.
7:49 Ben watching Ben. I love this guy lmao
chlorine waters also kills good soil bacteria
I have a dripping tap.
It drips about 1 drip per second into a 1000l tank
Strangely my mains water meter doesn't move…
Grass clippings seems like a good idea, but I also worry about how slowly it breaks down. During heavy rain, it an become quite slimy. Does anyone have any issues with this causing plant rot or anything? I live in the midwest. Thanks!
You kept us waiting for the three-word alliteration at 13:10 – « …bees, butterflies and blooms… »
Thank you! Very helpful!
I'm in New Zealand and have a 1200 litre overflowing into a 900 litre, on the other side I have a 450 litre tank overflowing to two 100 litre bins. Also off the garage a 250 litre, also off my shade house another 250 litre guttertank. Helps with water bills! And lovely soft water. Great site.
I bought a moisture probe and it's revolutionised my watering! I do about a quarter of the watering I did as I didn't realise that just under the surface the soil was either moist or wet.
Thank you ☺️
lol imagine having restrictions on collecting rain water. land of the free
Hi Ben. Many thanks for your incredibly informative and enjoyable videos. I just started a my first new raised bed with a rich compost topsoil mix and snug mulch layer. Regarding the finger test to determine if the soil is dry on not, you mention that is should be cool and moist. When I do the test, the soil is quite warm and moist and I was wondering if I possibly went wrong with the compost topsoil mix for the bed and that this will cause problems going forward?
Do the grass cuttings for mulch have to be dry or can it be freshly cut?
Beautiful.