Irrigate Sensibly And Economically

Most home vegetable gardens are irrigated incorrectly. Here’s how to get it right, says Bill Kerr.

- Bill Kerr

Many home gardeners irrigate with a hand-held hose. This is very poor practice, especially if done daily. The ground may appear soaking wet, but it takes time for water to penetrate to the depth of the roots. To test this, dig into the soil after one of these irrigations; you’d be surprised at the result.

Most home gardeners irrigate in the early evening. But if the leaves remain wet during the night and early morning, the plants become vulnerable to disease-causing organisms.

Many plants require free water on the leaves for a certain period so that it can enter the tissues and the plant can germinate. It’s therefore safer to irrigate early enough for the leaves to dry before nightfall.