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Joined: 10/5/2009
Posts: 17
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How often and how much do you water your vegetables? I know different soil types make a difference and whether you mulch or not. I have sandy soil with no mulch. I have read that you only need about 1 inch of water a week. Is that possible? I am watering more than that. I am in zone 9.
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Joined: 2/18/2008
Posts: 529
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Welcome to the boards
Where in zone 9 are you ?
Different vegies take different amounts of water?
I would check with your local Ag extension office for advice on how much to water for your given area..
Good luck
melanie
Wheres the coffee 
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Joined: 10/5/2009
Posts: 17
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Tampa Bay Area. Thought about the County Extension Office. Sometimes I get the idea they may be more into conserving water than growing vegetables?? Anyhow it is good to hear from other actual gardeners.
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Joined: 2/18/2008
Posts: 529
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When you call there, ask for a Master Gardener, they should have an information desk..Master Gardeners, will answer your questions about all your vegies and their needs..
Let me know how it goes.
melanie
Wheres the coffee
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Joined: 10/5/2009
Posts: 17
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I called and left a message this morning. I will let you know what they say. Most places I read state about 1" of water per week for vegetables but that seems a bit low to me.
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Joined: 10/5/2009
Posts: 92
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1 inch of water is usually plenty. Sometimes we humans try to question Mother Nature. We loose! Even in your sandy soil, 1 inch should be fine, except in the hottest of months! Let your plants be the guide. Do they look thirsty? If so, have you spoiled them? Plants are like every other living thing. They get spoiled. If they are watered every day, they don't need to send roots out to find food and water. Much like having a 32 year old son living in the basement! HA! Give them their inch and don't let them take a mile! They might pout but they will grow. Sometimes less is more. Plants know that. Show them! Good Luck. Del
Master Gardener, Master Naturalist, B.S. Biology, Masters in Horticulture. Missouri resident transplanted from Iowa. The dirt is not the same!
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Joined: 10/5/2009
Posts: 17
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Thanks for your input. I have definately spoiled my plants!!!! I was watering daily. I did not realize my sprinkler system put out so much water until I put out some rain gauges. I was putting down about 1 1/2" of water daily with a 30 min per day sprinking. WAY too much water but as the soil drains so quickly nothing looked too wet. I have cut back to twice a week at 15 minute sprinkling. I am putting down approximately 3/4" per 15 min sprinkling. That is about 1 1/2" per week but spread apart. The county extension agent told me there was really no set amount and I just had to go by the plants.
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Joined: 2/18/2008
Posts: 529
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The other thing I learned about veggie gardening is to check and see how far down your soil is actually wet..If your soil and has been over tilled it won't absorbed like it might if was just normally tilled...
I spend a lot time volunteering in big veg garden near where I live and some of the raised beds we had over tilled and found they weren't holding their moisture..We sorta laugh because the Mantis tiller has had some good work outs almost tooo good
enjoy your garden
melanie
Wheres the coffee
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Joined: 10/5/2009
Posts: 17
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The soil has definately not been over tilled. Most of my tilling has been by shovel. I did use my father-in-laws Mantis Tiller one time to break up the ground. The soil where I live is sandy and drains very quickly. I added compost back in the spring but I have now learned that I must add compost prior to each growing season. I also need to get a tiller if I can decide which one to purchase. We are lucky here in Central Florida that we can grow pretty much 12 months out of the year depending on the vegetables. I am learning!!
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Joined: 10/22/2009
Posts: 7
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In Zone 9 if you install leech lines-rocks or brick in a long line going downhill placed under the soil. I water weekly or whenever you can place your finger into the soil and your finger is dry except for the dirt of course or unless you wear gloves. I used to water daily and watched the water bill get expensive. You can water daily in the morning before 11 a.m. before the stoma underneath your plants leaves close, I water no longer than 10 minutes for the area of an average lawn. It is November and I water less when using compost.
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Joined: 10/5/2009
Posts: 17
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arahe wrote:In Zone 9 if you install leech lines-rocks or brick in a long line going downhill placed under the soil. I water weekly or whenever you can place your finger into the soil and your finger is dry except for the dirt of course or unless you wear gloves. I used to water daily and watched the water bill get expensive. You can water daily in the morning before 11 a.m. before the stoma underneath your plants leaves close, I water no longer than 10 minutes for the area of an average lawn. It is November and I water less when using compost.
What zone are you in? I am on a well so my water would be much cheaper. I was watering everyday at 6:00AM set by my sprinkler timer. I think that was too much.
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