Let's talk about watering!

While the summer sun grows ever stronger (albeit, in its own time... weird weather this spring, eh?), it is super important to make sure our plants have enough water to thrive whether we are having super hot days or cooler days. Water, just as with sun and soil nutrition, is one of the key building blocks to any food producing space. There are many approaches to how to water, when to water, and how much to water. But as I always say, the most important thing is to find what works for you and what works for your space. You may decide, for example, that you adore hand-watering. It gives you zen time, with your plants, and you look forward to it every day. Enjoy, treat yourself to a new spray nozzle (get the one with the fancy adjustments and lever to control the water pressure, or one with a handle extender... worth it!) You may decide, on the other hand, that taking time every day to water may sound like a lovely idea but when it comes down to practicing, it feels more stressful than "zen" to find time each day to water. Maybe a micro-drip irrigation system is the right fit for you! Some people like to water in the morning, others in the evening. You do you. If you find your space is more susceptible to slugs, snails or other soft-bellied, moisture loving buggos, watering in the morning may be better suited for your space as it allows the soil and leaves to dry throughout the day, and into the night when they are more active. One non-negotiable, at least in my opinion, is that when you water, you water at the BASE of the plant. In fact, I would encourage you to think about watering the soil instead of the plant. Watering overhead increases moisture on all your plant's leaves which can impact susceptibility to fungal outbreaks, especially in the summer. Rain will come. And that's great for your plants too. All the leaves will get an all over soak. But it doesn't rain every day, at least we can hope it won't this summer. You may find yourself watering daily, depending on your space and the forecasted high's. The more soil volume you are working with, the less frequently you'll need to water. In other words, if you're growing in raised bed or in the ground, watering every other day, even in summer, may be sufficient. Growing in containers? You'll likely be watering every day during peak heat. A general rule of thumb is if the forecast is showing days consistently over 85 degrees, and you're growing in containers, plan to water daily. Otherwise, every other day is ok, but listen to your plants and the soil. If they look dry or stressed, give them a soak. Below are five best watering practices borrowed from my 2023 Planning Calendar - the Year of Mastery. The fourth Master Skill (of 6) presented in the calendar is managing the sun, heat, and water in our growing spaces.

1. Water in the morning or in the evening. Watering when its sunny can damage leaves.

2. Water at the base of your plants. Think about watering the soil v. the plant.

3. Water on days when the highs are in the mid-80’s.

4. Try to reduce the amount of water that leaves from the bottom of the pot / container. As water escapes, so do nutrients from the soil our plants could be using.

5. Count as you water, especially new containers or for a new season. As you count, watch to see when water is coming from the bottom of the pot, then stop watering. Next time, count to that number. My magic number seems to hover around 15 for pots.

Want to learn more about mastering six skills for home food growing? Purchase The Patio Farmer's 2023 Planning Calendar - the Year of Mastery here!