Tips on How to Save Water in the Vegetable Garden

Water is a necessity that vegetables must have to guarantee a thriving growth. In situations where water may be hard to come by, vegetables are more likely to fail and reduce the quality of produce which you may expect from a gardening venture. Again, it makes more sense to conserve water even if it may be available in plenty, and that is one of the main talking points that must be applied in any vegetable gardening routine. Here are some seven useful tips that help you save  a lot of water in your organic vegetable garden from going to waste.

1. Harvesting Rainwater

Rainwater harvesting may be incredibly useful if you have grown your vegetables during summer or in climatic conditions where rain may be rare. You can use ingenious ways such as tanks to harvest rain and later use the collected the water to water the vegetables. Rainwater comes at an absolutely free cost, and it adds a lot of convenience in any organic gardening approach. For instance, harvesting the right amount of rain will ensure that the vegetable garden never runs dry, and this aspect can ensure that productivity is maximized in a vegetable garden. By harvesting as much rainwater as possible, you will greatly reduce the need to water vegetable using tap water, and that can greatly reduce your water bill cost. 

2. Organic Mulching

Vegetables lose much of their soil water when their growing surface is exposed to sunlight. To reduce such unnecessary water losses, you can mulch the vegetables with organic plants such as grass, leaves, soft twigs, and so on. Organic mulch also adds a lot to soil fertility since they degrade to give out beneficial nutrients that vegetables can use for healthy growth. Mulching should be done mostly during high-temperature seasons such as summer since this is the time when loss of soil moisture is at its maximum. The practice is also suitable for plants that are relatively young since any excessive soil moisture loss can lead to stunted growth. 

3. Applying Organic Manure To The Soil Structure

This practice should be done using compost manure, and rotten plant remains such as stalks ad leaves. Adding organic matter redefines the soil structure by reducing the moisture escape points that would otherwise make vegetables to experience excessive moisture loss. You must also consider the type of soil for you which you intend to apply organic matter to in your organic garden.

Clay and loam soils have superb soil moisture retaining capabilities, and vegetables can relatively thrive in them. With clay and loam soils, you may only need to apply organic matter at moderate rates. However, sand exhibit a relatively high rate of loss of soil moisture, and among the best way to control the moisture is by putting a lot of organic matter into the sandy soil structure. The organic matter also degrades and add a lot of nutrients that favor vegetable growth. 

4. Watering The Vegetables Accordingly

In many vegetable growing seasons, watering is an activity that is unavoidable. However, you can arrive at water efficiency by strictly controlling the number of water gallons you use for your vegetable garden. It is considered a better approach to individually water the vegetables than just having water uncontrollably sprinkled to a garden. You can rely on tools such as soaker hose, jerry cans or drip cans since they are so effective at regulating the amount of water that can fall on the vegetables. If using a soaker hose make sure it is the right length that will fit properly into garden. If you need to make any adjustments you need to cut it with the best saw  you can find that makes a clean and precise cut. Splashing water on the entire vegetable garden is a very wasteful watering technique, and it should be at all costs if you wish to establish an effective water shortage routine. 

5. Watering Vegetables At The Right Time

You should only water the vegetable garden at appropriate times. For instance, the best time to water is in the early morning since at this time of the day it is generally cooler and the water can penetrate the soil, better get to the roots of your plants, and not be lost to evaporation. You want to avoid watering in the middle of the day, as when the sun’s heat is at its maximum it does drive away a lot of moisture from the soil structure.  You also do not want to water in the evenings, though late afternoon can work as long as there is time for the plants to dry out before it gets dark. If the leaves of your plants are not given the chance to dry out it can lead to fungus problems. No matter when you end up watering, the Flexogen garden hose is a great choice for the job..

6. Pick Vegetables That Can Survive When Exposed To Less Moisturized Conditions

Water saving garden tips start with the vegetable options you may prefer for your garden. Picking drought-resistant vegetables can give you a peace of mind even at those times when water supply may be a huge problem. Suitable examples of such vegetables may include okra, rosemary, sage, peppers, thyme, and eggplants and so on. 

7. Build a Shade For The Vegetables

Shades prevent sunlight from directly falling on vegetables, and this greatly minimizes water loss via evaporation. The presence of vegetable garden shades can also reduce how frequently you water the garden, and that can give you a well-deserved peace of mind.

Author Bio:  Leslie J. Shearer is the founder and owner of the blog colorgardening.com. Gardening is her passion and she has a deep relationship with nature. Growing plants and digging deep to germinate flowers and vegetables brings positivity in her life.

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Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog! I believe in living green, organically, and natural in every aspect of our lives. My mission is to help educate you on how to live green, help save our environment and to help you and your family live a happier, healthier life!