Watering

As we are attempting to pass off the bogarden to the neighborhood, me immediate fear is that there will not be consistent watering. This is another problem that seems common in gardens that many people have a hand in. Thus, I have found a pretty reasonable solution to ensure that plants have adequate water through this hot South Carolina summer. Basically, this system is similar to what I suggested for making compost tea in the garden bed. All you do is sink a 2 liter bottle or a milk jug (depending on how many plants you need to keep watered) half way in the soil and poke two pencil sized holes in the bottom of the jug. Every time you water the garden, fill up the jug, as water is removed by the plants, it will be drawn out of the container and into the soil. Even allowing the top two inches of soil to dry out can stress the plants and keep them from producing at their best.

A word on when to water:
Just because plants are wilted, it does not necessarily indicate that they need water. Too much water, disease, and plain old heat (a common thing down here) can cause plants to wilt. Before you decide to water, put your fingers in the soil and see how moist it is. If the top two inches are dry add enough to thoroughly soak the soil. It is ideal to water infrequently but deeply. This encourages root growth into the soil by keeping a large area moist without risking squeezing all the oxygen out of the soil. It is ideal to water in the morning to allow water to evaporate before the heat of the day. Watering at night can lead to problems with disease, so avoid watering the leaves if you have to water at night. Also, water in a large circle around the crops which will ensure more healthy root growth.

Good luck keeping the garden alive and well this summer!