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From: rws@gypsy.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.garden
Subject: Re: to new gardener - juilo
Message-ID: <25900015@gypsy.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Jul-85 09:28:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: gypsy.25900015
Posted: Fri Jul 19 09:28:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 11:57:51 EDT
References: <768@aluxe.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:aluxe:-76800:gypsy:25900015:000:1065
Nf-From: gypsy!rws    Jul 19 09:28:00 1985


A previous note in this series spoke of watering every day.  If you find
yourself doing that for well established plants, you probably aren't
watering long enough, unless you're in an especially low-humidity climate or
especially sandy soil.

Average soil can only absorb about an inch of rain per hour.  The rest runs
off.  The average plant is happy with an inch of rain per week.  When the
surface of the soil is dry, the root zone can still be quite moist and
pleasant.  However, you have to convince your plants to send their roots
deep;  if you are watering every day, why should they bother?  So, try
watering your garden twice a week with half an inch of water, applied slowly
from a sprinkler or drip irrigation set-up.  See how long it takes your
plants to droop.  For deep-rooted plants, such as tomatoes, corn, carrots ...
try an inch of "rain" once a week.  If your soil is too sandy, add humus,
either as compost, peat moss, or whatever you can lay your hands on.

Bob Schwanke

Siemens Research
Princeton, NJ
08540-6668

seismo!princeton!siemens!rws