Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
get enough water when they are hand-watered because gardeners
rush through the task. Some gardeners enjoy this aspect of growing
vegetables, as they find it relaxing, but others do not have the
patience to do it. Also consider that if you hand-water your veget-
ables, you'll have to find someone you trust to take over for you if
you want to take a vacation.
Overhead Watering
Using an overhead sprinkler is probably the easiest and most com-
mon way most gardeners water their vegetable gardens. Depending
on how large your garden is, all you have to do is set up your sprink-
ler in one area and turn it on. Everything gets watered all at one
time. It takes approximately one hour of sprinkling (depending on
water pressure) for the water to soak into the soil several inches.
Benefits of Using an Overhead Sprinkler
•
Simple to set up and use
•
Equipment is inexpensive to purchase
•
Saves time
•
Timers and automatic equipment are easy to use
•
Can be easily moved around your garden
•
Can be used to keep plants cool in warm weather
Lettuce, spinach, salad greens, and Swiss chard all benefit from
overhead watering. The leaves are kept cool while the water on the
leaves evaporates, lowering the temperature of the plant and pre-
venting plants from wilting or being scorched in hot temperatures.
Disadvantages of Using an Overhead Sprinkler
