Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
soil can dry out very quickly. Too little water can lead to poor root
development, which will make for an unhealthy plant. Once your
vegetable plants have begun to mature, watering them once a week
is usually sufficient. For some plants, it is best to stop watering them
altogether once they have matured. For example, onions and pota-
toes need less water as they get close to maturity.
Signs That Your Plants Need More Water
•
The plants appear small and very slow-growing.
•
The vegetable plants are not producing very many fruits, seeds, or buds
and the ones being produced are often misshapen.
•
Your plants are diseased.
•
The plants are yellowish or pale in color.
•
Your plants are wilting. Some natural wilting may occur in the heat of
the day, but if your plants do not perk up by late afternoon you have a
problem.
Signs of Overwatering
Most gardeners go to great lengths to make sure they add enough
nutrients to their garden beds. When the soil is moist, the water
helps hold the nutrients to rock particles in the soil so the plant roots
can absorb them. If there is too much water in the soil, a process
called leaching occurs. The water drains lower into the soil and takes
a lot of the nutrients with it.
Vegetable plant roots grow to different depths, but most do not
grow below two and a half feet. If the excess water has washed
away the nutrients, there is less nourishment available for the roots
to absorb. Without proper food, the plant will not grow and mature
as you may expect it to.
