Just like the sun, water is a key component to having a successful kitchen garden. Water is used by plants to transport nutrients from the soil to the plant. The proper amount of water will keep your plant nourished to grow strong and produce abundant harvests. I can recall after I set up my first drip irrigation system in my garden and had consistent watering for the first time, it was a game changer. I thought I was the most amazing gardener as my veggies were big, healthy and beautiful.

When we design raised bed kitchen gardens here in Houston, we include drip irrigation in the turnkey price package. Why? Because it’s THAT important. Converting sprinkler spray heads to drip irrigation lines is easy if it’s done at the time of installation!

In general, vegetable gardens need about an inch of water a week. When you are first planting your garden with seedlings or young transplants, be prepared to water daily as they require frequent watering so the seeds germinate and young plants get established in their new home.  Once your veggie garden is established after a couple of weeks, you can water less frequently and more deeply so your plants form deeper roots.

For most of us, it is hard to know how much rain mother nature has provided in a week. A rain gauge is an easy tool that reliably measures how much water your garden received. And, if you are not up to measuring rain amounts, another easy way to see if your veggie garden needs extra watering is to do the knuckle test. Put your finger in the soil up to the knuckle. If the soil feels moist, your garden has sufficient water.  

One of the most common watering mistakes gardeners make is how we water our gardens. We want the water to go to the roots of the plant, not on the leaves.  Watering the leaves can promote pests and plant disease. The best way to get water to the roots of plants is to use drip irrigation or a watering wand to water the base of the plants.  

Another vital watering tip is to water your garden in the morning. If you water in the heat of the day, more of the water will evaporate and not be absorbed by your plants. Also, if you happen to get any water on the leaves when you water in the morning, it is likely to dry before night, thus aiding in the prevention of plant disease.

Watering with the correct habits can help set your plants up for success and give you the plentiful harvests we all crave.