I'm trying to figure out how much water is classified as 'deep watering' for my garden. I planted my seedlings directly into the ground about 4.5 weeks ago without mulching (I know, I should have!). I've got a variety of plants including tomatoes, Swiss chard, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, basil, cilantro, and dill. Recently, I've been using approximately 10 gallons of water every two days because of the heat. Is this enough for deep watering?
3 Answers
The amount of water you'll need really depends on your soil type and plant roots. Deep watering means ensuring the soil is soaked down to the roots. You'll want to water a wide area around the plant, not just at the stem. Test the moisture by digging down a bit; if the soil is dry a few inches down, you might need to increase your watering.
Deep watering is usually around half an inch of water per week, but the exact amount in gallons will depend on your hose's flow. For instance, during high heat like 90°F, I recommend giving each tomato plant about a gallon every two days. Just make sure you're watering slowly so the soil can absorb it well.
For tomatoes, I typically give them about half a gallon each on hot days since they need a lot of moisture. Other plants get less and not as often. It's important to tailor your watering to each type of plant.