Hey everyone! I'm diving into vegetable gardening for the first time and I just transplanted some starts from the garden center into my raised beds. I've got a mix of tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, cilantro, and onions. I've done some online research, but I'm struggling to find clear guidance on how much water to give them right after transplanting, aside from vague advice like 'give them plenty.' I really want to avoid under or over-watering my new plants. What I did was soak around the base of each plant until puddles formed, and since my beds have good drainage, I felt okay about that. I'm looking for any tips or resources on how to properly water these veggies and what signs to look out for if they're either over or under-watered. Thanks in advance!
2 Answers
No worries, it’s totally normal to be a bit anxious about watering after transplanting! As long as your soil drains well, it's usually better to err on the side of overwatering rather than underwatering during this stage. Just keep an eye on the drainage—if the excess water can’t escape, then you might run into issues. But in your case, it sounds like you did well soaking them right after transplanting!
After you water, give it about 10 minutes, then dig down a little to check the soil. It should feel moist, and you shouldn’t find a dry layer. The right amount of water really depends on your specific climate and soil type, so using your sense of touch is the best way to figure it out! Just remember, sometimes the surface looks dry but deeper down, the soil could still be holding plenty of water.
Great tip, thanks for that! I'll definitely give it a try.
Thanks for the reassurance! It’s nighttime now; do you think it’s too late to water them again, or should they be fine until morning?