How often do you water veggies?

[FromCali]

I have a few plants watering on the same drip irrigation station: tomatoes, peas, kale, lettuce, strawberries, squash, a few flowers, etc..
What is the ideal frequency? I am thinking to water every 3 days for now and change it to every 2 days when it gets hotter.
I am adjusting duration regularly based on how the weather is.

 

[Meadowlark]

IMO, it is far better to let the plant(s) tell you when to water...rather than on some predetermined schedule.

Different plants have different watering needs in different types of soil. Observe and research their needs and you will have happier, more productive plants.

By the way, my garden plants just survived a stretch of torrential rains getting hammered with 43 inches of rain in 18 days. No kidding.

Rain is expected again here Thursday.

 

[redback]

I'm from South Australia. It's autumn here and we've had practically no rain for the season (4mm since February). Your irrigation frequency is about the same as mine.
I'm using micro sprinklers and give them about 15-20 minutes per session. You've got a good variety of plants there and it helps to have them mulched.

 

[YumYum]

The best way to check is the same way that you check for an egg bound chicken. Stick your finger in there and see.

 

[FromCali]

I'm from South Australia. It's autumn here and we've had practically no rain for the season (4mm since February). Your irrigation frequency is about the same as mine.
I'm using micro sprinklers and give them about 15-20 minutes per session. You've got a good variety of plants there and it helps to have them mulched.

I like the idea of mulch, but I think that is increasing slugs. That's why I have not added mulch this season yet. Maybe I will add dried leaves (which I have saved from last fall for mulching) now that it's going to be in 80s for the next few days.

 

[MowgFace]

How's the drainage with your soil?

I am in the east bay (same growing zone), and I currently run 2 days a week on drip irrigation/sprinklers and supplement with hand watering. Though, I heartily agree with @Meadowlark and @YumYum that a schedule can only get you so far.

We ran our irrigation early one morning, checked the soil at the end of the next two days and determined when we needed the follow up. You will need to periodically check to see if your "schedule" needs updating as the weather changes. These days i usually at least peak at the soil every day, to help develop a bit of a feel for how the soil acts.

In the summer when it regularly gets to ~100+ and up to 110+, there are some stretches where we water every day and potted plants might need a pool party in their saucers.

 

[GFTL]

I don't trust my finger for moisture readings. I us an inexpensive moisture meter and it works just fine. I'm a big fan of wicking beds. The plants will get whatever water they want without worry of over or under watering. Just fill the reservoir once a week and forget it. I do have drip irrigation in most of my garden but that still requires monitoring. If you leave town for 3-4 days you don't have any control of it.

 

[skinyea]

It really depends on all things mentioned, and then mother nature of course. 3 years ago I literally watered 3 times all year. last year I watered every week.
General rule of thumb for me is if the plant is drooping in the morning before sun hits, water.

 

[FromCali]

It really depends on all things mentioned, and then mother nature of course. 3 years ago I literally watered 3 times all year. last year I watered every week.
General rule of thumb for me is if the plant is drooping in the morning before sun hits, water.

Isn't it late if the plant is drooping? Shouldn't there be sufficient water so that the plant is not drooping?

 

[skinyea]

Isn't it late if the plant is drooping? Shouldn't there be sufficient water so that the plant is not drooping?

I used to think that. it just seems like the plants produce better when I do it this way. I used to totally overwater.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

As Meadowlark says, different plants different needs, for example chilli actually likes to get pretty dry before it is watered, tomatoes like consistently damp, and that is without considering soil and weather, sun and sand, dull and clay for example.

 

[Palladini]

I have a soil moisture meter, got it off of Amazon real cheap, does wonders

 

[PorridgeRIce]

I am from malaysia and we have no winter but only hot and sunny weather. For my cucumber plant I normally water it 4-5 time everyday since the sun is so hot that the soil dried up very quickly, the most interested part is that my cucumber still remain healthy and strong even tho i watered so much everyday.