veg watering

I have one of those water meter things, and sandy soil, I ran about sticking it in at various points in the veg plot, and despite some rain recently the reading was the same in the air as in the soil. ( The meter works).
How should I water my veg? I have a sprinkler.
ta

 

What are you growing and how deep did you push the meter prod into the soil? It's quite likely that there is plenty of moisture 12" down but unless you are growing deep rooted veg, that's not a lot of good. Your soil needs water retention nearer the surface and no amount of watering is going to do that for you.

 

You need a share of my clay soil. Its all I can do to get it to dry out.

 

Hi, the probe is about 10 inches long, so thats how deep I went looking for moisture. My swedes were looking a bit limp, thats what started me off. The main crops are Carrots and beetroot and brassicas.

 

Hi Misterroy

Dont use a sprinkler on veg,it's to much waste...............Try and consentrate the water where it's needed only,a good soak at the base of each plant and in the evening is best.
Have a lovely day.

 

Carol Kleins veg book says,
carrots are drought resistant and shouldn't need watering. if they wilt, a thourough soak every 10 - 14 days will help. They like free draining soil.
Beetroot - again well drained soil, water thoroughly every 10 -14 days during dry spells. lack of water can make them woody., fluctaution can cause splitting, excess gives lots of leaves at expense of roots.

 

I use a watering can on my veg, so that I can water where needed and leave out the ones that don't need it.

Lollipop - I've got clay soil too, it's bad in the front garden, the back I've dug in lots of compost and topsoil from where we've put down a patio and it's not quite as bad in the back. Although it can go really hard and crack when it eventually dries out in the front.

 

I agree with the flood-them-infrequently approach. I too use a watering can because it gets me amongst the plants and that's when I notice aphid attacks and other things that would get ignored if I used a sprinkler!

 

thanks.

 

Yes, it takes a while.

Soak-hose would probably be better than sprinkler for anything in a row - like runner beans.

I keep meaning to set up drip-irrigation in the greenhouse so I can save that time for other watering tasks.