Question
In the vegetable fact sheets it make watering suggestions such as "water 1-2" per week" how much water is 1-2" per week? Also, Can I use blood meal for nitrogen to side dress tender plants?
Answer(s)
The most important thing about watering is getting enough water to the root zone, so that the soil is not saturated, leaving oxygen in the soil for root and plant growth. This 1-2" is adapted from overhead sprinklers heads that usually have an output measured in inches. Difficult to give watering recommendations in general because everyone has different irrigation systems, different soil types, different microclimates.
Perhaps this USU publication on irrigation may help. Click on http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/ENGR_BIE_WM-37.pdf
Best is using drip irrigation for vegetables, depending on your soils, getting enough water to root zones. Better to water less frequently and deeper. In sandy soils, you'll need to water more often whereas in heavier clay soils, not so often. With drip irrigation, you can usually water deeply and get by with one to two times a week, depending on air temperatures & wind.
Blood meal can be used, but can burn plants, better to use it sparingly when side dressing.
Other Questions In This Topic
- I would like to build some grow boxes for vegetables. Do you have any recommendations what type of wood or other material should be used for a grow box?
- I would like to plant trees in my park strip, but have a gas line running through the middle. If I hand dig, is it ok to plant trees over the top of the line? What is the depth of gas lines?
- I planted some fruit trees fall 2009 and am noticing tons of fruit on them already in this first year. I've heard I should pick them all and wait until the second year to let them mature. Is this right?
- My husband mistakenly put fertilizer with a broad leaf killer in it on our garden. Is there anything we can do to grow things this year? Everything has died sadly.
- I have a relatively young peach tree which just split down the middle today, I'm assuming due to the weight of the peaches. I have cut off some of the branches and removed some peaches to help lighten the load. I called a nursery and they said in addition to doing that I should bring the branches back together and secure them together in attempt to save the remaining peaches. Then this fall I need to completely remove the partially broken branches. My questions for you are: Is this tree salvageable if I cut off 2/3 of its branches and will the peaches I've taken off ripen under any conditions?
- I have many Chanticleer pear's in my yard. Each year they swarm with Wasps during the day. There are not any nests in them. Is there anything I can do or spray to remove them? They have been swarming many of my Quakies as well. I have read online that it could be from aphids on the trees and the Wasps go after the sugary substance the aphids leave behind. I have noticed on my Quakies that there are small holes on some leaves which might mean aphids, but on the Chanticleer's there are not any holes on the leaves so I don't think aphids would be on those. Please help the wasps are out of control on these trees.
- What materials should I use to raise depressions in my lawn around retaining walls and sidewalks?
- Where can I get a chart that tells me when to plant vegetable or plants and also can you tell me how to plant blackberry and raspberry plants?