Vegetable Gardening Fertilization and Irrigation

A loamy soil is essential for growing a healthy and productive garden. It should not lean too far to the clay side or the sandy side, and it should easily crumble in your hand. Clay-like soil will not allow enough drainage and sandy soil will not retain enough water and nutrients to feed your plants.

Good fertilizer and proper amounts of water are needed to create this type of soil.

Start by testing your soil with an inexpensive testing kit so that you know what you're dealing with. This will tell you what to add and how much. These tests will provide you with data concerning pH levels, nutrients, and others. Different vegetables prefer different kinds of soil. Some do better in acidic soil and some in more alkaline ground. A pH level of 6.0-6.5 is generally recommended for most.

PH levels can be adjusted by adding sulfur or lime, depending on the test results. These nutrients can be provided by adding fertilizer. Allow several months after adjusting pH levels before you begin planting. It's a good idea to do it after the harvest to prepare for next year.

If you're using compost, allow three weeks after application to begin planting. This will allow the nutrients to work their way into the soil naturally before you plant. You can, however, get a head start on it by tilling it into the soil. Artificial and organic fertilizers are also available if you have no compost pile. NPK 8-8-8 is a good choice for this purpose. 20 pounds per thousand square feet is recommended, and this can be added right before you plant.

Vegetable plants rely on water more than many other species of plant, such as herbs and others. To much water, however, can lead to root rot, so don't over do it. Vegetables do require a continuously moist soil to enable the biological reaction required to make them healthy and strong.

Water serves several purposes, such as carrying nutrients to various parts of the plant, photosynthesis, and strengthening cell structures. Most gardens will do well with about an inch of water per week or 65 gallons per 100 square feet. These numbers will vary depending on your climate and soil conditions. You may need to supplement their water supply if they don't receive enough naturally.

Fortunately, it's easy to supply.

You don't need to worry about wilting vegetable plants by watering from above as you would some other plants. This is provided it's done in moderate temperatures. You should, however, follow some of the same guidelines. It's always a good idea to water in the morning to prevent water from laying on the leaves when the cool night air rolls in. This will keep fungus from developing. A drip irrigation system is a simple way to provide your plants with adequate water. You can leach water into the soil by placing rubber tubing on the ground near the plant.

If this system is set up properly, only occasional watering will then be required. Avoid watering in high temperatures. This will cause the pores to open and release more moisture than the plant would have lost had you not watered. Water droplets on the leaves can also act like a magnifying glass in hot weather, causing burning.