How do I keep my radish and squash garden staying moist?
Posted on 08 November 2009 by Sarah
Ok, I grew a radish in my front yard garden and the leaves are already there. Its been about 4-5 days since I planted it, so I’m really happy about that. But in the back yard garden is where I planted all the other radishes and squashes( which are sepperated.) is always dry so I have to water them every single day and that takes alot of time doing that because its a big garden. I tried the sprinkler but the garden is behind a tree so it hardly gets wet!!! Is there a way I can keep it moist without me watering it everyday?
Tags | back yard, front yard, leaves, radish, radishes, single day, squashes, yard garden
November 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
What I did when I lived in the desert and didnt have time to water every day was go to the hardware store or nursery and buy a small cheap faucet-end timer that runs on a battery. It screws onto the hose faucet, and you attach the hose to it. You program the timer to turn on the hose every day or every other day and you can choose the minutes it will be on. Then you can attach a hose and a hose-end sprinkler head or a dribbler tube to it, and your plants will be watered without you there!
Otherwise, if you dont want to do that, the best thing is to put a layer of something that will serve as a barrier to prevent the moisture evaporating out of the soil. Mulch (not colored mulch, but real untreated mulch), straw or hay, ground cloth with holes cut out where the plants are, or a layer of chunky compost will help keep the ground moist. A bit of shade (not too much) will help too.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
put a light organic mulch down around the plants..this will keep the soil more moist by preventing water from evaporating quickly, howeverdepending on the weather you may have to get a sprinker hose out there.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
cover w/ newspapers,leaves, they also sell what I call weeper hoses which drip water at the base of plant. next year,put in lots of organic material like potting mix, natures helper etc. one last thing, most plants don’t like wet feet (roots) you want to water them, but have well drained soil
November 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Incorporate some peat moss into the soil, it will help retain moisture.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
those are all good ideas.. thumbs up to all!
November 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Hi, two options:
Use a soaker hose.
Mulch. Mulch allows the soil below the mulch to remain damp and protects your plants from temperature changes. It has the added benefit of reducing weeds.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
peatmoss the hell out of it
November 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
buy another hose,sprinkler and say a three way and use your new equip. to go around the tree…….turn on sprinkler as usual,