Avoid These Common Watering Mistakes In Your Vegetable Garden

Have you ever wondered how often you should water your vegetable garden? Watering may seem straightforward, but there are some important considerations to think about before you get out your watering can or the garden hose. The way you water your plants is essential for them to grow and thrive. “Just like the sun, water is a key component to having a successful veggie garden,” says Nicole Shah, gardener and co-founder of Garden Girls, a garden design company in Houston, Texas.

Various factors influence when and how to water your garden, such as the time of day and how you water can make a big difference. “Proper watering ensures that your plants receive the necessary moisture to support their physiological processes, such as photosynthesis and nutrient absorption…[and] helps your vegetable plants develop strong roots,” says Amy Hovis, principal/owner of Eden Garden Design and owner of Barton Springs Nursery, in Austin, Texas. 

Mistake 1: Watering the Leaves

Notice drooping leaves and think the foliage needs a drink? Think again. Spraying the whole plant can lead to problems. “Watering the leaves can promote pests and plant disease,” says Shah.

Instead, water at the plant’s base to ensure it reaches the roots. “Watering at the base encourages a healthy root system, which, once established, allows the plant to concentrate on its foliage or production,” says Hovis. There are a couple of methods to water your vegetable plants. According to Shah, “The best way to get water to the roots of plants is to use drip irrigation or a watering wand to water the base of the plants.”

Mistake 2: Watering in the Heat

Sometimes we may remember to water the garden when it’s too hot outside and plants start to droop. You’ll want to give them a drink but in general, you want to avoid watering when it’s hot outside. “If you water in the heat of the day, more of the water will evaporate and not be absorbed by your plants,” says Shah.

Watering in the morning is ideal. “It’s always best to water your vegetable garden early in the morning when the temperatures are cooler or before the day begins to get hot…[so] they will better withstand the heat of the day,” says Hovis.

There’s another advantage of watering early, which helps roots grow deeper. “Watering in the morning also allows the soil to remain moist throughout the day which encourages deeper root growth,” says Hovis. And if the leaves get wet, they have the day to dry. “If you happen to get any water on the leaves when you water in the morning, it is likely to dry before night, thus aiding in the prevention of plant disease,” explains Shah. 

Mistake 3: Not Using a Rain Gauge

Rain is often a welcome sign in the garden and means one less gardening activity you have to do. But it’s not always easy to know after a day or week of rain when your plants are ready for another drink. Having a rain gauge can be a helpful tool to have an idea of how much water your plants have received. “For most of us, it is hard to know how much rain mother nature has provided in a week,” says Shah. “A rain gauge is an easy tool that reliably measures how much water your garden received.” 

But if you don’t want another garden tool, there’s a way to check the soil to know if your plants need water or not. 

Mistake 4: Not Checking Soil Moisture

Before you get out your watering can, you want to check if the plant needs water. One way to do this is by feeling the soil with your bare hands to check moisture. 

Hovis explains how to do this: “Insert your finger into the soil near the plants, ideally up to the second knuckle. Feel the soil's moisture content at that depth.” You’ll be able to detect if the soil is dry, moist or too wet, which are indicators of how to proceed. “If it feels dry, it indicates that the upper layers of soil may be drying out, and watering is likely needed,” she says. “If the soil feels moist, it may not require immediate watering.” And she shares that if it’s excessively wet, then it’s a sign of overwatering.  

Mistake 5: Underwatering or Overwatering

Moderation is always key and too much or not enough of something is usually not good. You want to ensure you provide your garden with the right amount of water it needs—not too much and not too little. Giving your vegetable garden too much water can cause the soil to be too soggy. “Overwatering can lead to root rot and fungal diseases,” says Hovis.

Although there is a tendency for people to overwater their vegetable gardens, it is possible to not water your plants enough. If you underwater your vegetable garden, there can be some consequences for your plants. “Underwatering can cause wilting, loss of leaves, and reduced vegetable productivity,” says Hovis.  

Want an idea of how much water your vegetable plants need? “In general, vegetable gardens need about an inch of water a week,” shares Shah.

Mistake 6: Not Watering Seedlings Daily

If you’ve purchased seedlings from the nursery or sowed them yourself and then transplant them into a garden bed or container, the frequency you water is important. It may be easy to treat baby plants similarly to more established plants but they need more care and water. “When you are first planting your garden with seedlings or young transplants, be prepared to water daily as they require frequent watering so the seeds germinate and young plants get established in their new home,” says Shah. 

Mistake 7: Overwatering Seedlings

If you’ve just sowed seeds or planted seedlings in, it’s important to take extra care when watering. “The biggest mistake people make when watering vegetable seeds or seedlings is overwatering which can suffocate their roots or give the seedlings rootrot,” explains Hovis. “Overwatering can over-saturate the soil which makes it hard for the seedlings to access oxygen which can suffocate the roots,” says Hovis.