Water Your Garden the Right Way (Stop Killing Your Plants!)

Getting watering right is vital for a successful vegetable garden. Get it wrong and we are at risk of losing our precious crops. No matter whereabouts we are in the world, in this video Ben shares his tips that are applicable to everyone. So even if you are experiencing some weird weather lately we've got your watering needs covered so we can stop killing out plants and get them thriving.
Catch up on all our previous monthly sowing videos using this handy playlist: • What Can I Sow Now? Mo...
For more on watering watch this next:
Don't Make These Rookie Watering Mistakes!💧
• Don't Make These Rooki...
And for information on how to save rain water, watch this
💧Best Ways to Collect Rainwater
• 💧Best Ways to Collect ...
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[@DebRoo11]

It's actually cute you remind us to drink as well. I think most gardeners can say they've got a little dehydrated working too lomg under the sun 😊

[@GrowVeg]

Important to stay well quenched when out and about. :-)

[@joemccall8991]

Remember that humidity is an important but often overlooked factor in plant health. We're hitting 37C in my US state but humidity is above 80% so plants are hanging onto moisture much better than if it was hot and dry. With the humidity being so high, low evapotranspiration means less need to water but also higher disease pressure.

[@jeas4980]

Hello powdery mildew and rust! Good reminder!

[@GrowVeg]

Very good point @joemccall8991

[@dustyflats3832]

😂 we have so much rain this year I can’t even think of using liquid fertilizer. It’s a swamp and the mosquitoes are hatching in mid air.

[@gloriousapplebees]

Complete opposite here!

[@jaytoney3007]

Biggest drought year in the history of Alabama, so far.

[@dominicharvey6048]

We had 2 months of rain and then nothing for 3 maybe 4 weeks

[@trapped7534]

A city approximately 25 miles from me got EIGHT inches in one 24 hour period last week. They had flash flooding,big time. I am 69 years old and in my lifetime there has never been flooding there. When I saw the news I thought I must have heard wrong. So watched another local news…. 8 inches/24 hours.

[@dustyflats3832]

@@dominicharvey6048 that’s how our severe drought started last year.

[@karenholt9744]

One minute in and thank you for teaching me that clay soils need more of a drenching when they dry out!!

[@karenholt9744]

Good information! I also took a screenshot of your table.

[@marywheeler6117]

9:04

[@kevenweaver9266]

Everyone preaches watering in the morning but I water in the evening. I believe it causes my plants to grow bigger roots during the day searching for water during the midday heat.

[@jackieo8693]

Plus who has time in the morning? Unless it's on a timer

[@aname5267]

I simply water when I can but with I had time in the morning. Both my garden and allotment are riddled with slugs that like wet dark conditions after I’ve watered in the evening.

[@kevenweaver9266]

My cherry tomatoes are 7' tall and don't even have ripe fruit yet, so I must be doing something right 😂

[@ellaredseals2694]

​@@kevenweaver9266AWESOME

[@gazzertrn]

I work in a garden centre , and you are spot on . Water once , come back and water again .

[@Talhoffer317]

Just started a garden this year and almost everything would be DEAD without Ben!!! Thank You!!!

[@GrowVeg]

So pleased to have been of use! :-)

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Have thought of saving rinsed water from rice and veggies but not the 'cooked' water, lots of nutrients in there I have to agree. Will change my idea on that. Thank you have a great day.

[@kirstenpaff8946]

Watering where I live (southwestern US) is such a challenge. The air is bone dry and there is a lot of wind, so even if the soil is well watered, the plants just can't seem to take up enough water sometimes.

[@GrowVeg]

I imagine it must be a real challenge keeping everything happy in those conditions. Would wind breaks help to shelter plants from drying winds? Even windbreak netting could help.

[@Yupppi]

The sustainable water conservation tips were kickass. One thing I see reminded regularly about cooking water: NO SALT.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes - very good point! :-)

[@RawLondonGardener]

Simple advice, no faffing around. Keep up the good work 👍🏼💪🏼

[@GrowVeg]

Will do! :-)

[@TiradeBombastic]

It is crazy how much compost can help. I added some to a bed of pumpkins I just added in the front of my yard (where I can't get a hose easily - I'm usually hand watering which is a long, daily task). I added some compost and got the hose up to soak it and the plants really blossomed. We have a heat wave coming so I plan on doing it again and getting mulch down.

[@stephenhope7319]

Here in Sacramento, Ca 9b it has been HOT. Over 100 for the last 10 days.Continuing on until September. My preference as a long time gardener, is to use drip irrigation under my mulch and set it on a 6 station timer and run starting at 5am for my veggies and herbs and lawn etc. I can add extra times for veggie areas such as 5am, 8am and noon for a thorough soak and have never had issues in 40 years of gardening. Thanks Ben.

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds like a great system you have there Stephen. :-)

[@lyndaturner6686]

I was watching this video this morning whilst listening to the rain pouring down, not sure where you live but rain here in Cornwall has been quite frequent this year to say the least. I do love your videos though Ben they always inspire me to carry on growing better.❤️

[@GrowVeg]

Haha - yes indeed. We lucked out with a dry day while recording this, as otherwise it's been very wet of late! I'm in the Cotswolds.

[@jessegee179]

Thank you 👍😁 I remember being told it’s better to water at night, so I’ve been out there in my pj’s when I could have been indoors watching gardening videos 😂 Someone gave me a bag of pet bedding straw, it’s been great on the strawberries and squashes, I’ve used it anywhere the soil looks bare. It’s chopped short so it’s been easy to use, and I don’t mind if the birds nick some for their nests. We had thunder and lightening rain storm in Devon last night, great fun to watch, and has filled the water butts up nicely, they had been dry as a bone. I’m having difficulty stopping the water butt from getting too full, the down pipe over flow kit attachment doesn’t seem to be working right, it should fill up the butt then let the rest go down the drain, perhaps I have fitted it wrong 🤔

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

The pipe hole into the butt has to be level with the centre of the downpioe fitting, I made this mistake 👍

[@ljgerken]

I have found that plants swell within an hour after watering. When I water plants in the evening, they become more prey for foraging animals at night. If I water in the morning, I have deterred the foraging.

[@manolstoyanov2946]

Always the best tips in the best format. Thank you, Ben

[@hevchip741]

I use my shower water to flush the loo but do collect the cold water that runs through the pipes while waiting for it to heat up, its quite surprising how much you get.

[@ellaredseals2694]

Me too , i keep pitcher under while waiting to heat up...Pasta water,veg water, even the whey water from cheese making diluted they like that....

[@emelle7956]

This video notification came at JUST the right time as we're getting entering a heat wave for the next week starting today here in Washington USA zone 6B/7A, reaching 105 F degrees! You've saved my garden the unnecessary stress!

[@powaqqatsi8]

I found shade cloth helps as well.

[@lesliekendall5668]

Sounds like the Tri-Cities.

[@emelle7956]

@@lesliekendall5668 im in the yakima valley; hello neighbor! Hope your gardening is going better!

[@lesliekendall5668]

@@emelle7956 👍 My home town is the T-C but have been living in Boise since 2016. Our annual rainfall is pretty much the same as yours but Yakima and the T-C are year round @ 5° warmer than Boise. We get a smidge colder in the winter and you get a smidge hotter in the summer. So much so that whatever your temp is, it's a given that Boise is 5° cooler. Nice to hook up since we're watching a channel that's so far away. Aw well, there are no borders when it comes to a great channel.

[@suepowlesland8541]

Same here neighbor, I'm just over the border in the Okanagan Valley🌞

[@valoriegriego5212]

Another great video, Ben! Thank you!😃

[@MANNY100123]

I'm so glad I've been doing my watering mostly correctly this season! Thank you as always for the informative videos! :)

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Ben, another great video with plenty of hints and tips. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@valeriezendiver263]

What a great overview, thank you Ben!

[@klarsen1839]

I'm using coconut coir as a mulch this year for the first time and it's been wonderful. I'm really happy with it's performance, I'll definitely use it again in the future.

[@CG-fy9jz]

I love your videos x

[@sabrina0013]

Thank you

[@Rachellane0906]

I learned a few key watering tips in this video. Thanks Ben!

[@Dingle1234]

I worked for an old homesteader who said he used a claw type hoe to scratch up the surface soil and break up the hard bits, every two days or so. And that he rarely had to water at all.

[@ellaredseals2694]

Interesting...

[@ellaredseals2694]

Interesting

[@juliehartley3652]

Thank you Ben - lovely borage there going into your drink at the end. 😊

[@joeasthope2064]

Anyone else have a problem this year for runner beans not growing at the speed like last year both myself and neighbours are having the same problem

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, absolutely - same here!

[@jasons9879]

Brilliant Video as always!

[@calius3578]

I love these videos. So informative and helpful!

[@dnawormcastings]

Great video about watering plants 🇳🇿❤️🌱

[@melindaroth5796]

Great information Sir. 😊❤ Thank you Brother for sharing this with us all.

[@beentheredonethat6584]

Invest in an extending spray wand. It is far more comfortable to stand up straight while putting the spray head almost at soil level and it prevents any water from falling on the foliage. It is also great for watering hanging baskets or shrubs further back in the border.

[@GrowVeg]

Great suggestion! :-)

[@davo6287]

In zone 10A I find a short overhead watering around noon to 3ish to be necessary. not as a "watering" but more of a "cooling". last three days (early July) have been in the upper 90's here.

[@DebRoo11]

Doesn't that burn your plants?

[@davo6287]

I find the damage is less than what I get without cooling things down.

[@William-k3z]

Thanks, this is really useful info.

[@2spoons]

OPEN QUESTION TO ANY ONE: I water my tomatoes (in the green house every two days) because they took like they're run a marathon..... But then they look yellow - if they aren't watered they'd die.... how can I reduce the yellowing ?

[@beentheredonethat6584]

When plant leaves turn yellow it can be an indication of lack of nitrogen. This is often caused by stress in the plant resulting in the plant reducing the intake of nitrogen. (nothing to do with fertiliser). The stress could be too much or not enough; wind, heat, water, sunshine, soil pests....

[@nicolasykes6637]

I water my vegetables in the evening and try to keep below the leaves, so fingers crossed everything is doing ok, but I will try to heed your advice about over watering.

[@user-lb7kc8sb8f]

Good advice!!

[@FrankBarnwell-xi8my]

Good video. I'm going to try the average size hurricane on the Texas coast, method. Good luck everyone!

[@GARDENER42]

I'm in West Cumbria, so watering anything outside & in the ground is rarely an issue...😁 Bought a solar powered & solar regulated watering system to use in the polytunnel this year & so far, I'm very impressed. My only watering requirement I struggle to get right is potatoes in containers, as they use a LOT more water than I expected.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, container potatoes always seem to be very thirsty!

[@judifarrington9461]

Wow! I collect rain water but never thought of collecting the water from washing produce. What a great idea! That would be especially easy with my outdoor gardening wash table. I can reuse my canning water too. Thanks, Ben!

[@lesliekendall5668]

You can actually have plumbers set up the drains to a reserve to use for outside watering. Maybe look up "house gray water systems" or something like that.

[@judifarrington9461]

@@lesliekendall5668 Great idea! Thanks!! 😊

[@ellaredseals2694]

Yep, the kitchen veg washing water, pan water from cooking veg, I even have a bowl under fawcet as I wash hands n dishes by hand, I throw none sown drain straight to plants, Is it work yes but its reusing water otherwise well down the drain...

[@jaytoney3007]

Hand watering with a hose pipe works best for me. With after noon tems between 35C-40C, dailinmg watering is needed for my potted plants, herbs, pole beans, Swiss Chard, zucchini, cantaloupe, and watermelon. My tomatoes and peppers are deep rooted enough that they only need wateriong every other day. The GreeenStalk towers get watered every other day, except for the top teir; it needs daily watering. I just planted potato chiots this morning for fall potatoes, and will be sowing seed starts for cabbage in about ten days. I'll salso be direct sowing seeds for carrots and turnips. The little raptor dinosaurs, chicks, are a month old, mostly feathered except for their heads, and enjoying their super deluxe chicken condo. A little more work, and the added chicken run will be ready for them. I just need to fill in some gaps between the base and the ground, add a dust bath, and a few toys to keep them entertained. Happy chickens are good egg layers.

[@Kitchenlabofficial]

Very good working

[@Ruhma.]

good idea to use water you cooked veg in..might be some nutrients in that

[@youngmauro12]

Good and good timing. Dry AF here. 👍💪

[@GrowVeg]

Wishing you plenty of rain soon!

[@youngmauro12]

@@GrowVeg the rain gods have answered your prayers!

[@vanhorntm]

I live in the American West where it is hot and dry all summer. Soaker hoses have been my go-to for years but the ones made from recycled tires get clogged after a few years from the silt in the irrigation water I get. I realized I didn’t have to throw them out though! I poke a hole every few inches with a pocketknife and it works just as well! I’ve even picked up some old hoses off the classifieds and done the same to them. If the holes get too big, I patch them with electrical tape and that keeps them going for longer. Eventually I have to replace them, but I figure I’ve at least tripled the length of time I have to go before buying new hoses.

[@GrowVeg]

What a fantastic system - love it! :-)

[@hennas87]

The video was good - thank you. You earned a like by telling us to stay hydrated though ;-)

[@GrowVeg]

Haha - cheers so much! :-)

[@christineclarke1653]

Luckily I started gardening last year and was able to have lots of lovely goodies. This year, practically everything has died or been eaten - lettuce, courgettes, broccoli, cabbages, tomatoes, beetroots, all gone. The strawberries, sweetcorn and peas seem to be doing alright. I live in Manchester, England, so watering is not an issue this year.

[@GrowVeg]

So sorry you've had such a touch time. It's been a horrid year so far for slugs, that's for sure!

[@hackiehackerson]

thanks pal

[@BillBoulton-js8ns]

Small point,but worth a mention. 25 mm of water is equivalent to 2.5 watering cans per square metre of soil. To get that amount of water on the ground, a lance is useless. Time how long it takes to fill a watering can with a lance fitted and multiply by 2.5 per metre…….. A long time for a 4 metre bed.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes indeed - watering cans perhaps best to spot water, when there's enough natural rainwater falling to keep most plants happy.

[@Garden_Goals]

Good👍 day

[@MrOshirinoana]

It was 120f where I live today. The only consistent success I've had is with drip irrigation. When I used to hand water, if I was busy or unable to tend to the garden for a day everything would die.

[@trapped7534]

Always informative and pleasant!! Thanks Ben,May God Bless you and yours,praying that you have many,many more gardening years ahead.

[@GrowVeg]

Same to you, thank you so much. :-)

[@miannoblea5218]

Love the content Ben! Can you make a video on avocados and how to grow them? Cheers mate!

[@GrowVeg]

Definitely an idea for a future video. I've not done this year (probably too cool a climate here) but will give it a try at some point.

[@klemmr3233]

I sheet-mulch my raised beds with organic wool sheets. Rots away each year.

[@lksf9820]

2024: How many people in the UK laughing at this right now? 🤣

[@GrowVeg]

I'm kind of laughing at myself on this one too!

[@lksf9820]

Yeah It's a bad year in the UK to do a vid on watering, Americans will like it though.

[@nesforce7712]

Add a goldfish to each rain barrel to stop mosquitoes from breeding. The goldfish will eat the aquatic form of the mosquito. Goldfish are ideal because they don't require an air stone to breathe. They will also add some fish fertilizer to the water.

[@GrowVeg]

What a great idea! :-)

[@TheConfusername]

Thank you for another round of solid gardening advice! Just one question: what is a hose pipe ban?

[@jeningle8288]

In the UK if we have a long dry spell we are banned from using hose pipes in the garden.

[@lesliekendall5668]

​@@jeningle8288 😂. As if.....

[@tonyhussey3610]

Suffolk in the Uk has a lower rainfall than Faro in Portugal... we can get pretty dry at times.. Doesn't help​ having water company's only interested in profit than investment

[@ozgeatamansezgin3009]

I loved this video, thank you ❤ where can I get that watering time table for print ?

[@GrowVeg]

Of course. If you email the team at www.growveg.com/contact.aspx they will be able to supply this to you. :-)

[@ozgeatamansezgin3009]

@@GrowVeg done ☺️

[@ozgeatamansezgin3009]

@@GrowVeg I have it, thank you so much.

[@MagiaDaArte]

Like 👍 ---___🌻🌻🌻 Um lindo jardim , raízes muito bem cultivadas. Parabéns ! É um imenso prazer, conhecer o seu canal . Felicidades. --__ Até breve. --__🌻

[@goldenfd475]

There is no water supply on my allotment so we all have to manage with what we can store in our various containers. Could you perhaps mention on a future video which plants to priorities when we have little rain as we had last year here and although I started the season off with full barrels had to resort to getting my son-in-law to bring over water in gallon bottles from the house which didn't go far.

[@GrowVeg]

Great idea - I'll definitely consider this for a future video. :-)

[@daerth4423]

If you have a beautiful, well maintained yard like this fellow surely does, grass clippings are a fine mulch, but if you're yard is like mine and about half weeds (or if you're grass has gone to seed), it'll just spread them to your garden and make for more weeding which nobody likes.

[@ellaredseals2694]

I was gonna ask about grass clippings , when you use dosent that grow in dirt ? I just puzzled an out this part so thought ID just ask...

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, avoid adding clippings with seeds in them.

[@ellaredseals2694]

​@@GrowVegThank you ,,, I didnt wanna make more work 4 me...

[@robertahone3782]

Hi Ben I started a garden this year but I didn't do well everything was in the shade so what do you recommend I should grow

[@GrowVeg]

There are lots of crops that will grow in the shade - most brassicas, salad leaves etc. This video may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6nbknqhaJalaKssi=dIN1NrweN3itehN-

[@mikica473]

water! where does this guy live? ive asked this before. plants havent needed watering in the uk and ireland for the last 18 months!

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, it's been a touch wet of late!

[@lesliekendall5668]

They like blood for those rain barrels. Found some food grade ones with lower spigots years ago at a Ranch & Home but don't live in that area anymore. I'm waiting to win the lottery to buy rain barrels.

[@chardenner3147]

Be careful when collecting rainwater that comes off of a roof. I've read from many sources that you should not collect the first few (?) gallons of water because that water has rinsed pollution and chemicals off of the roof. After you discard those initial gallons, then it is safe to collect the remaining water that comes off of a roof.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, very good point, thank you.

[@slashieboy]

Where are you located? This so called summer has been cold and wet, really terrible have not seen this climate crisis some lunatics are raving about. Today on july 7th I have 15 degrees! My peppers are freezing!

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, it's turned fresher and wetter than normal over the past week. Saves on the watering at least. I have to be honest and admit I prefer this weather because I can sit back and not worry about watering, though growth has slowed right down on some crops.

[@emkn1479]

I really like the rose on that watering can. Do you have a brand/model for it?

[@dtn876]

Ward

[@emkn1479]

@@dtn876 thank you!

[@nicky6579]

Do you move the mulch out the way when you water so the water can reach the roots faster/better?

[@GrowVeg]

No, the mulch just stays where it is, so I have to be very thorough when watering to make sure it gets all the way down.

[@iraceruk]

This year has been a total disaster for us! All this wet weather has meant hundreds of slugs and snails and everything has been eaten! 😭🤬

[@GrowVeg]

Same here - the slugs are ruthless!

[@roelven1282]

but ...but .. i dont wanna stick my finger in jukkie soil... (hehehe)

[@sweynforkbeardtraindude]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@grokuBudz]

Watering at 12pm-3am is actually the most effective time to water for water retention and less evaporated loss. Incase you dont know.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, that would be optimal!

[@grokuBudz]

@@GrowVeg the more water available in daylight hours the more insects that will pester your garden and plants. Water = breeding grounds...

[@grokuBudz]

@@GrowVeg also you didn't mention anything about cover crop for water retention or how to use grass cutting, straw, or mulch to prevent soil being exposed to direct sunlight which is the single main cause of evaporated water loss and use.

[@grokuBudz]

@@GrowVeg one last point. Plants ought to in any garden be able to go 2 weeks or more without watering if you are doing this correctly and the plants acclimated to their soil and climate by feeding the microbiology of the soil with exudates. How nitrogen fixation is even possible in any situation not just a garden. Thanks for reading.

[@Metalgarn]

It's a tricky little dance talking about this stuff. I fully agree with the concept of less frequent but rather heavy, deep watering. But that quite logically, is contrary to the earlier recommendation of keeping your soil consistently moist. You literally aren't keeping the soil consistently moist, you are allowing the top inches to get quite dry, to encourage roots to dig deeper. For me, when in doubt, defer to nature. Nature doesn't water plants every day, it doesn't keep the soil consistently and evenly moist but when it does water it more often than not (at least in my region) does so quite deeply. And while I understand and acknowledge that many diseases can be spread by overhead watering... it IS how nature does it, so it can't be that bad.

[@GrowVeg]

Very good points well made! I guess watering overhead is fine, but it does create a more humid environment. In nature, diseases are part and parcel of life, but we want to do our best to avoid them on our crops, even though nature will water from above - we can at least water at ground level, thereby reducing the overall disease risk.

[@bipbip6626]

?? Drooping plants , when they lack water….and you show potatoes plants at the end of their serving life?😅

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, poor choice of clip there I do appreciate.

[@bipbip6626]

@@GrowVeg to be true, it s funny My clever 25 year old Harvard graduate came home one summer[ about 2 y ago] Saw these types of potatoes displays, which is when they are ready to be harvested. It did not take long for her to say: ‘’ dear me, mum, you do not look well after your plants! Look at these! They need water!’’ So , i m xtra sensitive , when it comes to potatoes look!! MDR YOU ARE very good, whatever clip you need to use