How often do you water and fertilize your garden?

**Iansmommy** · 07-14-2008, 02:02 PM

How often do you water your garden? I was watering it once a day and then I read that it really only needs an inch a week. I think everything would die if I only did that, so I have been doing it every other day. We have a raised garden with garden soil and we live is the pacific northwest.

Also, do you fertilize your garden after you plant it. It seems like my zucchini and pumpkins

don't like the fertilizer I am using. Every time I fertilize them the leaves start turning yellow/brown and die off. What's with that? I am using a all purpose plant/vegetable fertilizer. I have been fertilizing them ever 3 weeks or so.

TIA

**Russ** · 07-14-2008, 02:08 PM

I water as necessary and I do not water until the evening.

IMO, If you have a good quality soil ( get your soil tested) you should not have to fertilize every 3 weeks. IMO you are over fertilizing which may be the root cause of your yellowing plants.

**Russ** · 07-14-2008, 02:12 PM

I should add that you should check your plants fertilizer requirements.
As an example: Corn is a heavy feeder, thus needs more nutrients.

**TexasPeanut** · 07-15-2008, 02:51 PM

I live down in the coastal area of Texas so my watering schedule will be way different lol. But I water pretty well early in the mornings every morning unless we've had rain. Sometimes when the seeds are just planted I have to water them lightly in the evening as well otherwise the ground turns to hard, dusty dirt in the scorching afternoon sun and the poor little things won't pop through it. As far as fertilizer I haven't used any yet, we've just used compost and some black kow that we purchased, I can't use fertilizer right now or it would just burn the poor things.

**suki** · 07-15-2008, 03:00 PM

You need a soil test to know what type of fertilizer to use and balance out your soil. These are done free at your County Agri agency or extension agency.

Consider using natural fertilizers like compost, fish emulsion, worm castings, etc.

As for the watering, over-watering can cause the leaves to yellow also. An inch a week is what you need. Hubby says to take a cat food can or tuna can and place it in your garden as a rain gauge. If it gets full from rainfall then it's watered for that week. If it gets full from your watering, the garden has enough until next week.

GOOD LUCK!

**Russ** · 07-15-2008, 03:06 PM

good tip Suki. I always forget that one.

**stinkbug** · 07-15-2008, 03:32 PM

Honstly, I have no idea how dh has the watering set up! We have unlimited pressurized irrigation for about 100.00 per year. Our system is set up in zones and dh has them set for specific times....it comes on about 7:00 PM and waters at night. The hanging baskets, etc. are all on a drip sytem he has set up....as is the garden. He does the fertilizing too....and yes, I'm very lucky because dh loves yard work/gardenng! When I met him he had the most impressive garden I've ever seen!! We have terrible clay soil...so it takes work!