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1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 3 (from laksa132)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa003.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://homesteadingfamily.com/best-time-to-water-garden/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://homesteadingfamily.com/best-time-to-water-garden/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/best-time-to-water-garden\/","crawl_time":1776793742,"first_indexed_time":1629549281,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,homesteadingfamily!\/best-time-to-water-garden\/ s443","src_root_hash":"2754722797036447603","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Garden Watering Strategies (How Much, How Often, When...)","meta_descriptions":["I'm answering all your garden watering questions from how much water, when to water, and best method of watering for maximum growth.","When it comes to the garden there are a lot of questions we ask ourselves about watering... \"When is the best time to water the garden?\", \"How often should I water my garden?\", \"How much water do my plants need?\", and on and on the questions go. In this post, I'm dispelling some of the watering myths floating around out there and helping to give you a solid watering strategy that's worked very well for us in our own gardens."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"This site contains affiliate links to products we recommend. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.\nHome\n»\nGrow\nPosted\nAugust 21, 2021\nin\nGrow\n,\nVegetable Gardening\nJosh Thomas\nPrint this Post\nGetting water right in your garden is critical to success and there are a lot of questions. Like… “When is the best time to water?”, “How often should I water my garden?”, “How much water do my plants need?”, and so on. In this post, I’ll answer some of those questions and I’ll dispel some of the watering myths floating around out there and help give you a solid watering strategy.\nJust remember, there’s no one hard and fast rule when it comes to watering your garden, mainly because we’re all in different zones with different climates, so the best thing you can do is build a strategy that you think will work for you, learn to read your garden to know whether your crops are getting enough water, and adjust as you go.\nNow, to answer your first question- No, I don’t water our large garden with a can like in the photo above! I was just giving a few plants a little special love in that one. 😉\nHow Much Water Do My Plants Need?\nOn average, about one inch per week is sufficient for most home gardens. Sure, if you’re looking into specific species and varieties, everything is going to require a little bit more or a little bit less, but it’s really hard for the home-gardener to meet the demands of each individual crop.\nWhat you do need to consider are your soil type and climate. If you have sandy soil and live in a hot windy climate, it is going to take more water, even if you are drip or flood irrigating. If you live in a wet humid environment with loamy soil, you will probably use less water. The 1-inch rule gives you something to measure and then you can adjust accordingly for your environment.\nToo Much or Too Little Water? How Can I Tell?\nHow do you know if your plants are getting enough water? Or too much? Well, your plants are going to wilt and the soil will be dry if there is not enough. And if you are watering so much that you are getting fungal issues, or water is sitting on the surface constantly, you are probably watering too much. Besides these surface observations, you should regularly dig into your soil and check it several inches down. You want it moist all the way down.\nNow it is ok if the top ½ to 1 inch dries out, over the course of a week, but not more than that. If your soil is dry more than an inch down, you need to increase water.\nWatch out though, often people check the soil an inch down and see the soil is damp, so they think they are watering enough, only to wonder why their plants look thirsty. Make sure you check SEVERAL inches down, regularly. Often, you are putting just enough water down to keep the surface moist, but it is not enough water to soak in deeper and your soil is drying out down lower. We had this happen to us in an unseasonably hot year and what we normally did wasn’t working.\nHow Often Should I Water My Garden?\nIf we’re going off of the recommendation above of about one inch of water per week, then you’ll need to gauge how often to water based on your weather, climate, and soil. I generally like to give a good soaking once a week. This is easy to track, gets the plants what they need, but also encourages them to send roots out looking for water and nutrients while building some resilience to stress. \nNow, if you have very sandy soil with high evaporation, high winds, and high temperatures you’re probably going to need to water a bit more often and use more water.\nBut if you’ve\nbuilt up high-quality soil\n, as we’ve done here by\nbuilding up raised garden beds\n, then your soil should hold onto that moisture for longer periods of time, and it’s truly best to water less frequently but more deeply.\nYou want to encourage those roots to grow deep down into the soil and to search for that water, this makes your plants stronger and more drought-resistant. This method is also thought to put just enough stress on the plants that they grow more resilient, but also more flavorful!\nWhen is the Best Time to Water the Garden?\nIt amazes me to drive around and watch large farms, and some homeowners watering overhead during the day in the heat of the summer. To me, this is a waste of water, and the plants are not getting what you have measured out due to loss through evaporation and wind.\nOn the other hand, I have heard many times that you never, ever water at night. For the most part, this is a myth. Yes, there are circumstances where you generally should not. If you live in a humid environment and your soil holds a lot of water and you don’t have a lot of moving air, then you want to be careful as you could create an environment where you're encouraging fungus and mold issues. But, for a lot of us, watering in the evening or at night can be beneficial as it allows the water to soak in.\nFor the most part, I like to water early in the morning before the sun is up if possible, but in our environment, watering in the evening or at night is fine and it does give more time for the water to soak in before the heat of the day starts the evaporation process. When it gets really hot here, like this summer, I switch to evening watering so there is more time for the water to soak in. This is not a problem in our environment.\nAgain, be flexible, come up with a plan that works for you and your garden, observe and adjust. The reality is that every season is different, your soil is going to change over time, hopefully for the better if you are building healthy soil, and your watering needs will have to be adjusted.\nWhen To Avoid Watering?\nAvoid watering in the heat of the day and when it’s windy. This is a waste of water and may leave you thinking you are giving your garden enough water when in fact 80% of your water might be evaporating into the air. And like I said, if you live in a damp humid environment, then avoid watering at night.\nWhen to \"Break the Rules\"\nThe one caveat to these watering practices is when you’ve planted seeds directly in the ground...as opposed to starting indoors and in pots. In order to get seeds to germinate, they need frequent shallow waterings. \nThe rule here is to always keep the surface moist until those seeds have sprouted and gotten roots down. I do this by keeping my regular watering schedule and then lightly watering seeds several times a day. How many times will depend on how fast that surface soil is drying out. When it is hot and I am starting seeds in the ground, like carrots and lettuce, sometimes I have to water lightly 3-4 times a day until they have sprouted!\nWhat Type of Watering System is Best?\nHere on Riverbend, I like to overhead water (here's more about our\nfarm watering system\n). It’s the form of watering that mimics nature the most, and I think the plants benefit from water on the leaves, not just at the base.\nBut there are a lot of situations where a soaker hose, drip irrigation, or flood irrigation may be a better solution for you. If you’re in a dry hot environment, or you live in a windy location, those are all things to consider. They help you make much better use of your water and not waste so much.\nI would still try to overhead once in a while though. That kind of environment tends to have a lot of dust and this covers the leaves, and in my opinion, has an effect on photosynthesis and transpiration, both of which are critical to your plant's function.\nIf you are overhead watering, be careful about how you go about it. Sprinklers that shoot large drops of water a long distance can be hard on your soil and plants and can disrupt sprouting seeds, knocking them out of the soil and causing them not to germinate. It can also be hard on mature plants and pollination. I like to mimic a gentle rain, not a thunderstorm!\nTwo summers ago we installed a micro watering system that waters like a gentle rain and I love it. I can use it to start seeds like carrots and lettuce that are easily disrupted, in the ground and still deep water the garden. It is also easy to target a specific area so that I am not throwing water in areas that don’t need it. \nLike anything in gardening, remember that you need to be involved, you can’t just set it and forget it. Take what you know and have learned here, create a plan, put it to work, then observe regularly and adjust as the seasons, what you grow and what you learn changes!\nFor further reading, check out our\n7 water-saving tips for your August garden\n!\nMore Gardening Related Posts\nInstant Garden in Under Three Hours\nBack to Eden Gardening with Paul Gautschi\nHow to Reduce Weeds in the Garden\nMy Favorite Tools for Gardening (And How to Care for Garden Tools)\n20 Vegetables You Can Plant in Late Summer\nSpring Garden Planning Tips & Tricks\nGet a Jump Start on Early Spring Gardening – Pantry Chat #75\nHow to Build a DIY Hoop House (Greenhouse)\nWhen to Start Seeds Indoors\nSeed Starting Problems (& How to Fix Them)\n12 Things You Must do to Prep the Garden for Winter\nMaking Raised Garden Bed Rows & Super-Charging Your Soil\nGet an Instant Garden (Vertical Garden Planter)\nSearch\nWelcome to Homesteading Family!\nJosh and Carolyn bring you practical knowledge on how to Grow, Cook, Preserve and Thrive on your homestead, whether you are in a city apartment or on 40 acres in the country. If you want to increase your self-sufficiency and health be sure to subscribe for helpful videos on gardening, preserving, herbal medicine, traditional cooking and more.\nSign Up for Updates\nGet the latest homesteading tips delivered to your inbox weekly.\nSubscribe Now!\nPopular Posts\nDIY Bubble Solution: Easy Homemade Fun for All Ages\nCan I Pressure Can in the Instant Pot?\nHow to Grow a Survival Garden\nKune Kune Pigs - The Ultimate Homestead Pig\nRead by Category\nGrow\nExplore\nPreserve\nExplore\nThrive\nExplore\nCook\nExplore\nHealthy Healing at Home\nFree 4 video workshop on how to confidently use homemade herbal remedies!\nGet Started\nMore to Explore\nContinue Reading\nIs There a Free Salad in Your Backyard?\nGive your grocery budget and health a boost this spring by eating these edible and medicinal greens.\nRead More\nCanning Mistakes That Can Kill You: Avoid These Risks\nCanning mistakes can feel intimidating, especially canning mistakes that can kill you or when you hear warnings about food safety and botulism. But the\nRead More\nOur Farm Watering System at Riverbend\nFor many years we went without a good farm watering system, but I'm sharing the upgrades we've made and telling you why it's working\nRead More\nHow to Get Your Kids Excited About Gardening (Even If You’re Still Learning Yourself)\nWant to get your kids excited about gardening? Learn how gardening builds life skills and discover a hands-on kids gardening curriculum that makes it\nRead More\nFrom the Heart of the Homestead\nThese are letters written from my heart to yours. Appropriately titled, From the Heart of the Homestead. Let's walk this journey together.\nRead More\nWhy Our Daughter Chose to Stay Close to Home\nThere’s a moment in parenting when you realize your children are no longer just learning from you… They’re beginning to build lives of their\nRead More\nIs There a Free Salad in Your Backyard?\nGive your grocery budget and health a boost this spring by eating these edible and medicinal greens.\nRead More\nCanning Mistakes That Can Kill You: Avoid These Risks\nCanning mistakes can feel intimidating, especially canning mistakes that can kill you or when you hear warnings about food safety and botulism. But the\nRead More\nOur Farm Watering System at Riverbend\nFor many years we went without a good farm watering system, but I'm sharing the upgrades we've made and telling you why it's working\nRead More\nHow to Get Your Kids Excited About Gardening (Even If You’re Still Learning Yourself)\nWant to get your kids excited about gardening? Learn how gardening builds life skills and discover a hands-on kids gardening curriculum that makes it\nRead More\nFrom the Heart of the Homestead\nThese are letters written from my heart to yours. Appropriately titled, From the Heart of the Homestead. Let's walk this journey together.\nRead More\nWhy Our Daughter Chose to Stay Close to Home\nThere’s a moment in parenting when you realize your children are no longer just learning from you… They’re beginning to build lives of their\nRead More\nPrevious\nNext","attrs_markdown":"![fb-pixel](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tr?id=395471667511030&ev=PageView&noscript=1)\n\n![](https:\/\/ct.pinterest.com\/v3\/?event=init&tid=2612884002771&pd[em]=<hashed_email_address>&noscript=1)\n\n[Skip to content](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/best-time-to-water-garden\/#content)\n\n[![Homesteading Family Logo](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Homesteading-Family-Logo-White.svg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/best-time-to-water-garden\/)\n  - [All Blogs](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/blog\/)\n  - [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n  - [Cook](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n  - [Preserve](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n  - [Thrive](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n  - [Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead\/)\n  - [Raise](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/raise\/)\n- [Classes](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/store)\n- [Podcast](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/podcasts\/)\n- [Magazine](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead-kitchen-magazine)\n\nMenu\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/best-time-to-water-garden\/)\n  - [All Blogs](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/blog\/)\n  - [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n  - [Cook](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n  - [Preserve](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n  - [Thrive](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n  - [Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead\/)\n  - [Raise](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/raise\/)\n- [Classes](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/store)\n- [Podcast](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/podcasts\/)\n- [Magazine](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead-kitchen-magazine)\n\n[Sign In](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/login)\n\n[Join the Newsletter](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/hf-newsletter)\n\n[![Homesteading Family Logo](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Homesteading-Family-Logo-White.svg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/best-time-to-water-garden\/)\n  - [All Blogs](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/blog\/)\n  - [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n  - [Cook](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n  - [Preserve](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n  - [Thrive](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n  - [Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead\/)\n  - [Raise](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/raise\/)\n- [Classes](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/store)\n- [Podcast](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/podcasts\/)\n- [Magazine](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead-kitchen-magazine)\n\nMenu\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/best-time-to-water-garden\/)\n  - [All Blogs](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/blog\/)\n  - [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n  - [Cook](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n  - [Preserve](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n  - [Thrive](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n  - [Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead\/)\n  - [Raise](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/raise\/)\n- [Classes](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/store)\n- [Podcast](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/podcasts\/)\n- [Magazine](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead-kitchen-magazine)\n\n[Sign In](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/login)\n\n[Join the Newsletter](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/hf-newsletter)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/banner-ad_5-steps.jpeg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/5Stepsads)\n\nThis site contains affiliate links to products we recommend. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.\n\n[Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/) » [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/category\/grow\/)\n\n# Garden Watering Strategies (How Much, How Often, When...)\n- Posted\n  \n  August 21, 2021\n- in  [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/category\/grow\/), [Vegetable Gardening](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/category\/grow\/vegetable-gardening-grow\/)\n\n[Josh Thomas](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/author\/josh\/)\n\n[Print this Post](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/?print-my-blog=1&post-type=post&statuses%5B%5D=publish&rendering_wait=0&post_page_break=1&columns=1&font_size=normal&image_size=none&links=parens&show_site_title=1&show_title=1&show_author=1&show_url=1&show_date=1&show_content=1&pmb_f=print&pmb-post=16249)\n\n![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a large green garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Watering_6-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a large green garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Watering_5-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a sprinkler set up in a large market garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Watering_4-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a sprinkler set up in a large market garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Watering_3-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a man watering the garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Watering_2-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a man watering the garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Watering_1-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a large green garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Watering_7-150x150.jpg)\n\nGetting water right in your garden is critical to success and there are a lot of questions. Like… “When is the best time to water?”, “How often should I water my garden?”, “How much water do my plants need?”, and so on. In this post, I’ll answer some of those questions and I’ll dispel some of the watering myths floating around out there and help give you a solid watering strategy.\n\n![A man watering the garden with a watering can.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Josh-watering-garden-1024x681.jpg)\n\nJust remember, there’s no one hard and fast rule when it comes to watering your garden, mainly because we’re all in different zones with different climates, so the best thing you can do is build a strategy that you think will work for you, learn to read your garden to know whether your crops are getting enough water, and adjust as you go.\n\nNow, to answer your first question- No, I don’t water our large garden with a can like in the photo above! I was just giving a few plants a little special love in that one. 😉\n\n## How Much Water Do My Plants Need?\nOn average, about one inch per week is sufficient for most home gardens. Sure, if you’re looking into specific species and varieties, everything is going to require a little bit more or a little bit less, but it’s really hard for the home-gardener to meet the demands of each individual crop.\n\nWhat you do need to consider are your soil type and climate. If you have sandy soil and live in a hot windy climate, it is going to take more water, even if you are drip or flood irrigating. If you live in a wet humid environment with loamy soil, you will probably use less water. The 1-inch rule gives you something to measure and then you can adjust accordingly for your environment.\n\n## Too Much or Too Little Water? How Can I Tell?\nHow do you know if your plants are getting enough water? Or too much? Well, your plants are going to wilt and the soil will be dry if there is not enough. And if you are watering so much that you are getting fungal issues, or water is sitting on the surface constantly, you are probably watering too much. Besides these surface observations, you should regularly dig into your soil and check it several inches down. You want it moist all the way down.\n\nNow it is ok if the top ½ to 1 inch dries out, over the course of a week, but not more than that. If your soil is dry more than an inch down, you need to increase water.\n\nWatch out though, often people check the soil an inch down and see the soil is damp, so they think they are watering enough, only to wonder why their plants look thirsty. Make sure you check SEVERAL inches down, regularly. Often, you are putting just enough water down to keep the surface moist, but it is not enough water to soak in deeper and your soil is drying out down lower. We had this happen to us in an unseasonably hot year and what we normally did wasn’t working.\n\n![Garden area where squash and corn are growing.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/New-Garden-1024x768.jpg)\n\n## How Often Should I Water My Garden?\nIf we’re going off of the recommendation above of about one inch of water per week, then you’ll need to gauge how often to water based on your weather, climate, and soil. I generally like to give a good soaking once a week. This is easy to track, gets the plants what they need, but also encourages them to send roots out looking for water and nutrients while building some resilience to stress.\n\nNow, if you have very sandy soil with high evaporation, high winds, and high temperatures you’re probably going to need to water a bit more often and use more water.\n\nBut if you’ve **[built up high-quality soil](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-improve-soil-quality\/)**, as we’ve done here by [**building up raised garden beds**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/making-raised-garden-bed-rows\/), then your soil should hold onto that moisture for longer periods of time, and it’s truly best to water less frequently but more deeply.\n\nYou want to encourage those roots to grow deep down into the soil and to search for that water, this makes your plants stronger and more drought-resistant. This method is also thought to put just enough stress on the plants that they grow more resilient, but also more flavorful\\!\n\n![Two kids picking spinach in a large garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Kids-in-the-garden-1024x683.jpg)\n\n## When is the Best Time to Water the Garden?\nIt amazes me to drive around and watch large farms, and some homeowners watering overhead during the day in the heat of the summer. To me, this is a waste of water, and the plants are not getting what you have measured out due to loss through evaporation and wind.\n\nOn the other hand, I have heard many times that you never, ever water at night. For the most part, this is a myth. Yes, there are circumstances where you generally should not. If you live in a humid environment and your soil holds a lot of water and you don’t have a lot of moving air, then you want to be careful as you could create an environment where you're encouraging fungus and mold issues. But, for a lot of us, watering in the evening or at night can be beneficial as it allows the water to soak in.\n\nFor the most part, I like to water early in the morning before the sun is up if possible, but in our environment, watering in the evening or at night is fine and it does give more time for the water to soak in before the heat of the day starts the evaporation process. When it gets really hot here, like this summer, I switch to evening watering so there is more time for the water to soak in. This is not a problem in our environment.\n\nAgain, be flexible, come up with a plan that works for you and your garden, observe and adjust. The reality is that every season is different, your soil is going to change over time, hopefully for the better if you are building healthy soil, and your watering needs will have to be adjusted.\n\n## When To Avoid Watering?\nAvoid watering in the heat of the day and when it’s windy. This is a waste of water and may leave you thinking you are giving your garden enough water when in fact 80% of your water might be evaporating into the air. And like I said, if you live in a damp humid environment, then avoid watering at night.\n\n![A family planting seeds in a large garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/kids-planting-1024x683.jpg)\n\n## When to \"Break the Rules\"\nThe one caveat to these watering practices is when you’ve planted seeds directly in the ground...as opposed to starting indoors and in pots. In order to get seeds to germinate, they need frequent shallow waterings.\n\nThe rule here is to always keep the surface moist until those seeds have sprouted and gotten roots down. I do this by keeping my regular watering schedule and then lightly watering seeds several times a day. How many times will depend on how fast that surface soil is drying out. When it is hot and I am starting seeds in the ground, like carrots and lettuce, sometimes I have to water lightly 3-4 times a day until they have sprouted\\!\n\n![A sprinkler head on a micro-spray garden irrigation system.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sprinkler_irrigation-system-683x1024.jpg)\n\n## What Type of Watering System is Best?\nHere on Riverbend, I like to overhead water (here's more about our [**farm watering system**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)). It’s the form of watering that mimics nature the most, and I think the plants benefit from water on the leaves, not just at the base.\n\nBut there are a lot of situations where a soaker hose, drip irrigation, or flood irrigation may be a better solution for you. If you’re in a dry hot environment, or you live in a windy location, those are all things to consider. They help you make much better use of your water and not waste so much.\n\nI would still try to overhead once in a while though. That kind of environment tends to have a lot of dust and this covers the leaves, and in my opinion, has an effect on photosynthesis and transpiration, both of which are critical to your plant's function.\n\nIf you are overhead watering, be careful about how you go about it. Sprinklers that shoot large drops of water a long distance can be hard on your soil and plants and can disrupt sprouting seeds, knocking them out of the soil and causing them not to germinate. It can also be hard on mature plants and pollination. I like to mimic a gentle rain, not a thunderstorm\\!\n\nTwo summers ago we installed a micro watering system that waters like a gentle rain and I love it. I can use it to start seeds like carrots and lettuce that are easily disrupted, in the ground and still deep water the garden. It is also easy to target a specific area so that I am not throwing water in areas that don’t need it.\n\nLike anything in gardening, remember that you need to be involved, you can’t just set it and forget it. Take what you know and have learned here, create a plan, put it to work, then observe regularly and adjust as the seasons, what you grow and what you learn changes\\!\n\nFor further reading, check out our **[7 water-saving tips for your August garden](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/water-saving-garden-tips\/)**\\!\n\n![Long rows of spinach in a garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Garden-rows-1024x683.jpg)\n\n## More Gardening Related Posts\n- [**Instant Garden in Under Three Hours**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/instant-garden-in-under-three-hours\/)\n- **[Back to Eden Gardening with Paul Gautschi](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/back-to-eden-gardening-with-paul-gautschi)**\n- **[How to Reduce Weeds in the Garden](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-keep-weeds-out-of-garden\/)**\n- **[My Favorite Tools for Gardening (And How to Care for Garden Tools)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/best-tools-for-the-garden\/)**\n- **[20 Vegetables You Can Plant in Late Summer](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/20-vegetables-to-plant-in-late-summer\/)**\n- **[Spring Garden Planning Tips & Tricks](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/garden-planning-tips\/)**\n- **[Get a Jump Start on Early Spring Gardening – Pantry Chat \\#75](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/early-spring-gardening-tips)**\n- **[How to Build a DIY Hoop House (Greenhouse)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/diy-bean-tunnel-or-hoop-house\/)**\n- **[When to Start Seeds Indoors](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/when-to-start-seeds-indoors\/)**\n- **[Seed Starting Problems (& How to Fix Them)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/seed-starting-problems-how-to-fix-them\/)**\n- **[12 Things You Must do to Prep the Garden for Winter](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/12-things-you-must-do-to-prep-the-garden-for-winter\/)**\n- **[Making Raised Garden Bed Rows & Super-Charging Your Soil](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/making-raised-garden-bed-rows\/)**\n- **[Get an Instant Garden (Vertical Garden Planter)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/create-an-instant-garden-greenstalk-vertical-garden\/)**\n\n![A man and wife smiling.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Josh-and-Carolyn.jpg)\n\n### Welcome to Homesteading Family\\!\nJosh and Carolyn bring you practical knowledge on how to Grow, Cook, Preserve and Thrive on your homestead, whether you are in a city apartment or on 40 acres in the country. If you want to increase your self-sufficiency and health be sure to subscribe for helpful videos on gardening, preserving, herbal medicine, traditional cooking and more.\n\n### Sign Up for Updates\nGet the latest homesteading tips delivered to your inbox weekly.\n\n[Subscribe Now\\!](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/hf-newsletter)\n#### Popular Posts\n[![Kids playing with bubbles and a DIY bubble solution.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kids_Bubbles_1_HF-300x222.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/diy-bubble-solution\/)\n\n### [DIY Bubble Solution: Easy Homemade Fun for All Ages](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/diy-bubble-solution\/)\n\n[![A woman pulling a jar out of the Instant Pot.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/canning-in-pressure-cooker-300x200.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/pressure-can-in-the-instant-pot\/)\n\n### [Can I Pressure Can in the Instant Pot?](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/pressure-can-in-the-instant-pot\/)\n\n[![An aerial view of a large garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Aerial-Garden-View_HF-300x169.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-grow-a-survival-garden\/)\n\n### [How to Grow a Survival Garden](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-grow-a-survival-garden\/)\n\n[![A man giving a Kune Kune pig scratches.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Josh_Kune-Kune-Pigs_HF-300x225.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/kune-kune-pigs\/)\n\n### [Kune Kune Pigs - The Ultimate Homestead Pig](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/kune-kune-pigs\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sidebar_Comfort-Food-Anthology-435x1024.jpg)](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/comfort-food-anthology)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sidebar_Grubbly.jpg)](https:\/\/www.grubblyfarms.com\/?utm_source=homesteading-family&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=q12026%20)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sidebar_Azure_15.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/azure-side-bar)\n\n#### Read by Category\n[Grow Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n\n[Preserve Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n\n[Thrive Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n\n[Cook Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Affiliate-freeze-dry-at-home-faded-300x600-1.png)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/harvest-right-ad)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Ads-Set-1_Banner_vertical-293x1024.jpeg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/GreenStalk-SBA)\n\n### Healthy Healing at Home\nFree 4 video workshop on how to confidently use homemade herbal remedies\\!\n\n[Get Started](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/healthy-healing-at-home)\n\nMore to Explore\n\n## Continue Reading\n[![Collage of dandelion flowers, clover leaves, plantain leaves, and wild violets.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Backyard-sala-collage-rl6pzikolmzv7ysx701vgm1man6p5j44wxy4tq3q8w.jpeg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\n\n### [Is There a Free Salad in Your Backyard?](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\nGive your grocery budget and health a boost this spring by eating these edible and medicinal greens.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\n\n[![A jar of tomato soup being lifted out of a water bath canner.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/lifting-jar-out-of-canner-ouxp9z4bnlbhyrxtfznabvlfpf0gaj10unm49tanc0.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\n\n### [Canning Mistakes That Can Kill You: Avoid These Risks](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\nCanning mistakes can feel intimidating, especially canning mistakes that can kill you or when you hear warnings about food safety and botulism. But the\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\n\n[![A large sprinkler watering a field and garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Sprinkler-1-_HF-pu3fu1o0efvha14ej7srwn5f0fkrzzpz1der2doujk.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\n\n### [Our Farm Watering System at Riverbend](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\nFor many years we went without a good farm watering system, but I'm sharing the upgrades we've made and telling you why it's working\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\n\n[![A family planting seeds in a large garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/kids-planting-oun0bda5ofxjj8c6z14hgjr6skbjg4bjsx6qxjl8kg.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\n\n### [How to Get Your Kids Excited About Gardening (Even If You’re Still Learning Yourself)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\nWant to get your kids excited about gardening? Learn how gardening builds life skills and discover a hands-on kids gardening curriculum that makes it\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\n\n[![A woman standing by a grapevine.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Carolyn-Grapes-rche07bv4j14bjnt5zg0ab8tvgfg0ee5iyhkq3y4dc.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\n\n### [From the Heart of the Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\nThese are letters written from my heart to yours. Appropriately titled, From the Heart of the Homestead. Let's walk this journey together.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\n\n[![A family in the garden celebrating.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Family_Garden_HF-r84niklm6vvnj2s8jl0p0v80m2iymuu4smo2ws9z1c.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\n\n### [Why Our Daughter Chose to Stay Close to Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\nThere’s a moment in parenting when you realize your children are no longer just learning from you… They’re beginning to build lives of their\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\n\n[![Collage of dandelion flowers, clover leaves, plantain leaves, and wild violets.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Backyard-sala-collage-rl6pzikolmzv7ysx701vgm1man6p5j44wxy4tq3q8w.jpeg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\n\n### [Is There a Free Salad in Your Backyard?](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\nGive your grocery budget and health a boost this spring by eating these edible and medicinal greens.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\n\n[![A jar of tomato soup being lifted out of a water bath canner.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/lifting-jar-out-of-canner-ouxp9z4bnlbhyrxtfznabvlfpf0gaj10unm49tanc0.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\n\n### [Canning Mistakes That Can Kill You: Avoid These Risks](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\nCanning mistakes can feel intimidating, especially canning mistakes that can kill you or when you hear warnings about food safety and botulism. But the\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\n\n[![A large sprinkler watering a field and garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Sprinkler-1-_HF-pu3fu1o0efvha14ej7srwn5f0fkrzzpz1der2doujk.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\n\n### [Our Farm Watering System at Riverbend](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\nFor many years we went without a good farm watering system, but I'm sharing the upgrades we've made and telling you why it's working\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\n\n[![A family planting seeds in a large garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/kids-planting-oun0bda5ofxjj8c6z14hgjr6skbjg4bjsx6qxjl8kg.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\n\n### [How to Get Your Kids Excited About Gardening (Even If You’re Still Learning Yourself)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\nWant to get your kids excited about gardening? Learn how gardening builds life skills and discover a hands-on kids gardening curriculum that makes it\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\n\n[![A woman standing by a grapevine.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Carolyn-Grapes-rche07bv4j14bjnt5zg0ab8tvgfg0ee5iyhkq3y4dc.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\n\n### [From the Heart of the Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\nThese are letters written from my heart to yours. Appropriately titled, From the Heart of the Homestead. Let's walk this journey together.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\n\n[![A family in the garden celebrating.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Family_Garden_HF-r84niklm6vvnj2s8jl0p0v80m2iymuu4smo2ws9z1c.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\n\n### [Why Our Daughter Chose to Stay Close to Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\nThere’s a moment in parenting when you realize your children are no longer just learning from you… They’re beginning to build lives of their\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\n\nPrevious\n\nNext\n\n[![Homesteading Family Logo](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Homesteading-Family-Badge.svg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n\nHelpful Links\n\n- [Join Now](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead-kitchen-magazine)\n- [Sign-In](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/login)\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/contact\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/blog\/)\n- [Podcast](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/podcasts-archive\/)\n\nPopular Categories\n\n- [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n- [Preserve](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n- [Thrive](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n- [Cook](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n- [Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead\/)\n- [Raise](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/raise\/)\n\nRecent Blogs\n\n### [How to Get Your Kids Excited About Gardening (Even If You’re Still Learning Yourself)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\n### [From the Heart of the Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\n### [Why Our Daughter Chose to Stay Close to Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\n\nJoin Our Newsletter\n\n[Subscribe](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/hf-newsletter)\n\nFollow Us\n\n[Youtube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@HomesteadingFamily)     [Facebook-f](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/homesteadingfamily\/)     [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/homesteadingfamily\/)     [Pinterest-p](https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/homesteadingfamily\/)\n\n- © Homesteading Family 2026. All Rights Reserved\n- [Terms & Conditions](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/terms-conditions-user-agreement\/)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n- [Affiliate Disclaimer](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/affiliate-disclaimer\/)\n\n161 shares\n\n- 161\n\n![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Crash-Course_Pop-Up_2.jpg)\n\nHow to Homestead Anywhere Crash Course\n\nJoin me for a FREE live virtual event January 5th – 9th\n\n![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Homesteading-Family_Logo_Only_Dark-150x150.png)\n\nClose\n\nGet simple, actionable steps you can take right now to join the homesteading movement, whether you live in a\n\nhigh-rise apartment, a suburban neighborhood or on multiple acres.\n\nYes! Sign me up\\!","attrs_readable_markdown":"[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/banner-ad_5-steps.jpeg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/5Stepsads)\n\nThis site contains affiliate links to products we recommend. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.\n\n[Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/) » [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/category\/grow\/)\n\n- Posted\n  \n  August 21, 2021\n- in  [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/category\/grow\/), [Vegetable Gardening](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/category\/grow\/vegetable-gardening-grow\/)\n\n[Josh Thomas](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/author\/josh\/)\n\n[Print this Post](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/?print-my-blog=1&post-type=post&statuses%5B%5D=publish&rendering_wait=0&post_page_break=1&columns=1&font_size=normal&image_size=none&links=parens&show_site_title=1&show_title=1&show_author=1&show_url=1&show_date=1&show_content=1&pmb_f=print&pmb-post=16249)\n\nGetting water right in your garden is critical to success and there are a lot of questions. Like… “When is the best time to water?”, “How often should I water my garden?”, “How much water do my plants need?”, and so on. In this post, I’ll answer some of those questions and I’ll dispel some of the watering myths floating around out there and help give you a solid watering strategy.\n\n![A man watering the garden with a watering can.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Josh-watering-garden-1024x681.jpg)\n\nJust remember, there’s no one hard and fast rule when it comes to watering your garden, mainly because we’re all in different zones with different climates, so the best thing you can do is build a strategy that you think will work for you, learn to read your garden to know whether your crops are getting enough water, and adjust as you go.\n\nNow, to answer your first question- No, I don’t water our large garden with a can like in the photo above! I was just giving a few plants a little special love in that one. 😉\n\n## How Much Water Do My Plants Need?\nOn average, about one inch per week is sufficient for most home gardens. Sure, if you’re looking into specific species and varieties, everything is going to require a little bit more or a little bit less, but it’s really hard for the home-gardener to meet the demands of each individual crop.\n\nWhat you do need to consider are your soil type and climate. If you have sandy soil and live in a hot windy climate, it is going to take more water, even if you are drip or flood irrigating. If you live in a wet humid environment with loamy soil, you will probably use less water. The 1-inch rule gives you something to measure and then you can adjust accordingly for your environment.\n\n## Too Much or Too Little Water? How Can I Tell?\nHow do you know if your plants are getting enough water? Or too much? Well, your plants are going to wilt and the soil will be dry if there is not enough. And if you are watering so much that you are getting fungal issues, or water is sitting on the surface constantly, you are probably watering too much. Besides these surface observations, you should regularly dig into your soil and check it several inches down. You want it moist all the way down.\n\nNow it is ok if the top ½ to 1 inch dries out, over the course of a week, but not more than that. If your soil is dry more than an inch down, you need to increase water.\n\nWatch out though, often people check the soil an inch down and see the soil is damp, so they think they are watering enough, only to wonder why their plants look thirsty. Make sure you check SEVERAL inches down, regularly. Often, you are putting just enough water down to keep the surface moist, but it is not enough water to soak in deeper and your soil is drying out down lower. We had this happen to us in an unseasonably hot year and what we normally did wasn’t working.\n\n![Garden area where squash and corn are growing.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/New-Garden-1024x768.jpg)\n\n## How Often Should I Water My Garden?\nIf we’re going off of the recommendation above of about one inch of water per week, then you’ll need to gauge how often to water based on your weather, climate, and soil. I generally like to give a good soaking once a week. This is easy to track, gets the plants what they need, but also encourages them to send roots out looking for water and nutrients while building some resilience to stress.\n\nNow, if you have very sandy soil with high evaporation, high winds, and high temperatures you’re probably going to need to water a bit more often and use more water.\n\nBut if you’ve **[built up high-quality soil](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-improve-soil-quality\/)**, as we’ve done here by [**building up raised garden beds**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/making-raised-garden-bed-rows\/), then your soil should hold onto that moisture for longer periods of time, and it’s truly best to water less frequently but more deeply.\n\nYou want to encourage those roots to grow deep down into the soil and to search for that water, this makes your plants stronger and more drought-resistant. This method is also thought to put just enough stress on the plants that they grow more resilient, but also more flavorful\\!\n\n![Two kids picking spinach in a large garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Kids-in-the-garden-1024x683.jpg)\n\n## When is the Best Time to Water the Garden?\nIt amazes me to drive around and watch large farms, and some homeowners watering overhead during the day in the heat of the summer. To me, this is a waste of water, and the plants are not getting what you have measured out due to loss through evaporation and wind.\n\nOn the other hand, I have heard many times that you never, ever water at night. For the most part, this is a myth. Yes, there are circumstances where you generally should not. If you live in a humid environment and your soil holds a lot of water and you don’t have a lot of moving air, then you want to be careful as you could create an environment where you're encouraging fungus and mold issues. But, for a lot of us, watering in the evening or at night can be beneficial as it allows the water to soak in.\n\nFor the most part, I like to water early in the morning before the sun is up if possible, but in our environment, watering in the evening or at night is fine and it does give more time for the water to soak in before the heat of the day starts the evaporation process. When it gets really hot here, like this summer, I switch to evening watering so there is more time for the water to soak in. This is not a problem in our environment.\n\nAgain, be flexible, come up with a plan that works for you and your garden, observe and adjust. The reality is that every season is different, your soil is going to change over time, hopefully for the better if you are building healthy soil, and your watering needs will have to be adjusted.\n\n## When To Avoid Watering?\nAvoid watering in the heat of the day and when it’s windy. This is a waste of water and may leave you thinking you are giving your garden enough water when in fact 80% of your water might be evaporating into the air. And like I said, if you live in a damp humid environment, then avoid watering at night.\n\n![A family planting seeds in a large garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/kids-planting-1024x683.jpg)\n\n## When to \"Break the Rules\"\nThe one caveat to these watering practices is when you’ve planted seeds directly in the ground...as opposed to starting indoors and in pots. In order to get seeds to germinate, they need frequent shallow waterings.\n\nThe rule here is to always keep the surface moist until those seeds have sprouted and gotten roots down. I do this by keeping my regular watering schedule and then lightly watering seeds several times a day. How many times will depend on how fast that surface soil is drying out. When it is hot and I am starting seeds in the ground, like carrots and lettuce, sometimes I have to water lightly 3-4 times a day until they have sprouted\\!\n\n![A sprinkler head on a micro-spray garden irrigation system.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sprinkler_irrigation-system-683x1024.jpg)\n\n## What Type of Watering System is Best?\nHere on Riverbend, I like to overhead water (here's more about our [**farm watering system**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)). It’s the form of watering that mimics nature the most, and I think the plants benefit from water on the leaves, not just at the base.\n\nBut there are a lot of situations where a soaker hose, drip irrigation, or flood irrigation may be a better solution for you. If you’re in a dry hot environment, or you live in a windy location, those are all things to consider. They help you make much better use of your water and not waste so much.\n\nI would still try to overhead once in a while though. That kind of environment tends to have a lot of dust and this covers the leaves, and in my opinion, has an effect on photosynthesis and transpiration, both of which are critical to your plant's function.\n\nIf you are overhead watering, be careful about how you go about it. Sprinklers that shoot large drops of water a long distance can be hard on your soil and plants and can disrupt sprouting seeds, knocking them out of the soil and causing them not to germinate. It can also be hard on mature plants and pollination. I like to mimic a gentle rain, not a thunderstorm\\!\n\nTwo summers ago we installed a micro watering system that waters like a gentle rain and I love it. I can use it to start seeds like carrots and lettuce that are easily disrupted, in the ground and still deep water the garden. It is also easy to target a specific area so that I am not throwing water in areas that don’t need it.\n\nLike anything in gardening, remember that you need to be involved, you can’t just set it and forget it. Take what you know and have learned here, create a plan, put it to work, then observe regularly and adjust as the seasons, what you grow and what you learn changes\\!\n\nFor further reading, check out our **[7 water-saving tips for your August garden](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/water-saving-garden-tips\/)**\\!\n\n![Long rows of spinach in a garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Garden-rows-1024x683.jpg)\n\n## More Gardening Related Posts\n- [**Instant Garden in Under Three Hours**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/instant-garden-in-under-three-hours\/)\n- **[Back to Eden Gardening with Paul Gautschi](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/back-to-eden-gardening-with-paul-gautschi)**\n- **[How to Reduce Weeds in the Garden](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-keep-weeds-out-of-garden\/)**\n- **[My Favorite Tools for Gardening (And How to Care for Garden Tools)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/best-tools-for-the-garden\/)**\n- **[20 Vegetables You Can Plant in Late Summer](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/20-vegetables-to-plant-in-late-summer\/)**\n- **[Spring Garden Planning Tips & Tricks](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/garden-planning-tips\/)**\n- **[Get a Jump Start on Early Spring Gardening – Pantry Chat \\#75](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/early-spring-gardening-tips)**\n- **[How to Build a DIY Hoop House (Greenhouse)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/diy-bean-tunnel-or-hoop-house\/)**\n- **[When to Start Seeds Indoors](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/when-to-start-seeds-indoors\/)**\n- **[Seed Starting Problems (& How to Fix Them)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/seed-starting-problems-how-to-fix-them\/)**\n- **[12 Things You Must do to Prep the Garden for Winter](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/12-things-you-must-do-to-prep-the-garden-for-winter\/)**\n- **[Making Raised Garden Bed Rows & Super-Charging Your Soil](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/making-raised-garden-bed-rows\/)**\n- **[Get an Instant Garden (Vertical Garden Planter)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/create-an-instant-garden-greenstalk-vertical-garden\/)**\n\n![A man and wife smiling.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Josh-and-Carolyn.jpg)\n\nWelcome to Homesteading Family\\!\n\nJosh and Carolyn bring you practical knowledge on how to Grow, Cook, Preserve and Thrive on your homestead, whether you are in a city apartment or on 40 acres in the country. If you want to increase your self-sufficiency and health be sure to subscribe for helpful videos on gardening, preserving, herbal medicine, traditional cooking and more.\n\nSign Up for Updates\n\nGet the latest homesteading tips delivered to your inbox weekly.\n\n[Subscribe Now\\!](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/hf-newsletter)\n\nPopular Posts\n\n[![Kids playing with bubbles and a DIY bubble solution.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kids_Bubbles_1_HF-300x222.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/diy-bubble-solution\/)\n\n[DIY Bubble Solution: Easy Homemade Fun for All Ages](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/diy-bubble-solution\/)\n\n[![A woman pulling a jar out of the Instant Pot.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/canning-in-pressure-cooker-300x200.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/pressure-can-in-the-instant-pot\/)\n\n[Can I Pressure Can in the Instant Pot?](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/pressure-can-in-the-instant-pot\/)\n\n[![An aerial view of a large garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Aerial-Garden-View_HF-300x169.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-grow-a-survival-garden\/)\n\n[How to Grow a Survival Garden](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-grow-a-survival-garden\/)\n\n[![A man giving a Kune Kune pig scratches.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Josh_Kune-Kune-Pigs_HF-300x225.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/kune-kune-pigs\/)\n\n[Kune Kune Pigs - The Ultimate Homestead Pig](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/kune-kune-pigs\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sidebar_Comfort-Food-Anthology-435x1024.jpg)](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/comfort-food-anthology)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sidebar_Grubbly.jpg)](https:\/\/www.grubblyfarms.com\/?utm_source=homesteading-family&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=q12026%20)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sidebar_Azure_15.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/azure-side-bar)\n\nRead by Category\n\n[Grow Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n\n[Preserve Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n\n[Thrive Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n\n[Cook Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Affiliate-freeze-dry-at-home-faded-300x600-1.png)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/harvest-right-ad)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Ads-Set-1_Banner_vertical-293x1024.jpeg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/GreenStalk-SBA)\n\nHealthy Healing at Home\n\nFree 4 video workshop on how to confidently use homemade herbal remedies\\!\n\n[Get Started](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/healthy-healing-at-home)\n\nMore to Explore\n\nContinue Reading\n\n[![Collage of dandelion flowers, clover leaves, plantain leaves, and wild violets.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Backyard-sala-collage-rl6pzikolmzv7ysx701vgm1man6p5j44wxy4tq3q8w.jpeg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\n\n### [Is There a Free Salad in Your Backyard?](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\nGive your grocery budget and health a boost this spring by eating these edible and medicinal greens.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\n\n[![A jar of tomato soup being lifted out of a water bath canner.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/lifting-jar-out-of-canner-ouxp9z4bnlbhyrxtfznabvlfpf0gaj10unm49tanc0.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\n\n### [Canning Mistakes That Can Kill You: Avoid These Risks](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\nCanning mistakes can feel intimidating, especially canning mistakes that can kill you or when you hear warnings about food safety and botulism. But the\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\n\n[![A large sprinkler watering a field and garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Sprinkler-1-_HF-pu3fu1o0efvha14ej7srwn5f0fkrzzpz1der2doujk.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\n\n### [Our Farm Watering System at Riverbend](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\nFor many years we went without a good farm watering system, but I'm sharing the upgrades we've made and telling you why it's working\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\n\n[![A family planting seeds in a large garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/kids-planting-oun0bda5ofxjj8c6z14hgjr6skbjg4bjsx6qxjl8kg.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\n\n### [How to Get Your Kids Excited About Gardening (Even If You’re Still Learning Yourself)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\nWant to get your kids excited about gardening? Learn how gardening builds life skills and discover a hands-on kids gardening curriculum that makes it\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\n\n[![A woman standing by a grapevine.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Carolyn-Grapes-rche07bv4j14bjnt5zg0ab8tvgfg0ee5iyhkq3y4dc.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\n\n### [From the Heart of the Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\nThese are letters written from my heart to yours. Appropriately titled, From the Heart of the Homestead. Let's walk this journey together.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\n\n[![A family in the garden celebrating.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Family_Garden_HF-r84niklm6vvnj2s8jl0p0v80m2iymuu4smo2ws9z1c.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\n\n### [Why Our Daughter Chose to Stay Close to Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\nThere’s a moment in parenting when you realize your children are no longer just learning from you… They’re beginning to build lives of their\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\n\n[![Collage of dandelion flowers, clover leaves, plantain leaves, and wild violets.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Backyard-sala-collage-rl6pzikolmzv7ysx701vgm1man6p5j44wxy4tq3q8w.jpeg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\n\n### [Is There a Free Salad in Your Backyard?](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\nGive your grocery budget and health a boost this spring by eating these edible and medicinal greens.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-there-a-free-salad-in-your-backyard\/)\n\n[![A jar of tomato soup being lifted out of a water bath canner.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/lifting-jar-out-of-canner-ouxp9z4bnlbhyrxtfznabvlfpf0gaj10unm49tanc0.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\n\n### [Canning Mistakes That Can Kill You: Avoid These Risks](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\nCanning mistakes can feel intimidating, especially canning mistakes that can kill you or when you hear warnings about food safety and botulism. But the\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/canning-mistakes-to-avoid\/)\n\n[![A large sprinkler watering a field and garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Sprinkler-1-_HF-pu3fu1o0efvha14ej7srwn5f0fkrzzpz1der2doujk.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\n\n### [Our Farm Watering System at Riverbend](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\nFor many years we went without a good farm watering system, but I'm sharing the upgrades we've made and telling you why it's working\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/our-farm-watering-system\/)\n\n[![A family planting seeds in a large garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/kids-planting-oun0bda5ofxjj8c6z14hgjr6skbjg4bjsx6qxjl8kg.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\n\n### [How to Get Your Kids Excited About Gardening (Even If You’re Still Learning Yourself)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\nWant to get your kids excited about gardening? Learn how gardening builds life skills and discover a hands-on kids gardening curriculum that makes it\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening\/)\n\n[![A woman standing by a grapevine.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Carolyn-Grapes-rche07bv4j14bjnt5zg0ab8tvgfg0ee5iyhkq3y4dc.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\n\n### [From the Heart of the Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\nThese are letters written from my heart to yours. Appropriately titled, From the Heart of the Homestead. Let's walk this journey together.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/heart-of-the-homestead\/)\n\n[![A family in the garden celebrating.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Family_Garden_HF-r84niklm6vvnj2s8jl0p0v80m2iymuu4smo2ws9z1c.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\n\n### [Why Our Daughter Chose to Stay Close to Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\nThere’s a moment in parenting when you realize your children are no longer just learning from you… They’re beginning to build lives of their\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/why-our-daughter-chose-to-stay-close-to-home\/)\n\nPrevious\n\nNext","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	Garden Watering Strategies (How Much, How Often, When...)
Meta Description	I'm answering all your garden watering questions from how much water, when to water, and best method of watering for maximum growth., When it comes to the garden there are a lot of questions we ask ourselves about watering... "When is the best time to water the garden?", "How often should I water my garden?", "How much water do my plants need?", and on and on the questions go. In this post, I'm dispelling some of the watering myths floating around out there and helping to give you a solid watering strategy that's worked very well for us in our own gardens.
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Boilerpipe Text	This site contains affiliate links to products we recommend. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Home » Grow Posted August 21, 2021 in Grow , Vegetable Gardening Josh Thomas Print this Post Getting water right in your garden is critical to success and there are a lot of questions. Like… “When is the best time to water?”, “How often should I water my garden?”, “How much water do my plants need?”, and so on. In this post, I’ll answer some of those questions and I’ll dispel some of the watering myths floating around out there and help give you a solid watering strategy. Just remember, there’s no one hard and fast rule when it comes to watering your garden, mainly because we’re all in different zones with different climates, so the best thing you can do is build a strategy that you think will work for you, learn to read your garden to know whether your crops are getting enough water, and adjust as you go. Now, to answer your first question- No, I don’t water our large garden with a can like in the photo above! I was just giving a few plants a little special love in that one. 😉 How Much Water Do My Plants Need? On average, about one inch per week is sufficient for most home gardens. Sure, if you’re looking into specific species and varieties, everything is going to require a little bit more or a little bit less, but it’s really hard for the home-gardener to meet the demands of each individual crop. What you do need to consider are your soil type and climate. If you have sandy soil and live in a hot windy climate, it is going to take more water, even if you are drip or flood irrigating. If you live in a wet humid environment with loamy soil, you will probably use less water. The 1-inch rule gives you something to measure and then you can adjust accordingly for your environment. Too Much or Too Little Water? How Can I Tell? How do you know if your plants are getting enough water? Or too much? Well, your plants are going to wilt and the soil will be dry if there is not enough. And if you are watering so much that you are getting fungal issues, or water is sitting on the surface constantly, you are probably watering too much. Besides these surface observations, you should regularly dig into your soil and check it several inches down. You want it moist all the way down. Now it is ok if the top ½ to 1 inch dries out, over the course of a week, but not more than that. If your soil is dry more than an inch down, you need to increase water. Watch out though, often people check the soil an inch down and see the soil is damp, so they think they are watering enough, only to wonder why their plants look thirsty. Make sure you check SEVERAL inches down, regularly. Often, you are putting just enough water down to keep the surface moist, but it is not enough water to soak in deeper and your soil is drying out down lower. We had this happen to us in an unseasonably hot year and what we normally did wasn’t working. How Often Should I Water My Garden? If we’re going off of the recommendation above of about one inch of water per week, then you’ll need to gauge how often to water based on your weather, climate, and soil. I generally like to give a good soaking once a week. This is easy to track, gets the plants what they need, but also encourages them to send roots out looking for water and nutrients while building some resilience to stress. Now, if you have very sandy soil with high evaporation, high winds, and high temperatures you’re probably going to need to water a bit more often and use more water. But if you’ve built up high-quality soil , as we’ve done here by building up raised garden beds , then your soil should hold onto that moisture for longer periods of time, and it’s truly best to water less frequently but more deeply. You want to encourage those roots to grow deep down into the soil and to search for that water, this makes your plants stronger and more drought-resistant. This method is also thought to put just enough stress on the plants that they grow more resilient, but also more flavorful! When is the Best Time to Water the Garden? It amazes me to drive around and watch large farms, and some homeowners watering overhead during the day in the heat of the summer. To me, this is a waste of water, and the plants are not getting what you have measured out due to loss through evaporation and wind. On the other hand, I have heard many times that you never, ever water at night. For the most part, this is a myth. Yes, there are circumstances where you generally should not. If you live in a humid environment and your soil holds a lot of water and you don’t have a lot of moving air, then you want to be careful as you could create an environment where you're encouraging fungus and mold issues. But, for a lot of us, watering in the evening or at night can be beneficial as it allows the water to soak in. For the most part, I like to water early in the morning before the sun is up if possible, but in our environment, watering in the evening or at night is fine and it does give more time for the water to soak in before the heat of the day starts the evaporation process. When it gets really hot here, like this summer, I switch to evening watering so there is more time for the water to soak in. This is not a problem in our environment. Again, be flexible, come up with a plan that works for you and your garden, observe and adjust. The reality is that every season is different, your soil is going to change over time, hopefully for the better if you are building healthy soil, and your watering needs will have to be adjusted. When To Avoid Watering? Avoid watering in the heat of the day and when it’s windy. This is a waste of water and may leave you thinking you are giving your garden enough water when in fact 80% of your water might be evaporating into the air. And like I said, if you live in a damp humid environment, then avoid watering at night. When to "Break the Rules" The one caveat to these watering practices is when you’ve planted seeds directly in the ground...as opposed to starting indoors and in pots. In order to get seeds to germinate, they need frequent shallow waterings. The rule here is to always keep the surface moist until those seeds have sprouted and gotten roots down. I do this by keeping my regular watering schedule and then lightly watering seeds several times a day. How many times will depend on how fast that surface soil is drying out. When it is hot and I am starting seeds in the ground, like carrots and lettuce, sometimes I have to water lightly 3-4 times a day until they have sprouted! What Type of Watering System is Best? Here on Riverbend, I like to overhead water (here's more about our farm watering system ). It’s the form of watering that mimics nature the most, and I think the plants benefit from water on the leaves, not just at the base. But there are a lot of situations where a soaker hose, drip irrigation, or flood irrigation may be a better solution for you. If you’re in a dry hot environment, or you live in a windy location, those are all things to consider. They help you make much better use of your water and not waste so much. I would still try to overhead once in a while though. That kind of environment tends to have a lot of dust and this covers the leaves, and in my opinion, has an effect on photosynthesis and transpiration, both of which are critical to your plant's function. If you are overhead watering, be careful about how you go about it. Sprinklers that shoot large drops of water a long distance can be hard on your soil and plants and can disrupt sprouting seeds, knocking them out of the soil and causing them not to germinate. It can also be hard on mature plants and pollination. I like to mimic a gentle rain, not a thunderstorm! Two summers ago we installed a micro watering system that waters like a gentle rain and I love it. I can use it to start seeds like carrots and lettuce that are easily disrupted, in the ground and still deep water the garden. It is also easy to target a specific area so that I am not throwing water in areas that don’t need it. Like anything in gardening, remember that you need to be involved, you can’t just set it and forget it. Take what you know and have learned here, create a plan, put it to work, then observe regularly and adjust as the seasons, what you grow and what you learn changes! For further reading, check out our 7 water-saving tips for your August garden ! More Gardening Related Posts Instant Garden in Under Three Hours Back to Eden Gardening with Paul Gautschi How to Reduce Weeds in the Garden My Favorite Tools for Gardening (And How to Care for Garden Tools) 20 Vegetables You Can Plant in Late Summer Spring Garden Planning Tips & Tricks Get a Jump Start on Early Spring Gardening – Pantry Chat #75 How to Build a DIY Hoop House (Greenhouse) When to Start Seeds Indoors Seed Starting Problems (& How to Fix Them) 12 Things You Must do to Prep the Garden for Winter Making Raised Garden Bed Rows & Super-Charging Your Soil Get an Instant Garden (Vertical Garden Planter) Search Welcome to Homesteading Family! Josh and Carolyn bring you practical knowledge on how to Grow, Cook, Preserve and Thrive on your homestead, whether you are in a city apartment or on 40 acres in the country. If you want to increase your self-sufficiency and health be sure to subscribe for helpful videos on gardening, preserving, herbal medicine, traditional cooking and more. Sign Up for Updates Get the latest homesteading tips delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe Now! Popular Posts DIY Bubble Solution: Easy Homemade Fun for All Ages Can I Pressure Can in the Instant Pot? How to Grow a Survival Garden Kune Kune Pigs - The Ultimate Homestead Pig Read by Category Grow Explore Preserve Explore Thrive Explore Cook Explore Healthy Healing at Home Free 4 video workshop on how to confidently use homemade herbal remedies! Get Started More to Explore Continue Reading Is There a Free Salad in Your Backyard? Give your grocery budget and health a boost this spring by eating these edible and medicinal greens. Read More Canning Mistakes That Can Kill You: Avoid These Risks Canning mistakes can feel intimidating, especially canning mistakes that can kill you or when you hear warnings about food safety and botulism. But the Read More Our Farm Watering System at Riverbend For many years we went without a good farm watering system, but I'm sharing the upgrades we've made and telling you why it's working Read More How to Get Your Kids Excited About Gardening (Even If You’re Still Learning Yourself) Want to get your kids excited about gardening? Learn how gardening builds life skills and discover a hands-on kids gardening curriculum that makes it Read More From the Heart of the Homestead These are letters written from my heart to yours. Appropriately titled, From the Heart of the Homestead. Let's walk this journey together. Read More Why Our Daughter Chose to Stay Close to Home There’s a moment in parenting when you realize your children are no longer just learning from you… They’re beginning to build lives of their Read More Is There a Free Salad in Your Backyard? Give your grocery budget and health a boost this spring by eating these edible and medicinal greens. Read More Canning Mistakes That Can Kill You: Avoid These Risks Canning mistakes can feel intimidating, especially canning mistakes that can kill you or when you hear warnings about food safety and botulism. But the Read More Our Farm Watering System at Riverbend For many years we went without a good farm watering system, but I'm sharing the upgrades we've made and telling you why it's working Read More How to Get Your Kids Excited About Gardening (Even If You’re Still Learning Yourself) Want to get your kids excited about gardening? 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We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. [Home](https://homesteadingfamily.com/) » [Grow](https://homesteadingfamily.com/category/grow/) # Garden Watering Strategies (How Much, How Often, When...) - Posted August 21, 2021 - in [Grow](https://homesteadingfamily.com/category/grow/), [Vegetable Gardening](https://homesteadingfamily.com/category/grow/vegetable-gardening-grow/) [Josh Thomas](https://homesteadingfamily.com/author/josh/) [Print this Post](https://homesteadingfamily.com/?print-my-blog=1&post-type=post&statuses%5B%5D=publish&rendering_wait=0&post_page_break=1&columns=1&font_size=normal&image_size=none&links=parens&show_site_title=1&show_title=1&show_author=1&show_url=1&show_date=1&show_content=1&pmb_f=print&pmb-post=16249) ![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a large green garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Watering_6-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a large green garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Watering_5-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a sprinkler set up in a large market garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Watering_4-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a sprinkler set up in a large market garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Watering_3-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a man watering the garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Watering_2-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a man watering the garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Watering_1-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for the best garden watering practices. Image of a large green garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Watering_7-150x150.jpg) Getting water right in your garden is critical to success and there are a lot of questions. Like… “When is the best time to water?”, “How often should I water my garden?”, “How much water do my plants need?”, and so on. In this post, I’ll answer some of those questions and I’ll dispel some of the watering myths floating around out there and help give you a solid watering strategy. ![A man watering the garden with a watering can.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Josh-watering-garden-1024x681.jpg) Just remember, there’s no one hard and fast rule when it comes to watering your garden, mainly because we’re all in different zones with different climates, so the best thing you can do is build a strategy that you think will work for you, learn to read your garden to know whether your crops are getting enough water, and adjust as you go. Now, to answer your first question- No, I don’t water our large garden with a can like in the photo above! I was just giving a few plants a little special love in that one. 😉 ## How Much Water Do My Plants Need? On average, about one inch per week is sufficient for most home gardens. Sure, if you’re looking into specific species and varieties, everything is going to require a little bit more or a little bit less, but it’s really hard for the home-gardener to meet the demands of each individual crop. What you do need to consider are your soil type and climate. If you have sandy soil and live in a hot windy climate, it is going to take more water, even if you are drip or flood irrigating. If you live in a wet humid environment with loamy soil, you will probably use less water. The 1-inch rule gives you something to measure and then you can adjust accordingly for your environment. ## Too Much or Too Little Water? How Can I Tell? How do you know if your plants are getting enough water? Or too much? Well, your plants are going to wilt and the soil will be dry if there is not enough. And if you are watering so much that you are getting fungal issues, or water is sitting on the surface constantly, you are probably watering too much. Besides these surface observations, you should regularly dig into your soil and check it several inches down. You want it moist all the way down. Now it is ok if the top ½ to 1 inch dries out, over the course of a week, but not more than that. If your soil is dry more than an inch down, you need to increase water. Watch out though, often people check the soil an inch down and see the soil is damp, so they think they are watering enough, only to wonder why their plants look thirsty. Make sure you check SEVERAL inches down, regularly. Often, you are putting just enough water down to keep the surface moist, but it is not enough water to soak in deeper and your soil is drying out down lower. We had this happen to us in an unseasonably hot year and what we normally did wasn’t working. ![Garden area where squash and corn are growing.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/New-Garden-1024x768.jpg) ## How Often Should I Water My Garden? If we’re going off of the recommendation above of about one inch of water per week, then you’ll need to gauge how often to water based on your weather, climate, and soil. I generally like to give a good soaking once a week. This is easy to track, gets the plants what they need, but also encourages them to send roots out looking for water and nutrients while building some resilience to stress. Now, if you have very sandy soil with high evaporation, high winds, and high temperatures you’re probably going to need to water a bit more often and use more water. But if you’ve [built up high-quality soil](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-improve-soil-quality/), as we’ve done here by [building up raised garden beds](https://homesteadingfamily.com/making-raised-garden-bed-rows/), then your soil should hold onto that moisture for longer periods of time, and it’s truly best to water less frequently but more deeply. You want to encourage those roots to grow deep down into the soil and to search for that water, this makes your plants stronger and more drought-resistant. This method is also thought to put just enough stress on the plants that they grow more resilient, but also more flavorful\! ![Two kids picking spinach in a large garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Kids-in-the-garden-1024x683.jpg) ## When is the Best Time to Water the Garden? It amazes me to drive around and watch large farms, and some homeowners watering overhead during the day in the heat of the summer. To me, this is a waste of water, and the plants are not getting what you have measured out due to loss through evaporation and wind. On the other hand, I have heard many times that you never, ever water at night. For the most part, this is a myth. Yes, there are circumstances where you generally should not. If you live in a humid environment and your soil holds a lot of water and you don’t have a lot of moving air, then you want to be careful as you could create an environment where you're encouraging fungus and mold issues. But, for a lot of us, watering in the evening or at night can be beneficial as it allows the water to soak in. For the most part, I like to water early in the morning before the sun is up if possible, but in our environment, watering in the evening or at night is fine and it does give more time for the water to soak in before the heat of the day starts the evaporation process. When it gets really hot here, like this summer, I switch to evening watering so there is more time for the water to soak in. This is not a problem in our environment. Again, be flexible, come up with a plan that works for you and your garden, observe and adjust. The reality is that every season is different, your soil is going to change over time, hopefully for the better if you are building healthy soil, and your watering needs will have to be adjusted. ## When To Avoid Watering? Avoid watering in the heat of the day and when it’s windy. This is a waste of water and may leave you thinking you are giving your garden enough water when in fact 80% of your water might be evaporating into the air. And like I said, if you live in a damp humid environment, then avoid watering at night. ![A family planting seeds in a large garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/kids-planting-1024x683.jpg) ## When to "Break the Rules" The one caveat to these watering practices is when you’ve planted seeds directly in the ground...as opposed to starting indoors and in pots. In order to get seeds to germinate, they need frequent shallow waterings. The rule here is to always keep the surface moist until those seeds have sprouted and gotten roots down. I do this by keeping my regular watering schedule and then lightly watering seeds several times a day. How many times will depend on how fast that surface soil is drying out. When it is hot and I am starting seeds in the ground, like carrots and lettuce, sometimes I have to water lightly 3-4 times a day until they have sprouted\! ![A sprinkler head on a micro-spray garden irrigation system.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Sprinkler_irrigation-system-683x1024.jpg) ## What Type of Watering System is Best? Here on Riverbend, I like to overhead water (here's more about our [farm watering system](https://homesteadingfamily.com/our-farm-watering-system/)). It’s the form of watering that mimics nature the most, and I think the plants benefit from water on the leaves, not just at the base. But there are a lot of situations where a soaker hose, drip irrigation, or flood irrigation may be a better solution for you. If you’re in a dry hot environment, or you live in a windy location, those are all things to consider. They help you make much better use of your water and not waste so much. I would still try to overhead once in a while though. That kind of environment tends to have a lot of dust and this covers the leaves, and in my opinion, has an effect on photosynthesis and transpiration, both of which are critical to your plant's function. If you are overhead watering, be careful about how you go about it. Sprinklers that shoot large drops of water a long distance can be hard on your soil and plants and can disrupt sprouting seeds, knocking them out of the soil and causing them not to germinate. It can also be hard on mature plants and pollination. I like to mimic a gentle rain, not a thunderstorm\! Two summers ago we installed a micro watering system that waters like a gentle rain and I love it. I can use it to start seeds like carrots and lettuce that are easily disrupted, in the ground and still deep water the garden. It is also easy to target a specific area so that I am not throwing water in areas that don’t need it. Like anything in gardening, remember that you need to be involved, you can’t just set it and forget it. Take what you know and have learned here, create a plan, put it to work, then observe regularly and adjust as the seasons, what you grow and what you learn changes\! For further reading, check out our [7 water-saving tips for your August garden](https://homesteadingfamily.com/water-saving-garden-tips/)\! ![Long rows of spinach in a garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Garden-rows-1024x683.jpg) ## More Gardening Related Posts - [Instant Garden in Under Three Hours](https://homesteadingfamily.com/instant-garden-in-under-three-hours/) - [Back to Eden Gardening with Paul Gautschi](https://homesteadingfamily.com/back-to-eden-gardening-with-paul-gautschi) - [How to Reduce Weeds in the Garden](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-keep-weeds-out-of-garden/) - [My Favorite Tools for Gardening (And How to Care for Garden Tools)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/best-tools-for-the-garden/) - [20 Vegetables You Can Plant in Late Summer](https://homesteadingfamily.com/20-vegetables-to-plant-in-late-summer/) - [Spring Garden Planning Tips & Tricks](https://homesteadingfamily.com/garden-planning-tips/) - [Get a Jump Start on Early Spring Gardening – Pantry Chat \#75](https://homesteadingfamily.com/early-spring-gardening-tips) - [How to Build a DIY Hoop House (Greenhouse)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/diy-bean-tunnel-or-hoop-house/) - [When to Start Seeds Indoors](https://homesteadingfamily.com/when-to-start-seeds-indoors/) - [Seed Starting Problems (& How to Fix Them)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/seed-starting-problems-how-to-fix-them/) - [12 Things You Must do to Prep the Garden for Winter](https://homesteadingfamily.com/12-things-you-must-do-to-prep-the-garden-for-winter/) - [Making Raised Garden Bed Rows & Super-Charging Your Soil](https://homesteadingfamily.com/making-raised-garden-bed-rows/) - [Get an Instant Garden (Vertical Garden Planter)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/create-an-instant-garden-greenstalk-vertical-garden/) ![A man and wife smiling.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Josh-and-Carolyn.jpg) ### Welcome to Homesteading Family\! 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But the [Read More](https://homesteadingfamily.com/canning-mistakes-to-avoid/) [![A large sprinkler watering a field and garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Sprinkler-1-_HF-pu3fu1o0efvha14ej7srwn5f0fkrzzpz1der2doujk.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/our-farm-watering-system/) ### [Our Farm Watering System at Riverbend](https://homesteadingfamily.com/our-farm-watering-system/) For many years we went without a good farm watering system, but I'm sharing the upgrades we've made and telling you why it's working [Read More](https://homesteadingfamily.com/our-farm-watering-system/) [![A family planting seeds in a large garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/kids-planting-oun0bda5ofxjj8c6z14hgjr6skbjg4bjsx6qxjl8kg.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening/) ### [How to Get Your Kids Excited About Gardening (Even If You’re Still Learning Yourself)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening/) Want to get your kids excited about gardening? Learn how gardening builds life skills and discover a hands-on kids gardening curriculum that makes it [Read More](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-get-your-kids-excited-about-gardening/) [![A woman standing by a grapevine.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Carolyn-Grapes-rche07bv4j14bjnt5zg0ab8tvgfg0ee5iyhkq3y4dc.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/heart-of-the-homestead/) ### [From the Heart of the Homestead](https://homesteadingfamily.com/heart-of-the-homestead/) These are letters written from my heart to yours. Appropriately titled, From the Heart of the Homestead. Let's walk this journey together. 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[Home](https://homesteadingfamily.com/) » [Grow](https://homesteadingfamily.com/category/grow/) - Posted August 21, 2021 - in [Grow](https://homesteadingfamily.com/category/grow/), [Vegetable Gardening](https://homesteadingfamily.com/category/grow/vegetable-gardening-grow/) [Josh Thomas](https://homesteadingfamily.com/author/josh/) [Print this Post](https://homesteadingfamily.com/?print-my-blog=1&post-type=post&statuses%5B%5D=publish&rendering_wait=0&post_page_break=1&columns=1&font_size=normal&image_size=none&links=parens&show_site_title=1&show_title=1&show_author=1&show_url=1&show_date=1&show_content=1&pmb_f=print&pmb-post=16249) Getting water right in your garden is critical to success and there are a lot of questions. Like… “When is the best time to water?”, “How often should I water my garden?”, “How much water do my plants need?”, and so on. In this post, I’ll answer some of those questions and I’ll dispel some of the watering myths floating around out there and help give you a solid watering strategy. ![A man watering the garden with a watering can.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Josh-watering-garden-1024x681.jpg) Just remember, there’s no one hard and fast rule when it comes to watering your garden, mainly because we’re all in different zones with different climates, so the best thing you can do is build a strategy that you think will work for you, learn to read your garden to know whether your crops are getting enough water, and adjust as you go. Now, to answer your first question- No, I don’t water our large garden with a can like in the photo above! I was just giving a few plants a little special love in that one. 😉 ## How Much Water Do My Plants Need? On average, about one inch per week is sufficient for most home gardens. Sure, if you’re looking into specific species and varieties, everything is going to require a little bit more or a little bit less, but it’s really hard for the home-gardener to meet the demands of each individual crop. What you do need to consider are your soil type and climate. If you have sandy soil and live in a hot windy climate, it is going to take more water, even if you are drip or flood irrigating. If you live in a wet humid environment with loamy soil, you will probably use less water. The 1-inch rule gives you something to measure and then you can adjust accordingly for your environment. ## Too Much or Too Little Water? How Can I Tell? How do you know if your plants are getting enough water? Or too much? Well, your plants are going to wilt and the soil will be dry if there is not enough. And if you are watering so much that you are getting fungal issues, or water is sitting on the surface constantly, you are probably watering too much. Besides these surface observations, you should regularly dig into your soil and check it several inches down. You want it moist all the way down. Now it is ok if the top ½ to 1 inch dries out, over the course of a week, but not more than that. If your soil is dry more than an inch down, you need to increase water. Watch out though, often people check the soil an inch down and see the soil is damp, so they think they are watering enough, only to wonder why their plants look thirsty. Make sure you check SEVERAL inches down, regularly. Often, you are putting just enough water down to keep the surface moist, but it is not enough water to soak in deeper and your soil is drying out down lower. We had this happen to us in an unseasonably hot year and what we normally did wasn’t working. ![Garden area where squash and corn are growing.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/New-Garden-1024x768.jpg) ## How Often Should I Water My Garden? If we’re going off of the recommendation above of about one inch of water per week, then you’ll need to gauge how often to water based on your weather, climate, and soil. I generally like to give a good soaking once a week. This is easy to track, gets the plants what they need, but also encourages them to send roots out looking for water and nutrients while building some resilience to stress. Now, if you have very sandy soil with high evaporation, high winds, and high temperatures you’re probably going to need to water a bit more often and use more water. But if you’ve [built up high-quality soil](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-improve-soil-quality/), as we’ve done here by [building up raised garden beds](https://homesteadingfamily.com/making-raised-garden-bed-rows/), then your soil should hold onto that moisture for longer periods of time, and it’s truly best to water less frequently but more deeply. You want to encourage those roots to grow deep down into the soil and to search for that water, this makes your plants stronger and more drought-resistant. This method is also thought to put just enough stress on the plants that they grow more resilient, but also more flavorful\! ![Two kids picking spinach in a large garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Kids-in-the-garden-1024x683.jpg) ## When is the Best Time to Water the Garden? It amazes me to drive around and watch large farms, and some homeowners watering overhead during the day in the heat of the summer. To me, this is a waste of water, and the plants are not getting what you have measured out due to loss through evaporation and wind. On the other hand, I have heard many times that you never, ever water at night. For the most part, this is a myth. Yes, there are circumstances where you generally should not. If you live in a humid environment and your soil holds a lot of water and you don’t have a lot of moving air, then you want to be careful as you could create an environment where you're encouraging fungus and mold issues. But, for a lot of us, watering in the evening or at night can be beneficial as it allows the water to soak in. For the most part, I like to water early in the morning before the sun is up if possible, but in our environment, watering in the evening or at night is fine and it does give more time for the water to soak in before the heat of the day starts the evaporation process. When it gets really hot here, like this summer, I switch to evening watering so there is more time for the water to soak in. This is not a problem in our environment. Again, be flexible, come up with a plan that works for you and your garden, observe and adjust. The reality is that every season is different, your soil is going to change over time, hopefully for the better if you are building healthy soil, and your watering needs will have to be adjusted. ## When To Avoid Watering? Avoid watering in the heat of the day and when it’s windy. This is a waste of water and may leave you thinking you are giving your garden enough water when in fact 80% of your water might be evaporating into the air. And like I said, if you live in a damp humid environment, then avoid watering at night. ![A family planting seeds in a large garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/kids-planting-1024x683.jpg) ## When to "Break the Rules" The one caveat to these watering practices is when you’ve planted seeds directly in the ground...as opposed to starting indoors and in pots. In order to get seeds to germinate, they need frequent shallow waterings. The rule here is to always keep the surface moist until those seeds have sprouted and gotten roots down. I do this by keeping my regular watering schedule and then lightly watering seeds several times a day. How many times will depend on how fast that surface soil is drying out. When it is hot and I am starting seeds in the ground, like carrots and lettuce, sometimes I have to water lightly 3-4 times a day until they have sprouted\! ![A sprinkler head on a micro-spray garden irrigation system.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Sprinkler_irrigation-system-683x1024.jpg) ## What Type of Watering System is Best? Here on Riverbend, I like to overhead water (here's more about our [farm watering system](https://homesteadingfamily.com/our-farm-watering-system/)). It’s the form of watering that mimics nature the most, and I think the plants benefit from water on the leaves, not just at the base. But there are a lot of situations where a soaker hose, drip irrigation, or flood irrigation may be a better solution for you. If you’re in a dry hot environment, or you live in a windy location, those are all things to consider. They help you make much better use of your water and not waste so much. I would still try to overhead once in a while though. That kind of environment tends to have a lot of dust and this covers the leaves, and in my opinion, has an effect on photosynthesis and transpiration, both of which are critical to your plant's function. If you are overhead watering, be careful about how you go about it. Sprinklers that shoot large drops of water a long distance can be hard on your soil and plants and can disrupt sprouting seeds, knocking them out of the soil and causing them not to germinate. It can also be hard on mature plants and pollination. I like to mimic a gentle rain, not a thunderstorm\! Two summers ago we installed a micro watering system that waters like a gentle rain and I love it. I can use it to start seeds like carrots and lettuce that are easily disrupted, in the ground and still deep water the garden. It is also easy to target a specific area so that I am not throwing water in areas that don’t need it. Like anything in gardening, remember that you need to be involved, you can’t just set it and forget it. Take what you know and have learned here, create a plan, put it to work, then observe regularly and adjust as the seasons, what you grow and what you learn changes\! For further reading, check out our [7 water-saving tips for your August garden](https://homesteadingfamily.com/water-saving-garden-tips/)\! ![Long rows of spinach in a garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Garden-rows-1024x683.jpg) ## More Gardening Related Posts - [Instant Garden in Under Three Hours](https://homesteadingfamily.com/instant-garden-in-under-three-hours/) - [Back to Eden Gardening with Paul Gautschi](https://homesteadingfamily.com/back-to-eden-gardening-with-paul-gautschi) - [How to Reduce Weeds in the Garden](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-keep-weeds-out-of-garden/) - [My Favorite Tools for Gardening (And How to Care for Garden Tools)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/best-tools-for-the-garden/) - [20 Vegetables You Can Plant in Late Summer](https://homesteadingfamily.com/20-vegetables-to-plant-in-late-summer/) - [Spring Garden Planning Tips & Tricks](https://homesteadingfamily.com/garden-planning-tips/) - [Get a Jump Start on Early Spring Gardening – Pantry Chat \#75](https://homesteadingfamily.com/early-spring-gardening-tips) - [How to Build a DIY Hoop House (Greenhouse)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/diy-bean-tunnel-or-hoop-house/) - [When to Start Seeds Indoors](https://homesteadingfamily.com/when-to-start-seeds-indoors/) - [Seed Starting Problems (& How to Fix Them)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/seed-starting-problems-how-to-fix-them/) - [12 Things You Must do to Prep the Garden for Winter](https://homesteadingfamily.com/12-things-you-must-do-to-prep-the-garden-for-winter/) - [Making Raised Garden Bed Rows & Super-Charging Your Soil](https://homesteadingfamily.com/making-raised-garden-bed-rows/) - [Get an Instant Garden (Vertical Garden Planter)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/create-an-instant-garden-greenstalk-vertical-garden/) ![A man and wife smiling.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Josh-and-Carolyn.jpg) Welcome to Homesteading Family\! Josh and Carolyn bring you practical knowledge on how to Grow, Cook, Preserve and Thrive on your homestead, whether you are in a city apartment or on 40 acres in the country. If you want to increase your self-sufficiency and health be sure to subscribe for helpful videos on gardening, preserving, herbal medicine, traditional cooking and more. Sign Up for Updates Get the latest homesteading tips delivered to your inbox weekly. 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