Why should you water your vegetable garden twice a week instead of a little everyday?

Question

I use a soaker hose in my vegetable garden and last year used a timer with it. It watered the plants for about 15 minutes everyday especially in the hot 100 degree weather. Why would it be better to only water twice a week for 1″ of water?

Answer 1

There are many variables to how often to water. It depends on the plant, the weather, the amount of sunshine, and the soil. Ideally, the gardener pokes a finger in the soil to assess moisture level. The idea behind deep watering is to give the plant a good soak and to have moisture at a depth that encourages plant roots to go deep seeking it. Of course, the soil dries out from the top down. Deep roots are an insurance policy against excessively hot or windy weather as well as plant growth spurts. Deep roots are cooler than ones close to the surface and this can affect plant health. Vegetable flowers and fruits suffer before leaves wilt. Sandy soil may need watering twice daily in 100 F temperatures since it doesn’t hold water well. If you find that your garden production is satisfactory with your current strategy, then stick with it.