Water

This week in Sustainable Agriculture we learned the importance of water. That may seem a little obvious but there's more to watering plants than it may seem. Watering plants with a hose can be bad for the soil. The force of the water can compact the soil which can hinder the plants roots from going deeper into the ground. To prevent this from happening you can use a Haws watering can which mimics falling rain and lessens the amount of impact on the soil. If you don't have a Haws watering can then you can attach a head to your hose with a "fan" setting which is similar to rain. If you can't get one of those just place your thumb over the hose nozzle and apply some pressure. This should cause the water to come out more like a mist than a jet. In the farm we use a drip system which slowly drips water onto the soil so it can absorb the water evenly without creating puddles. It's also a good way to regulate how much water is released so the plants can get used to a constant amount of water to take in.

When watering your plants be aware that some plants like tomatoes, peas, squash, and melons don't like water on their leaves. It can cause the leaves to rot and can rot the vegetables as well. To prevent this, directly water the soil underneath each plant, if needed gently move the leaves to be able to water around the stem.

Watering a plant daily can wash dust, grime, and pests from the plant which is very beneficial to a plant. Many people believe watering plants in the morning on hot days is good because it is cooler in the morning, but in actuality the water evaporates before the plant is able to absorb the water. Sometimes it is necessary to water plants three times a day. To help decrease the waste of water try watering your plants in the afternoon. This way it is less likely for the water to evaporate. Plants also do a considerable amount of growing at night so the added water helps that growth.

Water is very important to plant growth and health. Knowing how to water properly can enhance a plants yield and its overall health. Water is a necessity to a plants nutrition and is a key ingredient in photosynthesis which is the process where plants take energy from the sun and water to create energy that they use to grow fruits and vegetables and in general keep the plant alive and healthy. - Niki Barker