Each plant needs a different amount of water to grow. Some plants, like a cactus, needs a little bit of water every once in a while. Most plants that are in the house need to be watered every two weeks. Vegetable and fruit plants need a lot more water. Each plant is different but most vegetables like about 2 inches of water per week. Try watering your garden for about 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times a week if there has not been any rain. Another tip is to leave a plastic cup in your garden to see how much rain the plants may have gotten when it does rain.
Vegetables plants need moist soil that is not too dry but not soaking wet either. You want to make sure that the water has been able to get down to the roots and is not just at the top of the soil. Try sticking your hand or a stick down a few inches into the dirt to see if there is water getting to the roots. Using a mulch (woodchips, newspapers, landscape fabric) can help to keep the water in the soil and prevent the soil from drying out. This is also a great way to save water!
For more great online resources for learning more about vegetable gardening visit:
- Grow It Eat It Maryland: http://extension.umd.edu/mg/about-program/giei
- Home and Garden Information Center: http://extension.umd.edu/hgic
- Free Master Gardener Workshops. Check this link to free vegetable gardening classes by the Master Gardeners for each county: http://extension.umd.edu/mg
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