Watering Veg patch

Happyman42

How often and when would you water in weather like this? (prolonged sunshine and high heats)

Cardinal Richelieu

Happyman42 wrote: »

How often and when would you water in weather like this? (prolonged sunshine and high heats)

Depends on your soil conditions(sand, clay, high in organic matter) and what crops your growing.

Happyman42

Would be a clay soil with horse manure added. Growing potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, brocoli, peas, scallions, onions, and a range of salad crops. Strawberries, beetroot, beans and carrots

Cardinal Richelieu

Happyman42 wrote: »

Would be a clay soil with horse manure added. Growing potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, brocoli, peas, scallions, onions, and a range of salad crops. Strawberries, beetroot, beans and carrots

Just keep watching the weather forecast, use a hose with sprinkler head if you can and water in early morning and revisit in the evening if crops appear dehydrated . Some of your crops like beans when they get bigger should be able to hold in more moisture by creating shade so make a judgement by crop. Salad crops usually require a lot more water otherwise they get stressed and run to seed quicker. Don't let your potatoes dry out too much or in clay soil the ground cracks too much and you have an increased risk of the spuds greening underneath.

Happyman42

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

Just keep watching the weather forecast, use a hose with sprinkler head if you can and water in early morning and revisit in the evening if crops appear dehydrated . Some of your crops like beans when they get bigger should be able to hold in more moisture by creating shade so make a judgement by crop. Salad crops usually require a lot more water otherwise they get stressed and run to seed quicker. Don't let your potatoes dry out too much or in clay soil the ground cracks too much and you have an increased risk of the spuds greening underneath.

Excellent, thanks! I did wonder about the potatoes, have quite a few in and the soil is begining to look like it is going to split up.

If I could ask another question about the potatoes, the first ones I planted are above ground now and begining to flourish, where I have them a weed like a minature christmas tree is trying to go rampant. I think it would take over if I let it. Any ideas what it is and how to control it? It has a seriously long and stubborn root which is prone to snapping before I get it out. (I can take a pic of it if that would help in id-ing it)

muckyhands

Happyman42 wrote: »

Excellent, thanks! I did wonder about the potatoes, have quite a few in and the soil is begining to look like it is going to split up.

If I could ask another question about the potatoes, the first ones I planted are above ground now and begining to flourish, where I have them a weed like a minature christmas tree is trying to go rampant. I think it would take over if I let it. Any ideas what it is and how to control it? It has a seriously long and stubborn root which is prone to snapping before I get it out. (I can take a pic of it if that would help in id-ing it)

Pic needed.

Does it look like this?

Happyman42

muckyhands wrote: »

Pic needed.

Does it look like this?

That's the one!

muckyhands

Happyman42 wrote: »

That's the one!

Uh Oh. :eek:

Repeated treatments of weed killer may be order of the day Im afraid, thats one persistent weed.

The pic I put up- its called Horsetail, Equisetum arvense.

Happyman42

muckyhands wrote: »

Uh Oh. :eek:

Repeated treatments of weed killer may be order of the day Im afraid, thats one persistent weed.

The pic I put up- its called Horsetail, Equisetum arvense.

I am glad you edited that....I was planning to evacuate last night!:D
I'm reading that horticultural vinegar (20%) is an effective killer of this.....any advice?

Cardinal Richelieu

I wouldn't worry about it for the moment, you always get some weeds in potato crops even with early herbicide treatment. If you apply anything now unless its extremely selective its going to damage your potatoes. When you dig up your potatoes make sure you remove the horsetail and any pieces of its root from the soil.

dardevle

^^^^^^^
+1

when the foliage canopy on the spuds closes in it should keep the horsetail in check, it can be difficult to remove by hand since the stems are segmented and usually break at a joint rather than come out all at once, it is believed that it has a liking for poorer soils so by adding lots of organic material to the soil and continually improving the soil structure it should help,

ps; i don't ever remember coming across horticultural/agricultural vinegar in this country but i would advise you stay away from it.


.......

muckyhands

dardevle wrote: »

^^^^^^^
+1

when the foliage canopy on the spuds closes in it should keep the horsetail in check, it can be difficult to remove by hand since the stems are segmented and usually break at a joint rather than come out all at once, it is believed that it has a liking for poorer soils so by adding lots of organic material to the soil and continually improving the soil structure it should help,

ps; i don't ever remember coming across horticultural/agricultural vinegar in this country but i would advise you stay away from it.


.......

I think he means Acetic acid based weedkillers.

muckyhands

Happyman42 wrote: »

I am glad you edited that....I was planning to evacuate last night!:D
I'm reading that horticultural vinegar (20%) is an effective killer of this.....any advice?

Sorry about that.

Irish organic weedkiller may be the one youre thinking of, its based on acetic acid (vinegar).

http://www.johnstowngardencentre.ie/irish-organic-weedkiller--100-natural-/iog_weedkillerpd.aspx

dardevle

.....

there used to be an actual product called horticultural vinegar available when i lived in the US, this is what i thought was being mentioned as it is 20% acetic acid....nasty shyte and not to be recommended,

in comparison, IO weedkiller is about 9.5%, which keeps it just below the safe recommended level of 10%.







.....

Happyman42

That's what I was referring to, the US stuff. I was reading on a site that if you freeze or boil ordinary vinegar, you can get the water out. Maybe not then?

dardevle

.......

it would not be for me anyway..... above 10% the acid concentration is a skin irritant - in the 20% range it can cause burns and permanant eye damage - then there is the damage to the soil you would be applying it to:eek:






......

dardevle

......

wow....just wow!

engage what?where?

enough with the personal abuse.

dardevle

^^^^^
Last edited by paddy147; Today at 20:07.


appreciate you removing the abuse,

if i have misconstrued the op's questions then i apologise to him/her.(i know i have not)

better still appreciate you removing all of the nonsense you previously posted!



......

paddy147

dardevle wrote: »

......

wow....just wow!

engage what?where?

enough with the personal abuse.

No personal abuse at all.No foul or crude language,so no personal abuse.

dardevle

......


still at a loss





......

Happyman42

Jesus Paddy....it's a gardening forum. I think you might be getting the wrong end of the stick.

paddy147

Happyman42 wrote: »

Jesus Paddy....it's a gardening forum. I think you might be getting the wrong end of the stick.

What,like the "peat free" compost thread.??...;):D

dardevle

......

where did i state irish organic weed killer did this?
(not applicable now that the bullsh1t filter has kicked in)
.......

Ophiopogon

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but I they are talking about two different products...no?

dardevle

......

2 different products indeed....well read sir!



.......

Ophiopogon

dardevle wrote: »

......

2 different products indeed....well read sir!



.......

Madam

dardevle

Ophiopogon wrote: »

Madam

my apologies are profuse *madam*:)



.......

redser7

Crap! What did I miss!? What did I miss!??

johngalway

redser7 wrote: »

Crap! What did I miss!? What did I miss!??

Handbags and sharp elbows, tis like a day at the sales

dardevle

johngalway wrote: »

Handbags and sharp elbows, tis like a day at the sales

i (rep)resent that remark:p



......

Happyman42

Fecking hell I can't leave youse for two minutes!...........:D

redser7

I only went out to make a cup of tea.

Happyman42

I made chips! :D

johngalway

I've got early and maincrop spuds in the ground. Earlies are well up, some flowering, some of the maincrop are just pushing above ground now. I've been watering each evening, 7 or 8 13 litre watering cans. This is probably not enough, I'm guessing, but after that the farm drain runs dry. Not yet got my water for the garden sorted properly :rolleyes:

I've been hearing rain for the past while, music to my ears Funny lot us Irish, bitch and moan about the rain 9/10 months a year, it goes away for a week and there's panic

dardevle

......



any one for humble pie;)




......

Happyman42

johngalway wrote: »

I've got early and maincrop spuds in the ground. Earlies are well up, some flowering, some of the maincrop are just pushing above ground now. I've been watering each evening, 7 or 8 13 litre watering cans. This is probably not enough, I'm guessing, but after that the farm drain runs dry. Not yet got my water for the garden sorted properly :rolleyes:

I've been hearing rain for the past while, music to my ears Funny lot us Irish, bitch and moan about the rain 9/10 months a year, it goes away for a week and there's panic

Funny that, I find watering the garden one of the most therapuetic parts of the day. Although I have about 40 foot of hose, couldn't imagine doing it with a watering can....that would be hard work.:D
Only maincrop here but above ground and flourishing. Salad crops begining to glut too.....will be giving it away soon.

dardevle

Happyman42 wrote: »

Funny that, I find watering the garden one of the most therapuetic parts of the day. Although I have about 40 foot of hose, couldn't imagine doing it with a watering can....that would be hard work.:D
Only maincrop here but above ground and flourishing. Salad crops begining to glut too.....will be giving it away soon.

have a mains connection but always try to use the harvested water from the tank....just checked this evening and have about 200l left - could do with a little rain to top up but i would'nt say i was praying for it yet:)


.......

johngalway

Happyman42 wrote: »

Funny that, I find watering the garden one of the most therapuetic parts of the day. Although I have about 40 foot of hose, couldn't imagine doing it with a watering can....that would be hard work.:D
Only maincrop here but above ground and flourishing. Salad crops begining to glut too.....will be giving it away soon.

On midgey evenings I find the watering can great, it forces me to keep moving

I've to get some water fittings and an IBC tank, and I'll be sorted then.

Happyman42

dardevle wrote: »

have a mains connection but always try to use the harvested water from the tank....just checked this evening and have about 200l left - could do with a little rain to top up but i would'nt say i was praying for it yet:)


.......

How do you harvest it....of the roofs?

dardevle

........

thats it.....simple set up -1000l cube raised up on concrete blocks and connected to the downspout from a 12ft x 10ft garden shed.





.........

Happyman42

dardevle wrote: »

........

thats it.....simple set up -1000l cube raised up on concrete blocks and connected to the downspout from a 12ft x 10ft garden shed.





.........

Must get onto a set-up like that. I live beside a cattleyard with a huge roof area, the downpipe was broken for a while there and the torrents of water that gush from it in a rain is biblical!
Is there enough pressure from the height of the tank to take a hose from it?
Sorry for all the questions.

dardevle

.......

not really enough pressure from the tank even though its set up as high as it can go under the downspout, could get all technical with it and go to a pump but to be honest i prefer to water by hand - watering can in each hand and i'm a happy camper.




..........

macraignil

One way to reduce your horsetail problem might be to reduce your watering near them. I put some drains in my garden (which is a heavy clay and so does not really need to be watered all of the time) and found the horsetail population has become less of a problem. I also added lots of organic material to improve the soil structure. I like to pull out the horsetails removing as much of the underground stem as possible and leave them dry out on the ground when the weather is good. This weed is persistent but less water, better soil structure and plants that can overgrow them seems to be sorting the problem for me.
If you water too often I have read that plants do not form as deep a root system and source their nutrients and water from further down in the soil. In a well manured clay soil as you describe I wouldn't think lots of watering will help your potatoes. I would only be watering the peas, beans and salads in the situation you describe although these also will crop OK without any watering (at least in Cork where we rarely have a full week without rain).

redser7

Good wy to use an ibc is run a hose to a barrel or bin locted near where you want to wter. Let the barrel fill s you re dunking your can, much less running round that way. You could have more than one barrel strtegically placed around. Some people bury them down a foot or two. Less likely to blow around and easier to dunk in nd lift the can out.

btw - I read alot that unless there is a peoper drought for weeks on end, and you have plenty of orgnic material dug into your beds and you mulch, you dont have to water outside.

Graces7

muckyhands wrote: »

Uh Oh. :eek:

Repeated treatments of weed killer may be order of the day Im afraid, thats one persistent weed.

The pic I put up- its called Horsetail, Equisetum arvense.

Weedkillers on veg? No thank you.. We call it mares tail and it is easy to pull up by the roots... Persevere and all will soon be gone and no chemicals.

muckyhands

Graces7 wrote: »

Weedkillers on veg? No thank you.. We call it mares tail and it is easy to pull up by the roots... Persevere and all will soon be gone and no chemicals.

Not while the veg is there for me either, organic weedkiller or not. :eek::eek::eek:

Jeez, where was I, looks like I missed all the fun. :pac::pac:

dfbemt

..............


Have to post one of these posts

...............


Looks like they were really fun. Were some boys being a bit cranky??

@Graces - haven't seen any of your posts for a while, certainly since the bad snow on the Weather forum. Glad to see that you are still contributing.

Trying a few different watering methods myself. Have leaky hose in use on one bed and I really like it. Slowly does it

.............. fun fun fun

dardevle

dfbemt wrote: »

..............


Have to post one of these posts

...............


Looks like they were really fun. Were some boys being a bit cranky??

@Graces - haven't seen any of your posts for a while, certainly since the bad snow on the Weather forum. Glad to see that you are still contributing.

Trying a few different watering methods myself. Have leaky hose in use on one bed and I really like it. Slowly does it

.............. fun fun fun

.........

Oh someone allowed the red mist to descend alright - but then the error of his ways was pointed out which resulted in much backscrambling to delete multiple posts of embarassment....but thanks to the wonders of handheld devices i can post them up if you want the whole picture

.....fun fun fun


...........

Happyman42

dfbemt wrote: »

..............


Have to post one of these posts

...............


Looks like they were really fun. Were some boys being a bit cranky??

@Graces - haven't seen any of your posts for a while, certainly since the bad snow on the Weather forum. Glad to see that you are still contributing.

Trying a few different watering methods myself. Have leaky hose in use on one bed and I really like it. Slowly does it

.............. fun fun fun

Is the leaky hose a homemade jobbie?


p.s. I missed the naughtiness too! Fecking gardening!

dfbemt

dardevle wrote: »

.........

....but thanks to the wonders of handheld devices i can post them up if you want the whole picture

OH YES PLEASE.........

Happyman42 wrote: »

Is the leaky hose a homemade jobbie?

Similar to what is in this shop but this is not where I got it

http://www.thegardenshop.ie/soaker-hose-15m.html

I think I got mine in Aldi, one of the many purchases from Aldi which make their way to the shed only to be retrieved during the clear out !!!!

Does work well for gentle and constant watering during long dry spells. Also works well from a rain barrel / ibc as the pressure head and the slow seepage complement together

redser7

dfbemt wrote: »

OH YES PLEASE.........





Similar to what is in this shop but this is not where I got it

http://www.thegardenshop.ie/soaker-hose-15m.html

I think I got mine in Aldi, one of the many purchases from Aldi which make their way to the shed only to be retrieved during the clear out !!!!

Does work well for gentle and constant watering during long dry spells. Also works well from a rain barrel / ibc as the pressure head and the slow seepage complement together

Hi dfbemt, if you have soaker hose just sitting in your shed I could give you a few bob for it. I got a length in Lidl earlier in the year but it wasn't enough. If you don't ask you don't get