Backyard Vegetable Plots

The One Drawback of

As temperatures rise, growing seasons get longer, and droughts become more prevalent, it can be difficult to maintain the watering regimen many common vegetable plants require. But there are ways to adapt your plot so water consumption is less of a drawback.

Irrigation

Some varieties naturally tolerate little rainfall, and others are specifically bred to withstand drought conditions.

Choose drought-tolerant vegetables.

While you can amend the soil for better drainage and moisture retention wherever you plant, any growing medium will dry out faster—and require more water—in pots compared to beds.

Plant in beds vs. containers.

Encourage crops to develop resilient root systems by watering deeply and less often. During the height of summer, it’s best to water your vegetable patch in the early morning while it’s still relatively cool.

Water deeply and at the  right time

One of the best ways to improve saturation in a vegetable garden is by incorporating compost. In addition, a thick layer of organic mulch can help slow down evaporation and suppress weeds.

Inhibit evaporation.

Plants naturally release water during photosynthesis. To minimize this, plant your vegetable patch in partial shade. If you don’t have any trees or natural cover, hang a shade cloth over crops to keep them cool.

Reduce transpiration.

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For example, after boiling potatoes for dinner, set the water aside to cool instead of dumping it down the drain. You can reuse this otherwise wasted water in your vegetable garden at no additional cost.

Repurpose household water.

Hydroponic vegetable gardens can use up to 90 percent less water than traditional soil plots. While the potential savings are great, DIY hydroponics comes with a learning curve and higher upfront costs.

Try hydroponics.

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