Water like a grown-up

The inch, not the vibe

Most vegetables want about an inch of water a week, more in heat and in pots. Finger in the soil: dry at a knuckle means water, damp means wait. A wet surface over dry clay is a lie.

Water in the morning so leaves dry. Overhead spray at dusk is how powdery mildew and blight get a free ride. A watering can at the base is not romantic. It is correct.

Pots are not ground

A 5-gallon tomato on a balcony can drink a gallon on a 90°F day. Lift the pot. Light means water. Water until it runs out the holes, then stop. Saucers full of standing water rot roots.

Mulch the pot with a half-inch of shredded leaves or fine bark. It cuts the twice-a-day panic.

Seedbeds are a special case

Carrot, beet, and lettuce seed die if the top quarter-inch dries during germination. That is a daily mist for one to two weeks, not a deep soak on Saturday. Once they are up, switch to deep and infrequent.