Water Saving Suggestions for Drought years

1. Gamble and Plant early

There’s more moisture in the soil in early spring than any other time of the year. As soon as you can work the soil and prepare seedbeds, gamble some seeds and plant some early crops. Push ahead your plantings of corn and potatoes, too. These crops take lots of water, and the more growth they can put on before dry weather, the better it is for you.

2. Don’t Fertilize too much early in the year

You’d be amazed at how few roots will develop in over- fertilized soils. Plants can get all the food they need close to the surface with just a small root system. So they don’t bother to go down deep. When a dry spell occurs, look out! They suffer quickly, you wind up watering them every day. It’s better for your crops if they have to work for their food and water. Let them develop far-reaching root systems which penetrate deep in the soil before you give them big helpings of plant food.

3. Plant wide rows

Water escapes rapidly from the ground when the soil is bare. To hold water in, grow your vegetables in wide rows or blocks. They will trap plenty of moisture.

4. Use Mulches‑weed-free is best

Mulches hold in moisture by cutting evaporation. They also prevent weeds from stealing food and water.

The best time to apply a mulch is after a good rain. Use thick mulches so the sun can’t possibly hit the ground.

Use mulches of lawn clippings, pine needles, or other material with few weed seeds.

5. Don’t water Weeds—more than once

The only reason to ever water a weed is to make it easier to pull. A deep watering leaves the soil loose and moist, and weeds come out of the ground like feathers. If some weeds survive rake-thinning and the In-Row Weeder, don’t let them hang around. When they get big enough to pull, water and grab them.

6. Block the Wind

Plants lose water when they’re in the path of a breeze or stiff wind. Just think of your laundry. Doesn’t a wet towel hanging on the line dry a lot faster on a windy day? The wind makes a tremendous difference! If you can stop the breezes from hitting your plants, they’ll hold on to their water supply longer.

7. Skip Thirsty Crops

Some vegetables require more than their share of water. When water supplies are low, avoid growing corn, melons, and potatoes. But greens, beets, carrots, turnips, and onions are “moisture-efficient” because most of the plant can be eaten. Other plants that can grow on modest amounts of moisture include peas, beans, sweet potatoes, and eggplant.

8. Let your Tomatoes Sprawl

Staking and pruning tomatoes during a drought exposes too much of the plant to the drying effects of the sun and wind. Let your tomatoes sprawl if dry weather hits. Instead of being up in the wind like a flag, the tomato leaves will shade the ground and keep it cooler, thus slowing evaporation.

9. Catch the Rain

Use a rain barrel, some plastic pails, an old tub or whatever you have to catch the rain. Plants love natural rainfall, and though you can’t water the whole garden from a rain barrel, you’d be surprised at how many small transplants and seedlings you can keep moist with rain barrel water.

10. Keep Walkways narrow . . . and few

You’ll water less unproductive empty space when it gets hot. Plus, narrow walkways mean a better “canopy of food” over your garden soil.

11. Grow a Garden in the fall

Look past the dry spells of summer to a fall garden and have your seeds and plants ready. Most areas of the country have good fall rains, so often it’s much easier to grow a super garden in the fall than to battle the heat and dryness of summer. Fall is a perfect time for greens because they need a steady supply of water and cool weather to taste their best.

12. Use Shade

Many plants will grow well with as little as 4 or 5 hours of direct sunlight a day. In the shade they will lose a lot less water than if they were out in the burning sun. Peas, collards, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, chard, turnips, and parsley are shade-loving vegetables. If you don’t have natural shade areas for them, grow some. Leave two rows empty in the middle of your corn patch and plant your crops there.

13. When you Water, do it right

1. Make sure your plants need water. The best indication is when you spot wilted plants in the morning. A little drooping of plant leaves is natural on a hot afternoon. Plants should perk up later.
2. Water until the soil is moist to a depth of 4 to 5 inches. Plants like a deep soaking so their roots can stretch way down into the soil to get water. The deeper the roots of your plants, the easier it will be for them to get through a dry spell.

14. Cultivate around Plants before Watering

A gentle, shallow cultivation loosens the soil around your plants so that water can soak in easily. Without a cultivation, the soil may be so hard and crusty that it sends water running off instead of soaking in.

15. Above all, add Organic matter

A soil that is rich in organic matter will hold plenty of moisture. This is the key to surviving a drought—gardening in soil packed with decomposing organic matter and humus. Soils aren’t too fussy about what type of organic matter they get—composted manure, kitchen scraps, leaves, lawn clippings, green manure crops . .. all will help your soil retain more moisture.

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