When growing fruits, vegetables, and turfgrass, it is important to irrigate the plants thoroughly. This means that the entire root zone, which can be up to several inches deep, must be sufficiently wet. Only irrigating the top inch or two of the soil and not the roots will cause shallow-rooted plants that will soon show signs of nutrient deficiencies. Not irrigating the entire root zone might also cause drought stress on the plants.
Drought stress can cause a delay in maturity. This can significantly reduce the harvest of many fruits and vegetables, and even lead to cracked produce. It is also a common cause of blossom end rot in some crops.
If you want to avoid such problems, you should get your irrigation system installation started and follow the best practices for irrigation, some of which are shared in this post:
Irrigation Scheduling for Fruits and Vegetables
It is recommended that you do frequent irrigation for vegetables and similar shallow-rooted crops. They need between one and one and a half inches of water every week. You are going to need a rain gauge to keep up with the amount of water needed. The last thing you want is for your fruits and vegetables to experience drought as that can get in the way of them producing crops. It is therefore important that you schedule your irrigation properly to ensure that your plants are getting the right amount of water whenever needed.
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is one of the best ways to make sure that your fruits, vegetables, and turfgrass receive the right amount of water. It is ideal for places that are not easily accessible to a garden hose. It works by feeding steady small amounts of water in a slow but consistent way. This is a reliable way to give your plants the right amount of water they need, which is why it is highly recommended.
Automated Irrigation
Automatic irrigation is also preferred. This is because it allows you to schedule when the water will be delivered to your plants. For example, you can make sure that your plants get the right amount of water in the early morning. This will help prevent water evaporation and runoff.
Irrigation Timers
When setting up your irrigation system, it is advisable that you install an irrigation timer. This way, you can adjust your irrigation schedule depending on the weather and the amount of water your plants require.
Soil Moisture
Soil moisture is critical for healthy roots to develop. Without it, your plants will be prone to drought stress. When watering your plants, it is ideal to water them enough in order to ensure that the roots are submerged. You should check your plants on a daily basis to check if you should give them some more water.
Fruits and vegetables in soil that is dry almost always show signs of stress. The same thing goes for soil that has insufficient organic matter. For fruits and vegetables, you should have at least thirty percent of organic matter in your soil.
Conclusion
Irrigation is essential for healthy plants and successful gardens and landscaping. Irrigation system installation is a must for all types of plants, including fruits and vegetables. Apart from installing a system, following the best practices for irrigation and scheduling your irrigation correctly, you can be sure that your plants and crops are getting the right amount of water and nutrients.
Extreme Irrigation & Lawn offers irrigation system installation and repair in Tulsa, OK. Contact us today for all your irrigation needs!