What are the watering times and precautions for summer vegetables?
In summer, the weather is hot, and many farmers get anxious when they see their vegetable plots short of water, worrying that the plants will dry up, and then they keep watering. This often leads to the problem of locking the barn door after the horse has bolted, and serious waterlogging can also occur. So what time is best for watering vegetables planted in summer? What precautions are there? Let's take a look together!
What time is best for watering in summer
1. Pay attention to watering time
Many growers tend to fall into a misconception: the midday sun is the strongest and the temperature is at its highest, so watering at this time will cool things down and relieve the heat. But this is extremely wrong. In summer, with high temperatures and strong sunlight, the soil temperature itself is already high. After a few hours of sunlight, the ground has absorbed a lot of heat, so the soil temperature is even higher, while the water temperature is relatively lower. This causes the soil temperature to drop sharply, which weakens root metabolism and reduces the roots' ability to absorb, normally leading to a sharp drop in yield. Therefore, in summer it is best to water in the morning. By 9-10 o'clock, when the sunlight is relatively strong, do not water anymore. As the temperature rises, the evaporating water will take away a large amount of heat, which is beneficial to root activity and increases yield.
2. Avoid flood irrigation
Many growers think that because of the high summer temperatures, watering should be done by flood irrigation, with both wide and narrow rows watered together. This can lower the soil and air temperatures and also ensure that the vegetables have sufficient water, which is good for vegetable growth. In fact, this is a mistaken idea. They do not realize that flood irrigation can cause waterlogging in the field, affect root respiration, and easily lead to root suffocation, causing root rot and yellowing leaves. This seriously affects yield and quality, and in severe cases the entire plant will wither and die. This is especially true for some vegetables that are afraid of waterlogging. In summer, be sure not to water too much. To avoid water shortage in the roots on one side of a large furrow, it is best to irrigate the wide and narrow rows alternately.
3. Do not let the soil alternate between dry and wet
During the fruiting period of solanaceous and cucurbit vegetables, the water requirement is uniform. If the soil alternates between dry and wet, fruit cracking is very likely to occur. This is because drought and water shortage in the soil inhibit fruit expansion. Once too much water is applied or there is a rainstorm, the fruit expands rapidly, and the flesh absorbs water faster than the skin grows, causing the fruit to crack. Therefore, in summer drought, water in time to keep the soil moist, but the amount of water should not be too large. After rain, drain water promptly to avoid excessive water absorption by the fruit and fruit cracking.
The above is a summary of the watering issues for summer vegetables. You can arrange a reasonable watering time according to the growth conditions of your own vegetables, so as to reduce waterlogging or drought.