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Antwerp, Belgium

Hi,

At the moment it's rather hot over here (more than 30°C during the day, about 20 at night).
For the moment, I water my plants every day and the soil keeps being very moist and the
plants are growing away.

So, no problem. But I ask myself this : wouldn't it be better to dry out the soil (a bit) to let the roots go deeper to seek water? Maybe watering once in 2 or 3 days as long as they look good or even let them wilt for just one time?

Thanks in advance for any suggestion!

6/8/2014 11:23:06 AM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

I have found that even when my top inch of soil is dry that underneath where the roots are is nice and moist. Letting the soil dry out on top has never hurt anything for me, in anything I've grown, it helps prevent diseases from soil borne fungus that thrive in damp conditions. I let the plants tell me when it's time to water: if they start looking a little wilty in the hottest part of the day, they get watered well then another few days goes by till they need again. Note: I don't have any plants that 'flag' or need misting during the hottest portion of the day, so slight wilting for me means they are a little thirsty.

6/8/2014 11:39:25 AM

Lakewood, Colorado

There may be a number of differing opinions on this, but for me I don't wish the plant to want for anything including water. While it may be true that the root will grow deeper if left to dry a bit, I think that is energy that could be used to grow the pumpkin. There is an optimum range of moisture content for your given soil and you should strive to keep it there without fluctuations into and out of that range.

Just my opinion.

6/8/2014 1:46:04 PM

Antwerp, Belgium

Erik, I understand what you mean but let me play advocate of the devil.

When the plant has to look for water and while doing so grows a bigger root system, wouldn't that be an advantage in the long run? Like you say, you are "doing wrong" to the plant which is, of course putting it behind a little in growth. But couldn't that bigger root system make up for that and let it grow better andere bigger afterwards?

6/8/2014 4:59:27 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Over watering can lead to some nasty fungal diseases like pythium that could wipe out your plants.

6/8/2014 6:17:37 PM

Colorado

You want to strive to keep the soil at optimal moisture while growing the pumpkin. Steve daletas did that with moisture meters and a custom computer program two years ago.. You might try keeping the soil towards the dry side when the plants developing to promote extra rooting. If your soil dries too much your roots will die so its a fine line. Using azos(has rooting hormone effect) and keeping water consistent may be your best bet.

6/8/2014 9:33:19 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Like Erik said, keep the plant wanting for nothing.....in all aspectZ...soundZ like your doing a great job...monitoring. GrowZem BIG

6/9/2014 9:53:28 AM

Hermitage, PA

I have always wondered if the plants would root faster by giving them tough love. The worse thing you can do is switch back and forth from wet to dry soil! A wilting plant is not a growing plant, (or else has bacterial wilt!)

6/9/2014 11:31:14 AM

Perry Iowa USA

Cojoe how do you use your Azos?-I assume foliar, but how much per gal of H2O and how often?

6/9/2014 10:49:53 PM