Hodgson Biologic
2 Klarides Village Drive
Box 205
Seymour, Connecticut
06483
203-888-3898
In Connecticut's
Naugatuck Valley
|
WaterWater is needed by all living things. Just as Goldilocks (does anyone remember that story?) wanted things to be "just right," plants thrive in environments where the water supply meets their needs.
Water dissolves nutrients and makes them easier to transport into the plant from the soil. It keeps the plant's tissues firm.
Too much water cuts oxygen supply to the roots, and may promote fungal diseases. Too little, as we all know, and plants wilt and die.
Some recommend using water that is air temperature, not icy cold from a well, to prevent distressing the plant tissues.
Most planting instructions for vegetables will tell you to plant in well-drained soil. What is well-drained soil? The term means that soon after a rain, soil particles will be moistened but there will be air spaces in the soil - the water drains into the lower parts of the soil (sometimes called subsoil). There is enough organic matter in a well-drained soil to hold water for a while, like a sponge.
Excessively well-drained soil dries out very quickly after a rain. Often these are sandy soils that have little organic matter to hold moisture. Cacti can live happily in these soils, but most vegetables will not do well without constant watering.
|
|
|
