Watering, Moisture and Mulch
Different plants need different kinds of watering. Some veggies need more frequent and deeper watering than others. Seeds and seedlings need to be constantly moist. Although deep watering is sometimes best, over watering can also stress your plants. Of course, there will be a lot of variables to take into consideration – such as the amount of rain and other weather conditions. Do a simple moisture test with your finger on the top 2 to 4 inches of soil before you water. Be careful about the watering tips you see circulating on the internet or in YouTube videos!
Proper watering is critical to plant health
Just as soil health depends on the latest soil science – the same is true of about watering edible plants.The Deep Roots method creates the best environment for your plants because our compost used as soil has good drainage and lets the water get to the plant roots quickly. We recommend installing drip irrigation if you don’t have time to water or go out of town often. Take time to correctly set the irrigation timing and amount.
DON’T water a little everyday!
Because It promotes shallow roots. One of the worst practices is to water your garden lightly every day or every few days. This frequent sprinkling provides water to only the top layer of the soil and promotes shallow root systems.
Simple, standard suggestions like: water every day and “make sure you give your plants an inch of water each week” are now being questioned and re-evaluated. Because the plant’s roots are not close to the soil surface, we now know that the water needs to get deep enough. AND the roots need to have enough time to soak it up will allow the plants to develop deep root systems that are necessary to be healthy.
But, be careful since over watering stresses many plants. If top 2 inches of soil feels dry it’s time to water. Soak the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Test for soil moisture also after you water.
Overhead watering (sprinklers) is the least efficient and least preferred method of watering. Far too much of the water is lost to evaporation. Water the soil, not the plants with a soaker hose, drip irrigation, watering can or watering wand. Overhead watering substantially increases the risk of fungal disease, especially in humid and rainy climates.
Watering tips from our horticulturist
Some conventional soils can have drainage problems, so too much water does not allow plant roots to breathe and will cause plants to wilt from lack of oxygen.
Don’t water too fast. Water gently at all times. When watering with a hose, avoid a hard stream of water, which risks injuring your plants and the soil. Use a steady, gentle shower of water instead – but only on the soil, not the plants.
If you are using municipal water, put a water filter on your hose or water source. Municipal water often has levels of chlorine that kill essential microorganisms. There are also many harmful pollutants in some city water.
Lack of water stresses plants. Drought may produce stunted fruit, produce no fruit at all, or may produce tasteless, woody, or unpalatable fruit.
Over watering stresses plants. Over watering can cause as much stress as severe drought. Too much water will saturate soils, displace air which starves the roots of oxygen. The compost Deep Roots uses instead of conventional soil (Microbe Rich Compost) has good drainage properties.
Keep SEEDS moist at all times. Germinating seeds must be constantly moist. Watering seeds twice a day may be needed on dry hot days. It’s easiest to let drip irrigation water your seeds. Some gardeners without irrigation have found a work-around that saves time and constant attention.
Place a board or large tiles over tiny carrot seeds. This keeps the moisture in the soil longer and protects them from being washed away by heavy rain. Make note of how many days it takes for the first sign of germination. Check the seeds everyday when it is close to germination. Remove the cover when the first seed sprouts. Some seeds will sprout sooner and some later. Carrot seeds are very tiny and need to be kept constantly moisturized more carefully.
Keep SEEDLINGS moist at all times and water daily or more often for 2 weeks. When the seedling is at least 5 inches tall its roots are stronger and constant monitoring is not necessary. Test soil before and after watering and water gently and deeply as needed.
Don’t over water seeds! Finding the right amount of water for your seeds is difficult. Not enough and they will not germinate - BUT too much and they could rot. Just to be safe - water seeds lightly twice a day - you just need to moisten the top layer.
When plant leaves wilt on a very hot day, it could be from the heat and not lack of water.
Prune off lower foliage of plants prone to fungal diseases that prefer damp environments like powdery mildew on cucumbers and squash) and like tomato blights. Water very close to the soil with a watering wand on a hose or a watering can. Avoid wetting the leaves. Water early in the day
Health of mature plants is dependent on correct watering. Remember that large plants need a lot more water than seedlings. We want mature plants to have deeper roots that suck lots of water out of the soil.
A drip irrigation system nurtures healthier plants and less stressed gardeners. If you can’t or don’t want to water and monitor your soil moisture constantly get a drip irrigation system. Drip irrigation should be the watering method of choice. It will save you time and make your plants stronger, happier and healthier. The larger your garden the more critical drip irrigation becomes. Contact the Deep Roots team for advice on installing the new system we designed.Seed watering tips
Use our Planting Calendar blog posts for more useful seed starting tips like spring/ simmer/fall planting dates, soil temperature, temperature tolerances, direct seed vs transplants, seed depth, sunlight, and days to maturity. Choose from 9 planting calendar blog posts organized by crop group on our Planting Calendar and Climate blog category page: brassicas, cucurbits, fruiting crops, leafy greens, legumes, root crops, herbs, and berries.
Seed watering tips
To check if it's time to water your seeds, dig down about 3 inches — if the soil feels dry, go ahead and water. Always water in the early morning so the plants have time to dry throughout the day, which helps prevent mildew and disease. If conditions are exceptionally hot, dry, or windy, check the soil moisture and consider a second light watering to prevent the soil from drying out. Water gently so you do not wash seeds out of place, and always check the soil before watering again. Raised beds and containers dry out faster than in-ground beds, so they usually need more frequent attention.
Watering popular veggie seeds
Peas: Water pea seeds once daily, preferably in the morning, if no rain is forecast for several days, to keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged. During germination, keep the top 1-2 inches of soil consistently moist, as seeds must not dry out during this stage. Once seedlings are established, switch to deep, infrequent watering of about 1 inch per week to encourage strong root development, avoiding light daily watering.
Tomatoes and peppers: Keep indoor seed-starting mix evenly moist but not soggy. Indoors or in trays, mist or water gently whenever the surface starts to dry, often about once a day. Or place water in a shallow lower tray which the seed soil can absorb. After sprouting, let the very top of the mix dry slightly between waterings while keeping the root zone moist.
Cucumbers, zucchini, and squash: These larger seeds need steady moisture to germinate, but they can rot in waterlogged soil. Water well at planting, then check daily and rewater when the top inch begins to dry. In hot, dry, or windy weather, containers may need a second light watering.
Beans: Keep the soil lightly moist until sprouts emerge, but avoid heavy watering because bean seeds can rot in cold, soggy soil. Once seedlings are established, switch to deeper, less frequent watering of about 1 inch per week, adjusted for rain and heat.
Carrots and lettuce: Because these seeds are small and shallowly sown, the soil surface must stay consistently moist. Use a fine spray once or twice daily if needed so the top layer does not crust over or dry out before germination. Or, initially place a board over the seeds to stop evaporation. But check under the board daily, and remove it when sprouts appear.
Radishes and beets: Maintain even moisture during germination with light daily watering as needed. After seedlings are up, water more deeply and less often to support steady root growth and help prevent stress.
Cover soil with straw mulch & compost
Retaining as much moisture as possible saves watering time and keeps your plant healthy and happy. Our method use two layers – a one inch layer of compost covered by a couple inches of cut-up straw. Don’t use hay since it can add unwanted seeds to your garden. We grow our own straw by planting a large beautiful prairie grass called Miscanthus. Over winter the grass dries and in the spring we cut it down and store it in large barrels with lids. Keeping the straw dry is important.
Where to buy straw in Chicago area
Straw is often considered a seasonal item (spring for gardening, fall for decorations), so calling ahead is recommended. Look for "weed-free" wheat straw to avoid adding weeds to your garden beds.. Straw for garden mulch in Chicago and suburbs is available at local nurseries, farm supply stores, and major retailers like The Home Depot and Lowe's.
The Home Depot (Brickyard & others): Often sells straw bales in the summer, particularly in suburban locations like Mount Prospect.
Lowe's (Brickyard & others): Stocks straw, including HealthiStraw and pine needles.
Farmers Market Garden Center (Chicago - N. Elston Ave): A local favorite for varied gardening needs.
Wasco Nursery (St. Charles): High-quality straw bales in small and large sizes, ideal for gardening and mulch.
Tameling Industries (Willowbrook): A large supplier for both landscape professionals and homeowners in the Chicago area.
Fox Landscape Supply (Plainfield): Offers various landscape supplies, including agricultural materials.
The Mulch Center (Libertyville/North Suburbs): Specializes in landscape materials and offers delivery.
Meinke Garden Center (Niles): Well-rated for diverse garden products.
Urhausen Greenhouses (Lincolnwood): Known for gardening supplies near the city.
Tractor Supply Co. (Various locations): Identified as an affordable option (approx. $8-$9 a bale) that often carries clean wheat straw.
“Grow Your Own Food” blog posts
Questions, comments, suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Send photos of your garden too!
See the full list of our Grow Your Own Food blog posts. Our blog posts are divided into 6 categories – each with its own page of blog post photos and summaries.
Questions, comments, suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! If you need a quick answer to a gardening question give us a call or send a text. We are here to solve your gardening problems. Please call OR text our Customer Service team at 708-655-5299 OR send an email to: support@deep-roots-project.org.
Deep Roots online store
See our online store for details about prices, ordering and delivery of raised beds, planter boxes, microbe-rich compost, worm castings, leaf mulch and more. We don’t sell traditional soil, since we use 100% compost as our growing medium. Our online store has 2 sections – (1) raised beds and planter boxes and (2) compost, worm castings, fertilizer.
Please contact our customer support team before placing an order online so we can assist you with the details and answer your gardening questions. You can pay by credit card on the store or by check.
(708) 655-5299 and support[at]deep-roots-project.org
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