DRIP IRRIGATION FOR VEGETABLE GARDEN FULL

A properly installed and monitored drip system will deliver just the right amount of water with very little waste. Since the water is emitted slowly, it has time to soak into the soil, rather than run off or through the soil. Drip irrigation is a system of narrow plastic tubes that deliver water at a slow rate directly to the surface of the soil. Some of the common pests include early blight disease, spider mites, tomato hornwormsВ and viral disease.В Check out the Tomato Problem Solver at or contact the Extension Office for help identifying and treating tomato problems.ДЄllison Watkins is the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent for horticulture in Tom Green County.Installing a drip irrigation system on an automatic timer is one of the most effective ways to improve your gardenвЂ™s productivity, while saving you time and money. Mulch and drip irrigation can also be very beneficial for potted plants as well!ДЇinally, keep an eye out for pests. Incorporate compost, but no more than 1/3В by volume. If growing in containers, use potting mix instead of real soil. Soil preparation is often a skipped step, but it can make a big difference in vegetable production.В Install drip irrigation, which allows the water to be applied directly to the soil -В this will increase water efficiency and decrease plant disease that can be spread with spray irrigation. Use a thick layer of organic mulch after planting to help keep weeds controlled, prevent water from evaporatingВ and to keep soil cool. Add two to three inches of high-quality compost and incorporate down into the top six inches of soil.

DRIP IRRIGATION FOR VEGETABLE GARDEN FULL

Tomatoes grow best in rich soil full of organic matter. Heat-tolerant varieties such as Tycoon, Celebrity and Sunmaster will be better at setting fruit through the summer, and cherry tomatoes are a particularly good choice for heat tolerance. July is an awfully hard time of year to start new plants, so keep a close eye on water needs, use mulch, and provide a shade covering for the hottest afternoon hours for the first few days (a large cardboard box will do, just donвЂ™t leave it there all day). Starting with a large transplant in the cooler spring weather will increase the harvest you can get before hot temperatures set in.ДЄ fall crop can be very productive as well start with new transplants in July, and when they are fully grown in September, temperatures will start to cool down and allow for fruit to form. Wait until all danger of frost has passed, or consider planting early but have a plan for frost protection ready to go if needed. For spring tomato production, plant large transplants as early as possible in the spring. While they are not cool-season plants either and cannot survive freezing temperatures, they donвЂ™t set fruit as well during the hottest summer temperatures.В A couple of ways around this issue are - 1. Tomatoes are not hot-weather plants, at least not вЂWest Texas summerвЂ™ level of heat. Here are some tips to consider that may help improve success with home tomato crops: But they are not a particularly easy-to-grow crop, andВ tomatoes can be tricky to produce in West Texas. Tomatoes are the most popular home-grown vegetable -В they are delicious, healthy and very useful for meals.

Drip irrigation for vegetable garden