Knowledgebase

Frequency of using drip irrigation during upcoming heat wave #873426

Asked June 17, 2024, 12:06 PM EDT

I apologize for emailing Ulster Co. but the Dutchess Co. Coop Ext. gave me this site and Dutchess was not a choice in the menu (I will tell them) or the NYS menu had nothing relevant.  I have a newly intsalled drip irrigation system (soaker hoses) that's working fine and waters my vegetable garden quadrants on a timer. My question is whether to run the system daily with the upcoming heat wave or every other day as I've been doing, shutting off when it rains.  I don't want to under or over water the plants. Thank you in advance.

Dutchess County New York

Expert Response

Hi Neil,

Thank you for contacting UCCE.

I would not change the timer. It probably will be fine. Just keep an eye on the plants to make sure they aren't wilting. You can also test the soil by using the finger test. If it feels dry about and inch down then it's time to water them.

Michael h.

Master Gardener Volunteer.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 17, 2024, 4:34 PM EDT
Michael,

Many thanks for your timely reply and extended generosity to a Dutchess resident (I did attend SUNY New Paltz years ago).  If I understand correctly, with consecutive days coming in the nineties and PM temps around 70, it will be ok to run the soaker system early every morning as set on my timer?  I will do the finger test before after dinner to see it the soil is dry.  It doesn't seem that with this heat one could over water with soaker hoses. BTW, I planted aspargus plants for the first time (late, in mid-May) but can't tell if they're alive as they look the same as when they came out of the bag.  I water, fertilize, and compost them but they look the same.  Thank you in advance.

Neil 

On Monday, June 17, 2024 at 04:34:20 PM EDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied June 17, 2024, 6:18 PM EDT

Hello Neil

On the local news this morning a professor from Cornell was interviewed about watering in this weather and said that "it is very difficult to over water in this kind of weather". So I would not worry about watering too much. But do check the soil for moisture during the day.

On the other side, asparagus can suffer from rot if stays too wet. Generally this happens in the winter, if you don't have good drainage. Just curious, how do you know they look the same, they should be planted about 8 inches deep, do you dig in to check? 

All the best,

Gary

MGV

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 24, 2024, 9:27 AM EDT
Gary,

Thank you for keeping this thread.  So far so good on the soaker hoses.  My aspargus was planted in mid-May after sitting in plastic bag for a week or two.  I followed the page of instructions but didn't plant them 8 inches deep (maybe 4 or 5). I did however put plenty of mulch, fertilizer, and Miracle grow soil on top of and around the root crowns (2-3 inches).  They seem to look the same (nothing green popping out of the soil) i.e. the rope-like vines or dreadlocks as I call them seem unchanged from when I planted them about 5 weeks ago.  I will dig in to check but not sure what I'm checking for other than soil moisture...not my best work but circumstances precluded timely and more detailed/deeper planting.  

Neil   


On Monday, June 24, 2024 at 09:27:31 AM EDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied June 24, 2024, 1:56 PM EDT

It sounds like you have done all you can do, so at this point it is a wait and see game. If you don't see green fern-like growth next spring, you may want to put a few more in. Asparagus can take a long tome to start to come up. Remeber you don't pick any until 3 years of growth. Even then, you pick sparingly until the plants are firmly established.

Good luck and don't hestitate to contact us with any of your gardening questions,

Karen

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 26, 2024, 9:24 AM EDT
Thanks much, Karen.  I continue to give them periodic fertilizer and add compost to their mounds to deter weeds.  Meanwhile, my artichoke plant experiment is taking off.  

On Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 09:24:46 AM EDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied June 26, 2024, 5:46 PM EDT

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