Hugh's Tips for Saving Water on Your Plot

Water is a limited and valuable resource, but is also essential for plant growth.
To make the most of water, collect what you can rather than use mains tap water. Store and use it safely.
The following water saving tips have been put together by Hugh Merrett (RHAA Lifetime President) to help save and conserve water.

---

1. Use 4"-6" (10-15cm) of compost & spread mid-winter onwards & dig in.

​2. Use 3"-4" (8-10cm) of stable litter spread over plot as soon as veg is removed in autumn. 


3. Top-dress your plot with calcified seaweed.

 

4. Do not dig during summer (except spuds!).
 

5.  Pull out or hoe weeds in summer.


6. Leave pea & bean roots in the soil.


7. Plant seeds in a 'U' shaped ditch "2-3" deep.

8. When seedlings are growing and the soil is damp there is no need to water.

9. When stick beans are planted draw-up the soil to make a 2-3" bank around the beans.
 


10. Mulch all plants ideally after rain except onions, garlic, shallots and leeks, with grass / leaves cuttings mix 2"-3" (5-10cm) deep.

11.  Never water more often than once a week


12. If you must use a hose-pipe also use two cans or buckets for distribution where water is really wanted.


​13. Plant Brassicas in a shallow depression.

14. Top dress larger plants with fertilizer,


15. If you have a shed or greenhouse, fill a water butt or more if you can.


​16. Only water where necessary - not on the path or between rows.

1.Increases water holding humus & fertility.

2.Increases water holding humus & marginally increase in fertility. Fork over or dig-in during spring.


​3.Replaces trace elements taken from the soil by harvested crops. Also provides nitrogen used up in rotting down stable litter wood chips

4.Digging buries the dry top-soil.  The turned-up soil is quickly dried by the sun.

5.The sun will dry the weeds.  The soil structure remains intact.

6.They will provide nitrogen to the following crop.

7.When watered with a can all the water stays where it is needed

8.Small seedlings in damp soil will send roots down to find water.

9. Water with buckets of water 3 x 3gall buckets for every 10ft (3m) of row length.  All the water stays inside the bank for maximum benefit.  Every 7-10 days is often enough

10. Holds water in the soil.  Prevents much evaporation and suppresses weed growth, thus saving more water.


11.  Otherwise roots will stay shallow and not go looking for water


12. You save water.  You save on weeding as paths between rows are dry. Therefore weed seeds do not germinate.

13. Rain or water will stay around the plant and rootball.

14. Assists a stronger plant to seek out water for better crops.


15. Collect rain water.  Better for plants and shorter distance to carry to plants.

​16. Saves hours weeding and saves water.

Hugh's personal comments on saving water - autumn 2010

In 2010 we had little rain from mid-March until mid-July. I used about 80-90 gallons of water only. Most was used on seedlings and plants planted-out. They were started off and then grew and found sufficient water. I watered the 10' (3m) row of beans 3 times about 9 gallons each time at least 7-10 days apart. No water was given to my 30' (10m) rows of potatoes (50kg + per row) or to sprouts now 3'+ (1m) or cauliflower plants now 1metre across.
Remember :- Compost / manure, fertiliser and mulch.
​Only water if necessary. If you water, water plants and not weeds. Don't allow weeds to compete for water. Don't spray beans. Insects and bees pollinate - not water.

---