Time of Day to Water Vegetable Garden

Vegetable gardens need more water than most plants, especially when they are producing fruit or in the heat of the summer. Water them deeply once or twice a week to encourage strong roots, according to the University of Illinois Extension.

Time Frame

• Long-standing gardening advice says to water vegetables early in the morning, between 5 and 8 a.m. Watering early in the morning conserves water lost to evaporation during the heat of the day. Watering at this time also allows leaves to dry quickly when the sun comes up, reducing the chance of disease, according to Clemson University Cooperative Extension.

Watering Methods

• Watering early in the day is most relevant for gardeners using overhead sprinkling systems. These systems wet the plants' leaves and tend to waste a lot of water to evaporation. On the other hand, drip or trickle systems don't wet leaves and are water efficient. Gardeners using drip systems may prefer to water in the evening when temperatures are cool. Watering at this time allows the moisture to soak deep into the soil.

Considerations

• Vegetable gardens typically need 1 inch of water weekly to perform well, although plants need more water when they are flowering and producing fruit, according to the University of Illinois. Sandy soils tend to lose water more quickly than clay soils. Soils amended with organic matter use water more efficiently than poor, infertile soils.