Should flower and vegetable gardens to only be watered in the morning or late afternoon?

Question

Is this just a myth or can you water at any time of the day?

Answer 1

you should water in the morning and late afternoon if the weather is really hot .otherwise morning is fine .dont water at the hottest part of the day as this will burn your roots and your plants . good luck .

Answer 2

The reasoning behind not watering other times is this: during early afternoon the sun's rays are at their peak and you lose water to evaporation. Also the droplets on the leaves can act as a magnifier and burn the leaves if its getting direct sun at the time. Night watering supposedly makes plants more susceptible to fungal problems because dampness and darkness = fungus. Also this is said to encourage slugs and other night nibblers. That being said, I try to water in the morning but if I forget, I do water in the evening, just a little lighter. I also try to keep water off the leaves and just get the roots. I've never had any problems. I think its harder on the plants to be thirsty a whole additional day than to get an occasional evening sprinkle! I'm in Missouri in zone 6, your conditions might be different, of course.
Hope it helps!

Answer 3

Betty, the early morning is the best time. The late afternoon is the worst. In the morning the plants have a chance to take up the water so it's available to them in the hot afternoon sun. It takes a while for the plants to "drink", so the water applied in the afternoon is not available to the plants when they need it most. Be sure you are putting the water on the plants roots only, not watering over-head. Getting the plants leaves wet, especially in the afternoon, allows the water beads to act as a magnifying glass, burning the leaves. Don't water the plants in the evening, either, then the water creates opportunities for fungus to start.
Do you water with a hose? The easy way to do this is to turn the hose on so low it only drips, then put it under a plant for a hour or two, then move it. If you need to water daily, turn the hose on faster, and let it sit in one spot for shorter times. Another solution is to get the black hoses with Lazar holes in them that act as a drip system. Do you have a drip system already in place? This is the best way to water your plants. Set your timer for 5 minutes at 5 a.m., for 10 minutes at 6 a.m., and for 15 minutes at 7a.m. If you have more questions, you may email me through my profile.

Answer 4

I don't agree you should make it a habit to wait to water until your plants look sad, but that will be educational for you. Keep in mind that in the middle of the day, even well watered plants can droop in the sun, which was covered why that is in my botany class, but I have forgotten. When I first transplant, I water nearly every day (unless it's rained recently, a good amount, in which case I can wait a few days) but when the garden is all grown up, I water about twice a week, if it's a total drought. I have quite a lot of clay and humus in my soil. My sister, who lives in a sandy area, must water every day. You can always poke your finger into the soil. If it's dry a few inches down, better water. remember, seedlings and transplants will need more water than mature plants. I agree not to water the foliage. Plants in pots need more water than those in the ground. PS I think the botany explanation for mid-day drooping was a technical one - something about the plant can't keep up with its form of photosynthesis, but some have a more complicated photosynthesis cycle that can (like corn) but I cannot remember any more than that. And maybe I remember it wrong. It was almost 30 years ago that I took that class!

Answer 5

Yes, only in the mornings and evenings. If you water during the middle of the day when it's usually the hottest and sunniest, quite a bit of the water will evaporate before actually hitting the plant and the water that actually gets into the ground will dry out fairly fast due to the sun and heat.

Never water after dark though because it's increases the chances of root rot.

Answer 6

During the summer watering in the early morning and evening is always a good idea. It guarantees that the plants/lawn get a more thorough watering because there will be less evaporation due to the cooler temps....

Answer 7

If it is really hot out then water your plants down to keep them cool. but watering your garden in the evening can invite mold and fungus to grow over night. plants like to be watered early in the morning, mainly just soaking the soil will do fine. If you water when there is dew on the ground then your plants will do great.

Answer 8

Best if you water in the morning, like before 10. It gives them chance to absorb water before the noon/afternoon heat arrives.

Answer 9

watering at night makes them more likely to get diseased. Water in the morning.