Carrie,

I've never paid attention to the idea of not watering in the evenings. Actually, I had never heard of it until we got a computer and I found GW.

My thought is that the powers that be don't stop it from raining in the evenings or at night so why can't we do it? Sounds like you work during the day... So do I. The right time for me to water if there's a need is in the evenings. I simply find it quite relaxing after a hard day at work.

Other then one instance on one plant two years ago, I have never had powdery mildew in the gardens. Some folks say that evening watering promotes PM.

I have begun to install soaker hoses which work great, but most of the gardens don't have them and a deep watering in the evening is much better than total stress from drought. I've invested too much time to ignore the needs of our gardens.

When I can. I agree, ma nature doesn't follow a schedule.

I have watered about 6pm for the last few years. But I have had several problems with pm and black spot as well as other problems I don't know the names of with my veggies mostly.With my beds more full now I put in soaker hoses this year in the two front beds.I was so happy.I bought them on clearence last year.Well even though I kept them two feet away from the foundation, and we have never in 30 years had water in the basement....My 20 yr. daughter came home from work to find her "basement apartment" with 2inches of water on the floor. Dh and I figure there must be a crack but for now I am just leaving the soak hoses on for 30 minutes not the hour I first did. As for the rest I am trying to wet the soil not the leaves.It is kind of nice to walk through the beds a bit and really look at each plant. But my beds are all long and shallow, not really big or deep.
But I totally agree with tiffy chanceing problems is way better than,absolute death from drying out.

tiff - Actually I don't work - I am home all day and I used to water both in the morning and evening during droughts but the emphasis on powdery mildew (from reading the forums) had me think twice about the evening waterings.

I am going to go back to watering in the evenings during this drought - It's true that if ma nature can water during the evening, why can't we? Thanks

Carrie

I water when I remember too. Sometimes I am too darn tired to go out and move the sprinkler around. It's going now back and forth across one of the beds and I'll move it in about half an hour. When it's been very dry I'll let it run all night.

I have soaker hoses throughout my garden but babies or newly planted spots I water by hand when I can.
My soakers have been installed for several years now and I have had much easier time watering. You can find inexpensive deals in the bargain stores or clearance sales and 50 ft hose will cover plenty of space.

i usually water everyday if its hot out. but if it rains real hard i will wait a few days until it drys back out. I know to water when all the plants begin to get limp.

Actually, my real concern has been the evening watering and it sounds as if those who work have no problem watering in the evenings. Soaker hoses would be wonderful but I wouldn't know how to install them since my garden borders practically surround my house on three acres. I get up in the morning, turn the well water on and water by hand - and that's been fine and relaxing for me but this year we've had no rain to help me out. We actually have a few sets of those soaker hoses but how do they get arranged when some of my borders are ten feet deep and stretch about 400 to 500 feet in length! Yes, I've given myself WAY TOO MUCH work to do - it's a good thing I don't "work"....

Carrie

Carrie, you are going to have to get soakers or a drip system going for yourself! That's a lot of garden.
I have all my garden areas broken up into small pieces even with stepping stones so I can get in and out to weed and water without stepping on anything (but the stones, of course).
I water by hand right now since my water is in rain barrels and I can only use the hose on food, herbs and once a week on the rest.

It might be easier for you just to do a rain dance!

GGG

I have very sandy soil that drains TOO well;
So I try to water both in the morning and early evening when it's hot and dry. We had strong winds and 94 degree heat today so I watered at 7 this morning but by 11 am a few flowered looked wilted so I root watered and also gave them a good drink this evening.
They keep saying rain and thunderstorms but we don't seem to get them, *sigh* we need a good soaking all day rain.

Another concern with evening watering, I find, is slugs. The wetter the beds are at night the more slug damage I get. When I'm home I water early in the day, but on work days I have to water at night.

We are also in a "moderate drought". I never remember a spring and early summer when it was so dry. They're predicting a 60% chance of strong storms today- crossing my fingers.

Karen

ggg - You got that right!! We are working on something (my husband and I) but everything has its order of "importance" and so far my gardens have survived with my hand watering. I also have stepping stones in the deep borders - it's wonderful knowing you are not stepping on seeds, seedlings, etc. - the stones really help. This morning I watered for two hours, listening to my music and it was relaxing. I am trying to do one section at a time - thoroughly water that and move to a new section the following day/days.

I am glad someone posted that night watering encourages slugs, snails because that was one of the reasons I worried about re-watering again at night. I guess until we figure out a better system here, it's morning watering for me (and of course continue doing my rain dances....)

Carrie

I water when the air conditioning is on. Our geothermal heating and cooling system produces exhaust water which originates in the well. I hooked it up to a series of sprinkler, soaker hoses and drip.

Last year was our 5th or 6th consecutive year of severe drought. Despite the fact that the AC came on "whenever" and the fact that I planted marigolds WAY too close together, I had no problem with powdery mildew. I attributed it to the general drought conditions, and that may work for you too.

Also, last year at the beginning of spring I did what the slugs probably referred to as a "massive kegger" and haven't had a problem with slugs or snails since. This may also have been attributable to the drought, but I have to add the vegetable garden stayed overly moist all season and I still didn't have a problem.

I work but still get up at 6 am to water my beds in the morning. I'll water in the evenings only if its an emergency. I use the soaker setting on the hose, get up to the base of the plant where the roots are & soak each one for 10-15 seconds atleast. If I'm doing containers & beds it can take about 1 hour & a half. I find a deep watering on a Sat. or Sun. morning will last about 5-6 days & I could probably push it to once a week. Except for containers - those I pretty much do every other day but using a watering can for more control.

Last year was my first for zinnia's & I lost most of them to powdery mildew my mid-summer. I watered overhead when I could last year. With our humidity, why add to the problem? And I also agree with the poster who mentioned attracting more slugs by watering in the evening.

We are dry usually between mid June thru October.
My usual watering times are around 4 and 6am, but there's only one bed (one with veggies) and a hand full of plants in my other beds that need regular watering. Since we are in a hot dry summer climate I tend to plant stuff that is drought tolerant and doesn't require much fussing with :D

BTW Powdery Mildew spores are killed by water! It's Downy Mildew that requires free moisture, high humidity and temps between 50-70.

Here is a link that might be useful: Powdery Mildew ~ usdavis IPM online

seedmama ... what is a "massive kegger" ??? slugs and snails are ruining my gardens, and i am soooo discouraged... thanks, phyl

It's kind of a joke term referencing fraternity college parties with many kegs of beer. If you put pie tins or other shallow containers in your gardens overnight, then put in half inch or so of cheap beer, you will have a pan full of dead slugs the next morning. It helps if you can bury the pan just enough to put the rim at soil level.

It's not necessary to fill them with beer; a half inch will do. I've heard stories of pets getting into the beer so that's another reason to use minimum quantities.

I kept up the ritual for three weeks straight. It represented a complete guess on my part about the length of the slug's reproduction cycle. Haven't had a slug problem since. Knock on wood.

Cheap beer works well, but if it's not getting the job done add a splash of an aromatic dark beer or a sprinkle of yeast. The aroma will attract more slugs.

Good luck!

seedmamma - I read somewhere that lite beer does not work as well - what kind of beer did you use? The reason why I am asking is that I know I have slugs, yet when I put the lite beer out (I just bought beer - didn't think there were so many kinds of beer) the plates were empty. I also know I have snails and still the dish was empty. If you could let us know what kind of beer you used, it may be helpful. Thanks

Carrie

I put out one beer and drank the rest. The slugs avoided the pan, but I didn't seem to care.

I used that granular slug bait next and they're now gone for the most part. If one does show up, it gets air.

LOL bakemom - Now if we could only drink beer and not care about the Japanese Beetles, aphids, etc. etc.

Carrie (thinking about taking up drinking during the month of June....)

This June...it might be something to calendar...I'm so frustrated right now. I feel sorry for the noobs. I can roll with it and replace plants next year. Sprinkler is at full strength right now in my shade garden. My full sun folks are crying... I told them tonight they would get their drinks.

phyl, bakemom is probably onto something good. Put out one drink the rest. I like her spirit.

Aromatic beers work better. Lite beers tend to not be aromatic. Dark beer is more aromatic, but also more expensive. But you should be able to get three pie pans from a bottle so a six pack would go a long way. A sprinkle of yeast in the cheaper beer will increase the aroma.

I don't remember what beer I bought, but I seem to recall $5.99 for a case. What I do remember is catching my husband putting it in the fridge. I stopped him explaining it was for the slugs. His response, "Thank goodness, because I'm standing here mad as a hornet wondering why you would waste money on cheap beer we'll never drink."

I get slugs and they probably do some damage to my plants, but it isn't to the point that the plants die or look that bad. I've been trying to find Sluggo or another product that has the same ingredient that's safe to use with pets and haven't been able to find it locally and haven't bothered to order it on-line...yet! I don't want to put out beer for the dogs to drink, nor do I really want to have to clean up a drunken slug-fest! So I live with them in the meantime...
As to watering, I've always adhered to the principle of either watering early in the morning or late afternoon when the sun isn't at it's hottest. It gives the plants time to soak it up before the sun comes out to dry things out.
That said, since I work 2nd shift, I only have noontime(ish) to water during the week. I'll sometimes water late afternoon on days off, but always early enough that if the foliage gets wet, they have time to dry off before sundown.
I like the point that it rains at all hours of the day and night and the plants survive! But I'm not going out at midnight to water anything! :)
Cathy