Many plants tolerate poor soil and drought conditions after they are established, but vegetables aren't among them. All vegetables need consistent moisture and high fertility to perform well. Water conservation strategies are especially important in the vegetable garden to reduce waste. A well-organized system for watering and fertilizing helps ensure a bounteous harvest and healthy plants.
Spread 1 to 2 inches of compost or composted manure on the vegetable garden in the spring. At the same time, moisten peat moss in a bucket or wheelbarrow until it is thoroughly soaked. Spread 1 inch of peat moss over the garden area. Compost and manure add nutrients to the soil and also improve its texture so it uses water more efficiently. Peat moss can hold up to 20 times its weight in water, making it an excellent addition to a newly established vegetable garden. Till the compost and peat moss into the soil to a depth of 8 inches.
Sprinkle 2 pounds of ammonium phosphate fertilizer -- formulation 16-20-0 -- over the soil per 100 square feet of garden space. Rake the soil to mix in the fertilizer and remove any large dirt clods. A fine seedbed ensures that seeds germinate quickly.
Install soaker hoses throughout the vegetable garden. Soaker hoses are more efficient than overhead sprinklers because they deliver water directly to the soil. They also reduce the risk of waterborne plant diseases.
Water the vegetable garden two or three times per week for 20 to 30 minutes each session or as needed to keep the soil moist 1 inch beneath the surface. Use light, frequent watering sessions for sandy soils; water clay soils infrequently, but deeply.
Apply an additional 2 pounds of ammonium sulfate fertilizer per 100 square feet to the garden soil after the plants have begun producing flowers and fruit or stand 4 inches tall. Rake the fertilizer in lightly, but take care that it doesn't touch the plants; it can burn them. Another option is to side dress plants with fertilizer. Dig a shallow furrow 6 inches from the plants and pour the fertilizer into the furrow. Cover the fertilizer with soil and water it in.
Spread a mulch of untreated grass clippings or weed-free straw over the garden area to a depth of 1 to 2 inches. These mulches not only keep weed growth down, but they conserve moisture. Using a drip system with mulch can reduce water usage by up to 50 percent, according to the Colorado State University Extension.
Plant vegetables in blocks instead of rows. A long, narrow row of vegetables leaves more soil exposed than a block of vegetables planted closely together. Block planting reduces moisture loss, as well as weed growth.
Things You Will Need
- Compost or manure
- Peat moss
- Ammonium phosphate
- Soaker hoses
- Ammonium sulfate
- Untreated grass clippings or weed-free straw
- Peat moss is somewhat cumbersome to work with and it is a nonrenewable resource. It also takes nitrogen from the soil initially. Use it in small amounts for a new garden but don't use it every year.
- Use only composted manure because fresh manure attracts vermin and can carry human pathogens. If you use raw manure, dig it into the soil at least four months before harvesting any crops. Better yet, apply it in the fall.
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources: Vegetable Garden Basics
- Colorado State University Extension: Water Conservation in the Vegetable Garden
- Colorado State University Extension: Mulches for the Vegetable Garden
- Iowa State University Extension: Spagnum Peat Moss Improves Poor Soils
- Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images