Rainfall question

[texascollegestudent]

so im guerrilla growing using some super soil made at a local nursery and ill be filling holes two foot deep with it. my spot is near a small creek and i was wondering if the rainfall in my area will suffice for watering. we get 5 inches in may and consistently 3 inches up until august. so my question is should i go out there and water every time we're experiencing a short drought? would the proximity to a creek make this unnecessary?

 

[IOWNEVERY1]

I have heard that as long as you have atleast 1 inch of rain a week they can survive

 

[MAc DRe]

I have heard that as long as you have atleast 1 inch of rain a week they can survive

dont grow near a creek first place people and feds look and water yourself everyday unles it rains an inch a day

 

[texascollegestudent]

its certainly protected man... i wouldnt be planting there if there was any risk involved. however i won't be going out there more often than once a week, which i think is pushing it. going out there every day turns the whole deal into a risk... an inch a day is ~30 inches a month, so im sure you're wrong about that number.
anyone else know? my main question is does planting near a creek affect the amount of watering i'll have to do?? BTW the humidity is usually 0-10 percent during the summer

 

[utbob]

Use a lot of perlite or vermiculite in the soil. This basically holds water in reserve in the soil so you have to water less.

 

[stilltokin]

Use a lot of perlite or vermiculite in the soil. This basically holds water in reserve in the soil so you have to water less.

perlite aerates the soil meaning it doesnt hold water, vermiculite does though. Try getting some water crystals from a nurserie, im pretty sure they release their water when the soil gets dry.

 

[South Texas]

If the plants are close enough or close to the same grade as the ground by the Creek bank, you MAY have the root system to hit the underground water line. But if not, doesn't matter how close or far you are from the creek in respect of how much water the plant needs. Obviously, the closer the easiest to haul water. It sounds like your going to have good soil, which absorbs more than a brick like soil. You may check out low areas where water naturally flows, IE: 1/4 " of rain will allow a couple inches to flow to the plant. A berm on the low side will help also. I hope this helped. Orange Shovel has some good info on a watering system.

 

[texascollegestudent]

If the plants are close enough or close to the same grade as the ground by the Creek bank, you MAY have the root system to hit the underground water line. But if not, doesn't matter how close or far you are from the creek in respect of how much water the plant needs. Obviously, the closer the easiest to haul water. It sounds like your going to have good soil, which absorbs more than a brick like soil. You may check out low areas where water naturally flows, IE: 1/4 " of rain will allow a couple inches to flow to the plant. A berm on the low side will help also. I hope this helped. Orange Shovel has some good info on a watering system.

thanks man i was waiting for someone from Texas to reply.. the thing is im planting on the only side of the creek that has a lot of trees and shrubs, so i'm thinking that htere's gotta be some kind of water influx on that side of the creek. what's a berm?

 

[j998]

compost and manure ammendments will help retain additional water and also condition your soil and feed your plants at the same time. also throw some type of garden bed mulch or somethin around your plants to keep the moisture in the soil from evaporating as quickly.

 

[texascollegestudent]

right yeah, mulch is a good idea. is vermiculite a no-go? i was considering mixing it in with the soil a bit once the droughts hit.

 

[IOWNEVERY1]

its certainly protected man... i wouldnt be planting there if there was any risk involved. however i won't be going out there more often than once a week, which i think is pushing it. going out there every day turns the whole deal into a risk... an inch a day is ~30 inches a month, so im sure you're wrong about that number.
anyone else know? my main question is does planting near a creek affect the amount of watering i'll have to do?? BTW the humidity is usually 0-10 percent during the summer

who said an inch a day? i said an inch a WEEK

 

[South Texas]

A berm. A small dirt dam, 4 inches, 6 or more, to detain rain water longer then normal drain off. Built on the lower side of the plant, maybe 1 foot below the plant. 60% good compost. I like Lady Bug or Gardener & Bloome. Perlite & vermiculite- 60/40 in respect works. See concept420.com. Also see Sub cools soil threat in the organics section. Full, direct sunshine is not needed in TX. East & South is the best light. I'm not saying 100% shade, but dappled, indirect light will be a good thing.