How often should I water?

[SachseGrass]

I've got my first garden going, and have started to wonder if I am watering too much or not enough.

How often should I be watering?

Thanks,
SachseGrass

[dragonfly]

When you first plant your seeds, you need to water often to keep the seedbed moist for germination, but after your plants are sprouting, you need to cut back. It is preferable, imo, to water in higher amounts, but less often, so that the roots will grow downward searching for moisture. After my seeds sprout in Spring, I try to rely primarily on Spring rains for watering the garden, but once it starts getting hot, and the May rains are over, I water only as often as really necessary. Usually the tomatoes get watered two or three times weekly, and other vegetables one or two times weekly with a good soaking.

[sandih]

It's impossible to tell you how many times a week to water since it depends on what you're growing and the sun conditions it gets...and if you have mulched the planting area as well. Your best bet (assuming these are not seedlings you're speaking of) is to put your finger in the soil around the plants (about 2-3 inches) and feel the moisture level in the soil. In the middle of the summer, we watered about every 3 days or so, but it was a good soaking. Make sure you mulch heavily to help retain the water.