05-30-2014, 01:25 AM
rhubarb has a double root system, one shallow, one tremendously deep unless you are living in a drought stricken part of the country it really shouldn't need water. Doesn't do well in terribly sandy soil though.
An inch of rain a week with normal temps/wind/soil conditions usually
How much soak really depends on the composition of your soil / water pressure, flow rate and the only way to know for sure is either stick your fingers/hands in and feel it or dig a narrow trench before and after watering and look to see just how far the water has soaked in. You won't kill anything as long as you don't dig up a plant and leave it out. Find a test spot and play detective.
Shallow rooted vegetables like cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli might need watering twice a week if the surface dries out quick from heat and dry, even with mulch.
Deep rooted veggies like tomatoes, some squash need a good soak, but then don't usually suck it up quick - although tomatoes can use quite a bit of water and do NOT like drying out and then soaking - the tomato skins will split like weak balloons.
Again - dig holes and get a feel for how your soil holds and loses water.
If you have thirsty plants packed together and sandy soil you may need two inches of rain a week.
Dig a hole after a rain or thunderstorm that you got an inch of rain to see what the soil looks/feels like.
color/texture/moisture.
edit: not a big hole, a little narrow trowel should do
it's just dirt, not a $300,000 greenhouse stock investment that you have to calculate an inch of growth/week or whatever unit requirement to meet a target sale date.
An inch of rain a week with normal temps/wind/soil conditions usually
How much soak really depends on the composition of your soil / water pressure, flow rate and the only way to know for sure is either stick your fingers/hands in and feel it or dig a narrow trench before and after watering and look to see just how far the water has soaked in. You won't kill anything as long as you don't dig up a plant and leave it out. Find a test spot and play detective.
Shallow rooted vegetables like cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli might need watering twice a week if the surface dries out quick from heat and dry, even with mulch.
Deep rooted veggies like tomatoes, some squash need a good soak, but then don't usually suck it up quick - although tomatoes can use quite a bit of water and do NOT like drying out and then soaking - the tomato skins will split like weak balloons.
Again - dig holes and get a feel for how your soil holds and loses water.
If you have thirsty plants packed together and sandy soil you may need two inches of rain a week.
Dig a hole after a rain or thunderstorm that you got an inch of rain to see what the soil looks/feels like.
color/texture/moisture.
edit: not a big hole, a little narrow trowel should do
it's just dirt, not a $300,000 greenhouse stock investment that you have to calculate an inch of growth/week or whatever unit requirement to meet a target sale date.