How you can save water and still have good crops

You can grow good fruit and vegetables with less water. Here are some suggestions:

• When you water with your watering can do this in the evenings or the mornings, because if you do it in the middle of a hot day the water just evaporates or it can scorch the leaves. Water less often, water just around the plants where you really need to, but if the soil has got very dry it is best to water thoroughly so that it goes right down into the roots.
• Only water when it's really needed. Newly sown seeds and plants need water, but once fruit and vegetable plants are established you should usually only need to water about two weeks before harvesting.
• Watering too much can mean that the plants are not encouraged to send roots down to look for water, clay soil can end up cracking if it gets too much water, and the plants can rot if they are not properly drained.
• Keep up the weeding, because weeds are very greedy for water
• Use lots of compost from your compost heap or the bunkers by the gates to put in the soil and help it retain water, and to mulch around plants. Dig grit into clay soils to improve soil structure.
• Use mulches to suppress weeds, to keep the soil cool, and to reduce evaporation and soil compaction. Use compost, grass cuttings, bark chippings, plastic sheeting or carpet.
• Saving water is a good idea, too. Save rainwater in a water butt or a tank or any large container, and if you have a shed set up a gutter so water can run into the water butt.

Useful factsheet on mulching and water conservation and Beat the Drought website and Water Wise advice