I have tomatoes, zuc, squash, peppers, cucs, sunflowers, and okra. I have been watering the garden every day. Temps are probably in the high 80′s, but very humid. I also have a peat moss, garden soil, and a manure mixture, which is probably ok. I have also noticed a little powdery white mold around my stems, i think I can fix this, but am I watering too much, is that what is causing the mold?
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Take the right approach to watering garden vegetables to maximize crop production. In general, most vegetable plants use about 1 inch of water per week (1 to 2 inches in hot, windy, dry climates). If you don’t get water from rainfall, you have to supply it. Here are some general guidelines for determining when your plants need water:
•Your finger is the best indicator of when the soil has dried sufficiently to rewater: Dig down several inches into the soil; if the soil is dry to your touch 3 to 4 inches down, it’s time to water.
•Wilting plants can be a sign that your soil needs water: Wilting is when the leaves or stems of a plant droop, bend over, and look limp. These symptoms, however, can be misleading at times. Some plants, like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, tend to droop slightly during the heat of the day, even if the soil has enough moisture. If your plants don’t stand tall and proud and the soil feels dry, add water and watch them perk up fast.
Overwatering also causes plants to wilt, so check the soil before watering. If the soil is waterlogged, roots die from lack of air. With fewer roots, plants can no longer take up the water they need from the soil, and so they wilt. Damage from insects and disease also cause wilting.
Simple way is to test the soil with your finger if it is damp don’t water. Do not water at night this can cause fungal diseases, only water when the sun will dry the leaves before nightfall – this is to prevent diseases that thrive in a cool, damp atmosphere. Plants such as squash cucs, and zuc. are prone to ‘powdery mildew’ which can ultimately kill the plant. Always water on the soil not on the leaves to prevent this especially in a humid climate. I usually plant vegetables in dips or channels and lay the hose on the ground. This keeps the water at the roots and keeps the leaves dry.
It sounds like that you are watering too much.Try cutting back to every other day and see if this helps.It should get rid of the white mold also.Are any of the leaves on the plants turning yellow? That can also be a sign of too much water.
You might be over watering but mold can grow anywhere soil is moist…. I would say water once at night after the sun goes down, if it is not raining. If you find your soil is too moist you could go down ot e.o.d