OR
Set small containers such as tuna cans around the garden. Time how long it takes to fill the containers. Depth of container: ________ Time to fill container: ________ Amount of time to run sprinkler: ________
1 inch of water needed × Time to fill the container = Amount of time to run the sprinkler
Depth of the container
Keep a Log of How Much Water Your Garden Needs Each Week
Example Table:
| Date | Rain Depth (in) | Rain in Forecast? | Irrigation Supplied (in) | Needed Water Remaining (in) |
|---|
| 6/29 | 0.01 | Yes | 0 | 0.99 in |
| 6/30 | 0.34 | Yes | 0 | 0.65 |
| 6/31 | 1.07 | Yes | 0 | 0 |
- Record the date each day.
- Record the amount of rain from either a rain gauge in your garden, or another accurate weather source. Setting up a rain gauge in your garden will give you the most accurate information for your location.
- Determine if there is rain in the forecast. If there is a lot of rain in the forecast for the next couple of days, it may be wise to reduce the amount of irrigation supplied, or to wait to irrigate until after the rain.
- Record the amount of irrigation supplied to the garden. This should be done in inches of depth. If the full amount needed is supplied, then this will be 1 inch. If not, you can use the following calculation to determine how many inches you have supplied.
- OR
- How long you ran the sprinkler = Water supplied (in)
- Amount of time to run the sprinkler
- (How long you ran the hose)/(Time to fill the bucket) x Volume of the bucket = Gallons of water supplied
- Gallons of water supplied = Inches of water supplied
Gallons of water needed
- Subtract the rain depth and irrigation supplied from the water needed. At the beginning of the week, this will be the 1-inch water recommendation. After the first day of the week use the value from the previous day in the final column. Enter the amount in the final column for that day.
References
Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky. ID-128. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
Markham, B.L. 2014. The MiniFarming™ Bible: The Complete Guide to Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre. SkyHorse Publishing. New York, New York.
KYSU.EDU/AG | @KYSUAG
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