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Old 26-07-2006, 12:09 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
K K is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,966
Default water plants while on holiday in this heat ?

Gardening_Convert writes
I have several pots which peppers , chilli's , white dwarf aubergines ,
hanging toms etc

and also the flower beds etc

I don't have anyone who is able to water them while I'm away .
Neighbour has hurt her neck and can't physically do it
family are also away or too far away from my garden.

Can I have some suggestions on what to do so that they will stand a
chance of surviving while I'm away as I really don't want to loose them
as I have a good crop coming .

Already had some aubergines and they were yummy so ,so , so much nicer
than the shop bought ones

Are you away a week or a fortnight? Week might be survivable, fortnight
is a challenge.

Flower beds will have to take their chance. Give a really good watering
before you go, equivalent to at least an inch of rain.

Everything else - get it into the shade (possibly even into a cool
bathroom or cellar), and standing in trays. Water well in the days
leading up to the holiday, so that the soil is soaked through. Before
you go, water again, and leave 2-3 inches in the trays. Plants don't
like to be waterlogged, but they'll cope with it for a few days. With
luck, you'll have 2-3 days with the plants waterlogged, 2-3 days with
them happy, then only a day or two with them drying out before you come
back to rescue them.

It'd be better if you could set up a trickle system from a water butt
before you go, but you would need to test it well before leaving - too
slow, and you'll dry them all out, two fast, and you'll exhaust your
water supply in the first couple of days and still dry them out.

Use www.metcheck.co.uk to get some idea of the weather while you're
away, and the size of the problem you're facing.

Bearing in mind dying plants is a sign to burglars that the house is
unoccupied, you might be advised to pay someone to come in and water. If
you're not totally certain of reliability (one of the local teenagers,
say), offer a basic price plus a bonus if all the plants survive.
--
Kay