Re: Determining watering area
- To: "'Pumpkin'" <pumpkins@mallorn.com>
- Subject: Re: Determining watering area
- From: "* G* L* <G*@PSS.Boeing.com>
- Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 16:14:06 -0700
The older and bigger the plant is the greater opportunity for the roots
to extend farther and farther out even past the plant area. I haven't
seen any data on this personally. but i know that i find roots all
over the place at the end of the year. here are some ideas:
1) Look at the roots as starting at the stump and potenially growing out
in all directions over time ( not just the direction of the vine) in
concentric circles. figure that the roots could grow as far as the main
vine or farther. then water that area.
( this is what I do- but i have a raised bed patch -a big rectanglular
area with wood on all sides to hold in the dirt- i start the plant about
5-6 ft from one end and grow it toward the other end. i figure that the
roots aren't growing past the wood ends of the patch. I water the
circle starting at the stump to about 6 ft past my main vine but only
inside the patch.)
2) you could always water the plant area plus a certain distance out say
all around the perimeter. like 5-10 ft.
3) water the plant area plus a percentage like 20-40% of the growth in
that direction. ie, if the main vine is 10 ft then water out 14 ft
and if the secondaries are 5 ft then water out 7 ft. this sounds good
untill your plant is 40 feet long then you are watering out 56ft. 16 ft
past the main vine seems a long way out there.
people with sprinker systems in place usually water the whole patch
every time they water.
just throwing out ideas. hope it helps
if you really want to know how far out the roots extend then go look for
them.
carefully dig up the dirt will a little hand shovel. start way out then
work your way in till you find them. you can alway wait till the end
of the season to do this, then you don't have to worry about damaging
anything.
Gordon Tanner
Maple Valley, WA
>So I have the formula to determin how much water equals and inch of
rain
>based on area. Now with the extensive root system of these giants how
>much area would you factor in surounding the plant?. Are you measuring
>from the widest points by the longest or are you tacking some on for
the root >system that may expand that area. This could affect the amount
you should >be watering.
>
>Any thoughts
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