Cracks

Our average annual rainfall is a smidge over 37 ½  inches.  Only in May, June and September does the rainfall average an inch or more a week. That’s the amount of rainfall a vegetable garden needs.

In July and August we drag hoses around to water various sections of our garden. For example, here what the soil around one tomato plant in our garden looked like this morning. If we want tomatoes, we have to water.

Most of our spring and summer rainfall comes during thunderstorms. Thunder means lightning and lightning produces nitrogen, one of the elements necessary for plant growth. Watering with a hose adds nothing to the soil but some chemicals added to our rural water to make it potable. It just isn’t the same as natural rainfall.

Still, we’ve been watering our garden during July and August, sometimes June and September as well, for many years, resulting in huge water bills. Gradually our gardening habits have changed, though, and more and more we have spring and fall gardens. Except for tomatoes and peppers, we don’t plant vegetables that have to be watered through the hot, dry weather.

Today I asked Dennis to photograph the cracks in the garden soil because I can’t step outside without getting a dozen chigger bites. He returned to the house with the photo above and a new idea. He said, “Next year let’s put our tomatoes and peppers in giant pots on the patio? We would use less water and they would be easier to water.”

I wouldn’t want to put all my money on that approach, but it’s certainly worth an experiment. If our climate won’t adjust to our needs then I guess we must adjust our needs to our climate.

Copyright 2013 by Shirley Domer